On April 20, the “Proud to be Ukrainian” Arts and Music Festival electrified the city of Zaporizhzhia uniting over 400 attendees in a vibrant display of culture and resilience at the Nezlamnyi Hub (Titan Culture Palace). Designed to bolster the spirits of city residents and internally displaced persons, the festival served as a platform for solidarity, offering a safe haven for networking, cultural expression and collective positive action resisting the aggression.
The festival featured an array of activities including panel discussions, historical lectures, live performances, local producers’ fair, and artistic exhibitions, all aimed at reinforcing social cohesion and combatting malign Russia’s narratives.
“Supporting and developing Ukrainian culture is a crucial weapon in the fight against Russia’s propaganda. We express our sincere gratitude to the organizers and participants of the festival for holding such a meaningful event in our frontline city,” Anatoliy Kurtiev, Acting Mayor of Zaporizhzhia.
The festival also hosted the “Yellow&Blue” exhibition by the Ukrainian illustrator community Pictoric, showcasing Ukraine’s rich cultural heritage through art, and the “I’m staying” photo series by Polina Polikapova, which highlighted the determination of Ukraine’s youth amidst the ongoing war.
“Zaporizhzhia is a city of brave, creative, and open-minded people. For us, as a project that has historic ties with the region, it was important to have local residents, internally displaced people, activists, city authorities, and businesses represented at the festival to foster the spirit of unity and strengthen community bonds. We designed this festival to uplift the spirits of citizens living in frontline communities and give them additional opportunity to be proud of Ukraine’s European cultural identity. I am delighted to see that our event stood out as a beacon of cultural pride, hope and resistance against the adversity posed by Russia,” Roland Kovats, Chief of Party at USAID/ENGAGE.
Musical highlights included performances by popular Ukrainian artists WARnyakannya, ADAM, and KAZKA, alongside a memorable poetry reading and book presentation by leading Ukrainian writers.
“We are honored to have co-hosted this timely event right where it was most needed. Bringing music and culture to people during these challenging times is vital for fostering a sense of unity and togetherness. It’s heartening to see how the festival offered a taste of normalcy and a deeper connection to the rich cultural heritage of Ukraine. Inspired by the positive impact here in Zaporizhzhia, we are eager to extend this experience to other frontline communities, spreading hope and solidarity across Ukraine,” Mariana Mokrynska, Project manager of the festival partner and co-organizer, the Ukrainian Association of Music Events.
