On September 4 in Brussels, Acting Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine Tetyana Berezhna and Valéry Freland, Executive Director of the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH), signed a Memorandum on the Establishment of the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund (UCHF).
The Fund will serve as a key mechanism for coordinating and managing international financial assistance aimed at preserving and restoring Ukraine’s cultural heritage.
Its core functions will include mobilizing donor contributions, organizing competitive project calls, supporting digital transformation in the heritage sector, and fostering the development of a professional community. The Fund’s headquarters will be located in one of the EU Member States, with a representative office in Ukraine.
“The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund will become a reliable and transparent platform to channel international support into specific projects — from safeguarding collections to restoring damaged sites. By establishing clear rules of governance and cooperation with our partners, we are creating not just another fund, but an effective mechanism that ensures accountability and long-term impact. This is an important investment in Ukraine’s resilience and recovery,” said Tetyana Berezhna,
For his part, Valéry Freland, stated: “ALIPH is already deeply committed to protecting cultural heritage in Ukraine, working closely with the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications and actors on the ground. This partnership to launch UCHF will enable us to put our expertise, experience, and agility at the service of a new independent international fund dedicated to protecting Ukraine’s diverse heritage. It is a new way for ALIPH to fulfill its mission of protecting endangered cultural heritage wherever it is needed”.
The initiative was unveiled by Ukraine on 10 July 2025 at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome. Since early 2025, the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications has pursued a systematic path towards establishing the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund — from embedding it in the Strategy for the Development of Culture in Ukraine until 2030 and the Uzhhorod Declaration on Strengthening Cultural Sector Resilience in Ukraine, to organising expert discussions with international partners and shaping its legal and financial design. The Florence seminar in June became another milestone, while the Memorandum with ALIPH marks the transition from concept to practical implementation.
