Press release, february 2023

On February 24th, Ukraine House in Denmark will officially open its doors in Christianshavn, the heart of Copenhagen. The opening will feature the Minister of Culture of Denmark Jakob Engel-Schmidt and the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Denmark, Mykhailo Vydoinyk.

The organization has spearheaded a number of Ukrainian culture initiatives in Denmark. As Russia's aggression against Ukraine continues its assault not only on the Ukrainian people, but Ukrainian culture and heritage, too, having caused damage to more than 1200 objects of cultural infrastructure, including more than 500 cultural monuments, Ukraine House in Denmark is going to promote Ukraine's cultural heritage, organize creative Danish Ukrainian collaborations within music, theater, photography and art.

“During the war for our identity and values, there is no better way to commemorate the bitter anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine than to open a cultural embassy of our homeland in Copenhagen”, – says Nataliia Popovych, chairperson of the Ukrainian House in Denmark, who states that by opening the Ukrainian House in Denmark, the wish is to initiate more intensive cross-cultural dialogues between Ukrainians and Danes. The House is going to organize events, produce content and introduce academic and research programs with a multidisciplinary focus on the joint histories, cultures, identities, and philosophies of the two countries.

"On February 24th we will gather in remembrance to commemorate a dark day in recent European history. It is horrifying to think that the war in Ukraine has now lasted for a year. During this difficult time, it is imperative that Denmark continues to support the Ukrainian community in Denmark, by giving them the opportunity to preserve and practice their culture. The opening of the Ukraine House in Denmark at Gammel Dok in central Copenhagen will provide a gathering place, where recent refugees from Ukraine and Ukrainian permanent residents in Denmark can come together. I hope that the cultural house will also help us to deepen the cultural connections between our two countries. I am sincerely looking forward to participating in the opening ," says Jakob Engel-Schmidt, the Minister of Culture of Denmark.

"The russian government continues its aggression and terror against Ukraine: genocide against the Ukrainian people, destruction of Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, as well as Russification of Ukrainians, destruction and theft of cultural property of Ukraine in the temporarily occupied territories. At times like this, it is critical to open the cultural centers of Ukraine in different countries whose peace Ukraine helps to protect. We are grateful to the government of Denmark for supporting the opening of the Ukraine House. It for sure will create the brilliant opportunity to showcase Ukraine's cultural heritage, modern art and culture and build stronger connections between our two countries," added Mykhailo Vydoynyk, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Denmark. The opening will include a panel discussion on the role of culture in the resilience and future of democratic Ukraine as well as the launch of the Ukrainian wartime art exhibition "THE MUSES ARE NOT SILENT” curated by Pavlo Gudimov, founder of the Ya Gallery in Ukraine. The event will feature prominent guest speakers and invitees from among the leading Danish and Ukrainian cultural institutions, think tanks, government and parliament.

THE MUSES ARE NOT SILENT
We kick off with an art exhibition that includes over a hundred paintings, sculptures, architecture, and video art created during the war by more than fifty artists from all over Ukraine.

“The muses are not silent” is a twist on a well-known saying that goes: “When the cannons are heard, the muses are silent.” The artists reacted to the full-scale Russian invasion immediately – in the exhibition, Ukrainian painters, designers, architects, and creatives are expressing and reflecting on the war, the future of Ukraine and the world through many new works.

"No one could have predicted that culture would turn out to be so fruitful and necessary under the conditions of war. I could never have imagined that such a shortening of the distance between events and reflection would produce such strong material and capture me as a curator. This exhibition is not about war. It is about creativity during the war, courage, freedom, and originality, which should be appreciated here and now," says the exhibition’s curator Pavlo Gudimov.

The program of the Ukraine House starting in spring will include exhibitions not limited to the Gammel Dok location, as well discussions and meetings, lectures, concerts, and screenings.

Opening: Open to the public starting on 24th February, at 18.00.
Exhibition period: February 24th - 21st of May, 2023.
Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 11-19.

Where: Gammel Dok Strandgade 27B, 1401 Copenhagen.
Organizer: Ukraine House in Denmark. Partners: The Embassy of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Denmark, The Ministry of Culture of Denmark, Art Center "Ya Gallery", Danish Foreign Policy Society, Schultz J & Goll.

The Ukraine House in Denmark is a civil society organisation of Ukrainian cultural diplomacy based in Copenhagen. Its mission is to form an enduring positive influence of Ukraine on Ukrainian-Danish cooperation, security, and lasting peace in Europe.