UKRAINE, The great believer in Culture

The French Ministry of Culture and Communication organized a Forum entitled “Future of Culture, Future of Europe” on April 4th and 5th at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris. At the initiative of Minister Aurélie Filippetti the future of cultural policies in Europe was discussed, one of the special and important guests was the newly appointed Ukrainian Minister of Culture - Yevhen Nyschuk.

Yevhen Nyschuk gave a short but quite clear speech in the end of the first day of the Forum, paying attention to the current situation in Ukraine mentioning that Ukraine is not just a 23 year old country but a thousand year old civilization which is looking to the peaceful future and which is open for new creative strategies.

Today I met Mr. Nyschuk at the Palais de Chaillot and we talked about his new position, future plans and expectations.

Yana B.: 2014 starts a new political cycle with the renewal of members of the European Parliament and a new European Commission. Forum de Chaillot tried to give the floor to those who are making cultural politics in Europe. You were invited by French Minister of Culture, I guess this is a good start. How did you react to this invitation?

E.N.: It is time to reopen the debate in Europe between the driving forces of Ukrainian culture and European political leaders. I had no doubts that Ukraine must be presented on all important cultural events not just in Europe but internationally. This meeting in Paris should strengthen the importance of Ukrainian culture and its essential role at the European level.

Yana B.: What are the main developments that you have identified in last 2 days in Paris?

E.N.: Now I know what we can expect from Europe and how we can start working together. The main starting points arise from the strategic approach to culture in Europe: cultural liberalization, the cultural and economic importance of financing creation in general the international circulation of works and artists, digital policy and copyright. During my visit to Paris I‘ve got a very good overview and now I am coming back to Ukraine with a clear picture of the level of international cultural strategies that must be discussed and developed in Ukraine as well.

Yana B.: In the context of your visit in France you had a special strategic meeting with Irina Bokova, General Director of UNESCO. Could you share with us details and achievements of this meeting?

E.N.: It was pleasure to meet Irina. She is going to visit Ukraine already this year. I’ve learned significant milestones of the UNESCO working plan: the Creative Europe program, the European digital library program, the European Capitals of Culture program and others. It is very useful for our country to understand key these strategies and parameters of the main international stakeholders in culture and creativity.

Yana B.: How are you going to promote a true European cultural agenda in Ukraine?

E.N.: We have to meet this challenge together, together in Ukraine and together in Europe - first of all we must now discuss an overall agenda. There are major topics in front of us to be adopted, so it is urgent to analyze European experiences and insert best practices in Ukraine. Defining common values, and common objectives with Europe is necessary at all levels.

Yana B.: Do you already have concrete plans how essential benchmarks of European cultural policies will be implemented in Ukraine.

E.N: I would like to mention that this is first visit of an Ukrainian Minister of Culture on such an international level. It was not just an official diplomatic visit for me, yesterday on the scene I also shared my pain but also great hope for our country. I was able to establish a much more personal relationship with leading European politicians, and at the same time only our future permanent participation on such events give the opportunity to built cooperations on much more honest and open level.

So we are looking forward to future innovations in Ukrainian Ministry of Culture. Hopefully the new team will be able to develop effective and appropriate instruments to improve the creativity, diversity and influence of culture in Ukraine.

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