On January 28, the UNESCO Cultural Hub was officially opened in Lviv.
The Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine Mykola Tochytskyi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, José Manuel Albares Bueno, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, and the Mayor of Lviv Andrii Sadovyi attended the opening ceremony.
Mykola Tochytskyi highlighted Ukraine’s key role in the global cultural landscape, which is essential for fostering international cultural cooperation and achieving victory.
“Today, we look to the fundamental principles of international cultural cooperation as a reliable safeguard for our future”, said the Minister, referring to the UNESCO Constitution.
Mykola Tochytskyi reminded the audience that full-scale russian aggression aims to destroy Ukrainian identity deliberately. More than 2,250 cultural institutions in Ukraine have been destroyed or damaged, and over 1,700,000 artifacts have been stolen by russians.
“This is an international crime, and holding those responsible accountable will require the collective efforts of the entire civilized world”, emphasized the Minister.
Mykola Tochytskyi expressed gratitude to UNESCO and the Government of Spain for their support of Ukrainian culture during these difficult wartime circumstances.
The Lviv Cultural Hub has been established as part of the UNESCO project “Culture for Peace and Resilience: Creating a Cultural Center in Lviv, Ukraine”, with funding from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.
The Hub will serve as a platform for cultural recovery and a support center for temporarily displaced cultural workers. It will offer space for artists, musicians, and writers to work and will assist newcomers in the field.
