On September 19, Acting Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, Tetyana Berezhna, held a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Ukraine, Natalka Cmoc.
The two sides exchanged views on ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in the fields of culture and the preservation of cultural heritage amid russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
During the conversation, the parties discussed the recent adoption of the Law of Ukraine “On the Fundamentals of the State Policy on National Memory of the Ukrainian People” and the approval of the new Government Action Program, which identifies culture as one of its key priorities. In this context, both sides highlighted the importance of culture as an integral part of national security and a tool for societal resilience.
Special attention during the meeting was given to the issue of preserving and restoring Ukraine’s cultural heritage. Tetyana Berezhna briefed Natalka Cmoc on new initiatives presented at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025) in Rome, including the establishment of a Cultural Resilience Alliance. She extended an invitation to Canada to participate in the Alliance’s inaugural meeting, which is set to take place in the near future.
Tetyana Berezhna also informed the Ambassador about the launch of the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund, developed in partnership with the ALIPH Foundation. The initiative is already in its active phase, with its official international presentation scheduled for early November in Copenhagen. The Ukrainian side expressed hope that Canada would join the Fund’s activities.
Another key topic of discussion was the development of the National Museum of the Holodomor-Genocide. In particular, the parties discussed progress in drafting the necessary regulatory framework for establishing the Expert and Supervisory Boards, with an emphasis on professionalism and transparency.
In response, Natalka Cmoc reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to continue its support in line with existing agreements and underscored the importance of adhering to the principles of transparency, expertise, and sustainable institutional development.
She also emphasized Canada’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s efforts to preserve its cultural identity and highlighted the role of cultural exchange as a powerful tool for strengthening international solidarity.
