08/22/2026
Dear Hromada,
On August 24 we celebrate Ukraine's Independence Day!
We hold grief, for everyone whose life has been altered or ended by russia's war of aggression. We hold gratitude, for everyone who has shown up for Ukraine this year — by walking through our doors, by giving, by simply choosing to learn a history so many tried to erase.
З Днем Незалежності, Україно! 🇺🇦
In hope and solidarity,
The Ukrainian Museum's Staff and Board of Trustees
From the museum's annual report archive from 1991:
Vyacheslav Chornovil visiting the museum with his wife, Atena Pasko, in 1991
WE ARE HONORED TO INTRODUCE THE FIRST GRANTEES
selected through the Ukrainian Museum’s SAFE open call in July 2026
The SAFE Grants initiative supports the next generation of museum professionals and advance innovative, forward-looking practices within Ukraine’s cultural institutions.
Through an open call, emerging curators, educators, collection specialists, designers, researchers, and interdisciplinary practitioners are invited to propose collaborative projects developed with Ukrainian museums.
Why Do Mascarons Cry? is a heritage-preservation initiative founded by artist and active-duty servicemember Oleksandr Len, curator Anastasiia Kuzmenko, and veteran and conservator Danylo Gurin. The initiative brings together architects, researchers, artists, and local communities in Kyiv to explore how the preservation of historic and war-damaged buildings can become an active, community-based practice.
During its spring 2026 residency, participants studied pre-1917 historic sites including Yefremov Dacha, Bradtman Dacha, and Barban Estate, while taking part in educational programs, conservation workshops, and volunteer preservation efforts led by guest curators Dasha Korba, Polina Pyskurova and Tetiana Tadai. The program also initiated planning for the future restoration of damaged mosaics near the Hryhorii Skovoroda monument in Podil.
SAFE will support their post-residency exhibition at the National Art Museum of Ukraine, to be presented when the museum reopens following damage caused by Russian strikes in May.
Read the full interview in Ukrainian with Oleksandr Len and Danylo Gurin.
