The UCORD project and the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation (UCF) have signed a memorandum of joint support for artistic and creative projects that will promote social cohesion, citizen engagement, and cultural development through artistic practices.
‘Strengthening of social cohesion is one of the main priorities of the UCORD project. We sincerely believe that culture creates space for dialogue, mutual understanding and trust. The signing of the memorandum with the UCF, which has considerable experience and authority in managing cultural funds, is the beginning of our multidirectional cooperation aimed at supporting initiatives that strengthen social cohesion in the pilot regions of the UCORD project. In the near future, we plan to launch a joint grant programme called ‘Cohesion through Culture’. This programme will support community cultural initiatives that promote the development of inclusive spaces, improve the quality of life, and weave local identity into modern life, giving it a new sound and meaning,’ says Maryna Bryl, UCORD project leader.
The focus of the UCORD project and UCF collaboration is on creating sustainable development models that combine economic viability with cultural depth. After all, it is culture that can become the platform that not only preserves identity, but also stimulates innovation and unites society in the most difficult times.
‘We will focus on projects that help restore socio-economic stability and introduce innovations. This will help strengthen the economic base – both at the level of communities and regions, and at the level of the state. It is important that modern solutions are combined with local cultural heritage, revealing the uniqueness of each region. After all, culture is able to unite when there are no words. It stitches together divided communities, preserves memory and creates a future in which there is a place for everyone,’ said Anastasia Obraztsova, Executive Director of the UCF.
We are confident that the partnership of UCORD and UCF will form the basis for deeper changes, where culture is the engine of development, unity and recovery!
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The Swiss-Ukrainian project Ukraine’s Cohesion and Regional Development, UCORD is implemented with the support of Switzerland via the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation by NIRAS Sweden AB. The goal of the UCORD project is to promote coordinated recovery and coherent regional development actions by citizens, businesses and authorities, which in turn improves the quality of life, strengthens societal resilience, peace and social cohesion in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Cultural Foundation is a state investor in the development of culture and creative industries in Ukraine. The institution was founded in 2017 on the basis of the Law of Ukraine ‘On the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation’. The Foundation supports individual, national, and international cultural and artistic projects on a competitive basis in seven sectors: audial arts, visual arts, audiovisual arts, cultural heritage, literary affairs, performing and stage arts, and cultural and creative industries.