On 11–12 November, Odesa hosted a two-day event entitled ‘Cooperation for Culture: Strategies, Reforms, Policies’. During the event, participants discussed the key provisions of National Strategy for Cultural Development for 2025–2030, considering how these could be integrated into the development strategies of communities in the Odesa region while taking local contexts and needs into account. The event also addressed the issue of reforming the network of cultural institutions.

The event was organised by the UCORD project with the support of Switzerland, in partnership with the Odesa Regional Development Agency, the Odesa Regional State (Military) Administration and the NGO ‘Coalition of Cultural Activists’.

Attendees of the discussion included cultural administrators and managers of cultural institutions, as well as representatives from the business and public sectors and communities in the Odesa region. Those responsible for community development and culture were also present.

 

In his welcoming speech, Ivan Verbytskyi, Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine, spoke about the importance of joint efforts by the entire cultural community for the successful implementation of the National Strategy for Cultural Development. He also highlighted the work of communities and local authorities in implementing the strategy at a local level.

‘Our task is to join forces and move forward. We realise that there is a lot to be done to develop the culture, but it is impossible to do everything at once. That is why we have a strategy – a roadmap that sets priorities and helps us understand where to start given our available resources. This strategy was created by the cultural community and remains a relevant, high-quality document and an effective development tool,’ Deputy Minister emphasised.

 

 

Anton Shalyhailo, Deputy Head of the Odesa Regional State (Military) Administration, remarked that culture encompasses not only art, but also national security and Ukraine’s future. After all, culture unites society, helps preserve identity, and strengthens statehood. Despite the challenging wartime conditions, the regional authorities are supporting the cultural sector through regional development programmes and restoring damaged and destroyed heritage sites, recognising that preserving the past is essential for building a strong future.

 

 

Marina Bryl, UCORD Project Leader, highlighted the importance of partnerships, emphasising that they are the cornerstone of successful joint initiatives. This is why UCORD is seeking to involve a wide range of participants in the event, including representatives from the fields of culture, government, local self-government, and civil society organisations. The aim is to hear the views of everyone in the Odesa region and work together to achieve a high-quality result.

Ms Bryl also recalled that the European Commission recently published a report on Ukraine as part of the EU enlargement package, which recognised positive developments in the cultural sector. The adoption of the National Strategy for Cultural Development until 2030 is an important step, and the main task now is to ensure its practical implementation.

‘At UCORD, we pay special attention to strategic planning, including in the field of culture. Today, we have an opportunity to refresh our memory of what the National Strategy for Cultural Development is about, and to outline the elements that can be integrated into local development strategies. I hope that our meeting will be productive and that, as a result of our joint work, we will be able to prepare specific recommendations for the region and the Ministry of Culture,’ she emphasised.

Among the event’s co-organisers is the Odesa Regional Development Agency, a key UCORD partner in the region.

 

Serhii Kononenko, Director of the Odesa Regional Development Agency, emphasised the region's potential, ‘The Odesa region is the largest in Ukraine in terms of territory. There are 91 communities here and people of 133 different nationalities live here, which gives us great potential. Thanks to our collaboration with UCORD, we now have a clearly defined regional strategy that aligns with the national strategy and recognises the importance of cultural issues. After all, culture and heritage form the basis of communication, cohesion, international relations, and regional development.’

Olha Sorochko, Deputy Director of the Odesa Regional Development Agency, presented the Living Museum project – created with the support of UCORD – as an example of how innovative cultural initiatives can breathe new life into communities and foster a stronger sense of local identity.

Moreover, throughout the day, participants worked in groups with moderators and facilitators to discuss the strategy for the comprehensive reform of the network of cultural institutions. They analysed the advantages and disadvantages of the reform, the challenges it would entail, and the opportunities it would create. They also formed expectations of how the changes would be implemented. This group work involved open dialogue, enabling each participant to share their experience, express their hopes and concerns, and collaborate with colleagues to identify practical steps for successfully implementing the reform and the strategy for disseminating culture.

On the second day of the event, Nina Matsiuk gave an important lecture on the basics of inclusivity and accessibility. The speaker posed a question that provided food for thought for all participants: ‘Is inclusion in cultural projects achieved when a product is accessible to everyone, or when everyone has access to its creation?’

The discussion then moved on to the different types of accessibility: physical, informational, digital, educational, social and economic. After all, culture should be open to both creators and consumers.

After the lecture, the practical part of the workshop began: a session on policy design. Participants worked in three groups, which were moderated by Olha Sahaidak, Volodymyr Vorobei and Olena Pidopryhora.

Each group identified the most pressing issues and developed an initial draft policy to address them.

The day culminated in concrete proposals for local cultural policies, based on the real needs of communities and the potential of individuals and partnerships between authorities, the public and cultural institutions.

The Swiss-Ukrainian project ‘Ukraine’s Cohesion and Regional Development’, UCORD is implemented with the support of Switzerland via Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation by NIRAS Sweden AB.