Ukrainian Institute Opens New Cultural Space in Prague

The opening of the Institute’s space was initiated by public figure Rostyslav Prokopiuk, its head. For a long time, he worked to ensure that the Ukrainian community in the Czech Republic would have its own cultural hub. Svitlana Kvitnytska, member of the Board of the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation, greeting the participants on behalf of the organization, emphasized that the new space opens up new opportunities for joint initiatives, cultural and educational events.

“Wherever we are and whatever projects we implement, our main task is to make sure the Ukrainian voice is heard. Now Prague has an opportunity for people to come together, hold events, and teach children to live, create and work for the good of Ukraine,” said Svitlana Kvitnytska.

The opening of the Institute’s space is of particular significance given Prague’s historical ties with Ukrainian culture and scholarship. In the interwar period, the Czech capital was one of the important centers of Ukrainian émigré life. In 1921, the Ukrainian Free University moved to Czechoslovakia and became a hub of Ukrainian scholarly and intellectual thought. During the opening ceremony, Rostyslav Prokopiuk stressed the importance of continuing this tradition and developing Ukrainian-Czech cultural ties.

“The Ukrainian community has waited 80 years to have its own space for the development of culture and education in Prague. This is a city where different waves of Ukrainian emigration founded educational institutions, pursued scholarship, developed literature and architecture, and where Ukrainian intellectuals unwelcome to the Soviet authorities found refuge. The Ukrainian Institute is open not only to the Ukrainian community, but also to our Czech friends and everyone who wants to learn more about Ukraine, its culture, history and present day,” said Rostyslav Prokopiuk.

Greetings were also delivered by Volodymyr Yelchenko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine, Head of International Policy Research at the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation. He noted the importance of such a space and called on the Ukrainian community to get involved in its development.

On behalf of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Czech Republic, the participants were greeted by Andrii Korol, First Secretary for Humanitarian Cooperation and Relations with the Ukrainian Diaspora. He called the opening an important step towards uniting Ukrainians around joint initiatives and projects, and expressed the embassy’s readiness to support cooperation for the development of the Institute.

The Ukrainian Institute will become a venue for cultural, educational and artistic events, meetings and communication.

“For us, this is a tool for the institutional strengthening of the Ukrainian community in the Czech Republic,” emphasizes Yaryna Yasynievych, Program Director of the Foundation. “There will be a library with a collection of rare Ukrainian publications, as well as cultural exhibitions, dialogues with opinion leaders and experts, art projects and creative meetings. There are also plans to open a museum and children’s educational and art studios.”

The Institute’s holdings are also planned to be supplemented with the collection of the Dolynai family. In particular, with materials related to Irena Dolynai — the daughter-in-law of Mykola Dolynai, a minister in the government of Carpatho-Ukraine.

Among the Institute’s special exhibits are rare Ukrainian books, old editions of the “Kobzar” and a candle from the Maidan that Rostyslav Prokopiuk has kept since 2014. The Institute also features a memorial wall dedicated to the Ukrainian struggle and the people we have lost.

The opening featured an art program with Ukrainian performers.

The Ukrainian Institute is located at Štefánikova 21 in Prague.