On September 24, the Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, Mykola Tochytskyi, held a meeting with Carnegie Hall’s Executive and Artistic Director, Clive Gillinson. The primary topic of discussion was the role of cultural diplomacy in strengthening Ukraine’s international standing.
According to Mykola Tochytskyi, an important aspect of this work is improving Ukraine’s image on the global stage through public and cultural diplomacy. Concerts, exhibitions, literature, and other forms of artistic expression serve as tools for positive influence, fostering deeper political and economic ties.
“I was pleased to hear about your plans to organize another ‘Concert for Ukraine’ and, more importantly, the Concert for the Children and Youth of Ukraine on October 23. I fully support this idea. This initiative not only continues the tradition of cultural support for Ukraine, but also focuses on the younger generation, highlighting hope, resilience, and the importance of cultural heritage,” said Mykola Tochytskyi.
The meeting also addressed the issue of Carnegie Hall’s collaboration with russian artists. In light of russia’s ongoing aggression and the fact that over 550 Ukrainian children have fallen victim to the war, the Minister urged a review of the policy of granting the stage to musicians from a terrorist state.
This meeting marks another step toward strengthening Ukraine’s cultural presence on the global stage, enhancing its authority, and gaining support from international partners.
Let us recall that in 2022, the first “Concert for Ukraine” took place at Carnegie Hall, organized in collaboration with Ukraine’s Permanent Mission to the UN, with the proceeds donated through Direct Relief. In 2023, two more concerts were held: by the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine and a performance of “Shchedryk.” During the latter, a project involving a blackout was realized for the first time, when the lights in Carnegie Hall suddenly went out, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the audience through the darkness. In January 2024, a concert was held at Carnegie Hall for children who won the Ukrainian Music Competition in New York.
