On March 28, a meeting dedicated to the cultural cooperation between Ukraine and Denmark was held at the MCIP. The parties discussed possible ways of strengthening ties within the framework of the Danish-Ukrainian partnership, as well as interaction with the Danish Cultural Institute.
Denmark is interested in expanding cooperation with Ukraine. This was emphasized by representatives of Denmark during the meeting. They also highlighted that they are fascinated by Ukrainian culture and Ukrainians. The Danes believe that the future of Ukraine is closely connected with Europe, and Ukrainian cultural heritage is part of the world heritage. Therefore, Denmark wants to know more about Ukraine, its culture and history. This is planned to be implemented thanks to events that would open Ukrainian culture, which is not so widely known in Europe.
Currently, the Danish Cultural Institute is already working in this direction. It was also about supporting Ukrainian artists with grants from the New Democracy Fund. It was also mentioned about the opening of Ukrainian House in Copenhagen this year, which will be a platform for meetings with representatives from Ukraine in Denmark.
Galyna Grygorenko, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, informed the Danish side about the extent of the destruction of cultural infrastructure and objects of cultural heritage as a result of the full-scale invasion of the russian federation over the past year. And she also named the main priorities in the field of culture for 2023, among which she especially emphasized the need to help those specialists, who continue to work in Ukraine.
“75-80% of representatives of the Ukrainian cultural sphere, as well as most cultural institutions, continue to work in Ukraine despite the war. Ukrainian theaters, libraries and museums not only opened their doors to visitors, but also continue to create new cultural products: theater premieres, exhibitions, concert programs,” Galyna Grygorenko said.
The establishment and expansion of bilateral horizontal cooperation between cultural institutions of both countries and the exchange of experience between specialists will contribute to enhancing knowledge about each other between Ukraine and Denmark. Also among the priorities of the Ukrainian side is the digitalization of the cultural sphere, in particular, the creation of the National Registry of Ukrainian movable and immovable cultural Heritage.
In addition, Galyna Grygorenko invited guests from Denmark to visit Ukrainian museums and learn more about the peculiarities of work during martial law first hand.
Among the participants of the meeting: Galyna Grygorenko, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine; Alim Aliev, Deputy Director General of the Ukrainian Institute; Ole Egberg Mikkelsen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Denmark to Ukraine; Camilla Mordhorst, Secretary General of the Danish Cultural Institute; Henriette Borg Reinholdt, Regional Director for DCI activities in the Eastern Partnership countries; Julie Arnfred Bojesen, Head of the Danish Ukrainian Youth House; Iryna Zaitseva, Culture and Communications Officer of the Embassy of Denmark to Ukraine.
