What new opportunities and changes will the cultural community gain from the implementation of institutional reform of cultural institutions? And why is discussion of this reform critically important for its acceptance and successful implementation?
Answers to these questions were sought by participants in the two-day event “Cooperation for Culture: Policy, Practice, Partnerships,” which brought together representatives of the cultural sector, government and local authorities of the Sumy region, the expert community, and the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine. The event was jointly organized by the Sumy Region Regional Development Agency, the Sumy Regional Military Administration, and the PPV Economic Development Agency, with the involvement of experts from the RES-POL project (Rapid Expert Support for Cultural and Media Policy in Ukraine) as part of the Swiss-Ukrainian project “Ukraine’s Cohesion and Regional Development,” UCORD.
The event was devoted to discussing cultural development and developing practical steps in the context of Ukraine’s Cultural Development Strategy for 2025–2030.
“The Swiss government attaches great importance to the strategic nature of its assistance to Ukraine, supporting key areas of development in various sectors. We invited participants to this event to discuss certain aspects of the implementation of the Culture Development Strategy, in particular the reform of the network of cultural institutions, and to find ways for systemic qualitative changes in the sector of culture and creative industries through practical dialogue,” said Marina Bryl, UCORD project leader.
During the greetings from the event organizers, words were spoken about the importance of culture even in difficult times:
“The myth that culture is irrelevant must be rejected. After all, it is culture that shapes us. We continue to create what makes us Ukrainian,” emphasized Oleksiy Drozdzenko, Deputy Head of the Sumy Regional State Administration – Head of the Regional State Administration for Digital Development, Digital Transformation, and Digitalization.
The meeting was not just an expert discussion, but a platform for open dialogue: participants freely shared their thoughts, ideas, and even reservations — because it is in such conversations that decisions are born.
Hanna Bohachuk, head of the Culture, Social Cohesion, and Citizen Engagement component of the UCORD project, emphasized that culture provides a space for safe dialogue on conflict-sensitive topics and interaction within society. At the same time, it paves the way for the development of the economic potential of communities and regions. Strong and sustainable cultural institutions are capable of combining both of these aspects. That is why the reform of cultural institutions is so important to implement.
Vision for institutional reform of cultural institutions
During the first day of the event, participants were inspired by the presentation of the publication “Cultural Profiles of Sumy Region Communities,” prepared by the Sumy Region ARR with the support of UCORD, and discussed the opportunities and changes that the cultural community could gain from the implementation of institutional reform of cultural institutions.
According to Marina Kulynich, Director of the Department of Strategic Planning and Investment Development at the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, institutional reform of cultural institutions is an operational goal of the Culture Development Strategy until 2030:
“This reform aims to change the system as a whole, and any systemic changes initially cause fear and resistance. That is why effective communication and phased implementation are key elements of success: first, analytical research and preparation of technical tasks for pilot projects, then piloting in selected types of institutions and regions, and finally, the formation of a systemic model of reform through a legislative framework and comprehensive changes in the field of culture. This reform is a complex but necessary process that will ensure the sustainability, innovation, and openness of cultural institutions,” said Marina Kulynich.
Volodymyr Vorobey, Director of the PPV Economic Development Agency, presented the RES-POL project’s vision for a comprehensive reform of the cultural institutions network, which combines a liberal approach, in particular the opportunity for cultural institutions to develop and earn money, with responsible engagement on the part of these institutions. The reform focuses on key areas of development for the public cultural sector in Ukraine and three main components: reform of operational activities; reform of the financing system; and institutional reform.
“Reform of cultural institutions is long overdue, as the current system prevents them from fulfilling their key role as drivers of development. Budget constraints, tariff scales, and the inability to provide decent wages, on the one hand, and the need to develop local identity and cultural practices for communities, on the other, create a situation where cultural institutions are effectively unable to work effectively. And without their full-fledged activity, the development that everyone expects is impossible,” Volodymyr Vorobey emphasized.
РWorking groups: challenges and opportunities
During group work, participants discussed the design of the reform, financing models, and organizational and legal aspects. Key points included:
- Without a strategic vision in the field of culture, there will be a lack of motivation for survival.
- A well-thought-out system design is needed for individual areas, as well as the development of cross-sectoral links, for example, between education and culture.
- A new balance is needed between entertainment, educational, and cultural content.
- It is important to preserve clubs in small communities, which often perform a social function.
- Challenges include local resistance, difficulties in attracting funding, a lack of management skills, and the special conditions of frontline territories.
- Opportunities include international partnerships, cross-sectoral cooperation, and time to train specialists in the process of gradual reform.
The event concluded with work on cultural project ideas. Each group presented a concept demonstrating the potential of local partnerships in preserving cultural identity and developing regions.
Reforming the network of cultural institutions is a long and difficult process that requires a step-by-step approach and constant communication. But it is precisely this process that can provide communities with sustainable and modern cultural institutions that will become real drivers of development, the organizers concluded.
The event was organized by the Sumy Regional Development Agency in partnership with the Sumy Regional Military Administration and the PPV Economic Development Agency, with the involvement of experts from the RES-POL project (Rapid Expert Support for Cultural and Media Policy in Ukraine) within the framework of the Swiss-Ukrainian project “Ukraine’s Cohesion and Regional Development”, UCORD, which is implemented with the support of Switzerland via the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation by NIRAS Sweden AB.
