Deadline: 7-Jul-25
A new wave of support has opened for cultural actors working in regions of Ukraine affected by war and occupation. The second phase of a major capacity-building and networking initiative is now underway, aiming to empower local organizations engaged in heritage, culture, and community-based storytelling.
This effort is being driven through a partnership of prominent Ukrainian cultural institutions and is designed to strengthen both institutional capacity and cultural expression in the context of ongoing conflict.
Selected participants in the initiative will benefit from grants and mentoring to help them develop cultural products, educational programs, and heritage interpretation projects. The program encourages efforts that not only preserve cultural memory but also address the psychological and social challenges of communities affected by war.
It promotes inclusive approaches to cultural engagement, encouraging projects that interact with diverse audiences and focus on trauma-informed practices.
Key thematic areas include exploring local identity, especially how regional narratives intersect with broader Ukrainian identity. The program also supports projects that use culture to strengthen social cohesion.
This could involve participatory practices, working with vulnerable or displaced populations, and navigating sensitive or traumatic topics. Another area of focus is how Ukraine’s war-related experiences are represented through memorialization, exhibitions, and innovative curatorial practices.
Up to 12 projects will be selected for grant funding, with awards ranging from 1 million to 1.5 million UAH. Depending on the capacity and legal status of each organization, funds may be disbursed in either material or monetary form.
The overall program is scheduled to run from July 2025 to August 2026, offering a sustained period for implementation and mentorship.
Organizations eligible for this opportunity include local museums, cultural centers, libraries, houses of culture, and civil society organizations working on cultural and identity themes.
Applicants must be based in, or originally from, one of the following oblasts: Chernihiv, northern parts of Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Donetsk, or Luhansk. Displaced organizations that once operated in these areas can also apply, even if they are currently located elsewhere in Ukraine.
This initiative provides not just financial backing, but a crucial platform for Ukraine’s cultural voices to endure, heal, and thrive.
For more information, visit PFRU.