Highlighting Cultural Resilience: Stories from ZMINA: Rebuilding Subgrantees
The team of Malý Berlín, in collaboration with the IZOLYATSIA Foundation and the Trans Europe Halles network, has prepared a series of articles featuring interviews, stories, and narratives from the subgrantees of the ZMINA: Rebuilding program. The projects were implemented in Ukraine and other Creative Europe countries in partnership with local organizations. The organizers of these initiatives share insights into their work, cultural and creative practices, challenges faced during project implementation, as well as their achievements and gained experience.
The first call of national sub-grants
In the heart of Rivne, a new cultural space has emerged, blending history, art, and nature. The Gothic Garden of the Organ Hall project aims to restore and beautify the area around the historic St. Anthony's Church, creating a place for relaxation, cultural enrichment, and community connection. Despite the challenges of wartime, the project symbolizes resilience and hope, offering a unique venue for performances, concerts, and events that unite the community and celebrate Ukrainian heritage. One of the projects supported by the ZMINA: Rebuilding grant programme is the eco-drama The Birds at the Lesya Ukrainka Theater in Lviv. We spoke to the play's director, Dmytro Zakhozhenko, about the idea of the play and its implementation, about how to tell a foreign audience about the Russian war in Ukraine, about people under Russian occupation, and the need to give them a voice. The School of Architecture and Design in Sumy launched the "Living Way The River in the City" project to raise ecological awareness and improve the use of the city's water resources. The project includes hydrological knowledge development, design solutions for river zones, and community involvement in planning. Thanks to the ZMINA: Rebuilding subgrant, the initiative gained momentum, but due to security concerns, the project's implementation and public events have been temporarily suspended. #Ecology #Architecture #Projects Last spring, Neformat Music Unity: Cultural Construction, a dynamic one-day conference, brought together professionals from the underground and indie music scenes to discuss pressing issues, share experiences, and explore the path to post-war recovery. We spoke to the organizing team about the challenges of hosting such an event in wartime conditions, the importance of creating a platform for dialogue, and their vision for the future of Ukraine’s music industry. A small village in Ukraine is full of history. A group of enthusiasts is giving a new life to this place thanks to 3D technology. Historical wealth of this place is so shocking, even for Ukrainians – many of them do not know how history is in almost every step of Moshny. We talked with Roman Malenkov, one of the people, who is raising the popularity and historical value of this place. This spring, Plan.Action.Fundamentals was launched as an educational initiative aimed at students in grades 8-11 and their teachers, focusing on involving them in Ukraine's rebuilding efforts. The program seeks to address immediate needs while preparing for future recovery, empowering young people with the necessary knowledge and skills to contribute meaningfully. Through creative projects, students are transforming their schools into centers of community strength and innovation. The Global Network of Ecovillages of Ukraine launched the Green Road of Ecovillages project to support internally displaced people, providing housing, education, and humanitarian aid. In 2023, they began a crafts training program, teaching pottery, weaving, and more. This initiative empowered IDPs, revived local cultures, and helped participants start workshops, with plans for future growth through collaborations and an international online shop. The Russian war in Ukraine has destroyed hundreds of villages and towns including Izyum in the Kharkiv region, which was under Russian occupation for several months in 2022. Nowadays, more and more initiatives are being created in Ukraine that plan to rebuild cities and restore lost buildings. One such project is IZYUM_recovery from the architectural and construction company PORTAL-21. The Babyn to Bakhmut project, led by multimedia artist Olia Mykhailiuk, takes viewers on an audiovisual journey that bridges the gap between rural communities in western Ukraine and those fighting on the frontlines in the east. The documentary captures the daily realities of life during war and the resilience of tradition, culture, and human connection across regions. While the project touches on the broader context of wartime life, the focus of the video notes is more on the journey itself and the connections between people, showing how relationships persist and grow stronger, even across great distances. By following the volunteers from Babyn as they deliver supplies—and symbols of their heritage—to their fellow villagers in Bakhmut and Huliaypole, the project encourages dialogue on the evolving ties between Ukrainian regions and the significance of shared values, music, and memories amidst the ongoing war.
ZMINA: Rebuilding - The Gothic Garden of the Organ Hall
ZMINA: Rebuilding - Dmytro Zahkozhenko on his new eco-drama: "I am interested in ecology only as a tool to talk about war"
ZMINA: Rebuilding - Living Way. The river in the city. The project aims to change the coexistence with the river.
ZMINA: Rebuilding | Neformat Music Unity: Uniting Ukraine's Music Community in a Time of War
ZMINA: Rebuilding | A Forgotten Treasure: Village of Moshny saved the history
ZMINA: Rebuilding - Plan.Action.Fundamentals: Engaging Ukraine’s Youth in Post-War Reconstruction
ZMINA: Rebuilding - Learning new professions: how the eco-settlement system helps in times of war
ZMINA: Rebuilding - Portal 21 : IZYUM_recovery
ZMINA: Rebuilding - Babyn to Bakhmut: Connecting Ukraine’s Frontlines and Villages Through a Shared Audiovisual Journey
The second call of national sub-grants
In the heart of war-torn Ukraine, where devastation once lingered, a schoolyard has transformed into a sanctuary of healing and resilience. The project From Destruction to New Life is more than a mere reconstruction—it symbolizes hope, recovery, and community spirit. Technical Project Manager Dmytro Chulkov shares the inspiring journey behind the creation of this landscape-architectural park, designed to help children and the local community heal from the trauma of war. Interpersonal relationships, mental health, and the economy—these are just some of the areas affected by war. Improving the quality of life and rebuilding the community in the Chernihiv region is the focus of a project called Vidnova. In addition to providing support to people affected by the war, it also gives local residents the opportunity to take an active role in restoring what the conflict has destroyed. Project manager Artem Melnyk shared more details in an interview. Kryvyi Rih: Cultural Heritage – this is the name of a project that has brought together architects, urban planners, historians, and artists with local communities in a town historically linked to mining and metallurgy. Their shared goal is to find new uses for abandoned industrial sites. Sviatoslav Mykhailov, Communication Manager at Kryvyi Rih Cultural Centre (KRCC), shared more details about the project. Two Ukrainian communities, Krasnokutsk and Zbarazh have come together to explore and revive their shared cultural heritage. They are separated by 772 kilometres, but now they are connected thanks to a project, which combines traditional knowledge with contemporary art. We spoke about Angle 772 with Iryna Kats and Lusya Nychai, the creators of the project. ‘Sound Experiences of War’ is a project aimed at exploring and understanding the changes in the sonic environment and its perception. The aim of the project was to combine sound recordings and live broadcasts from different cities in Ukraine and Europe in one space, physical and virtual, and to develop an archive to facilitate recovery processes shared by listening, talking and narrating traumatic experiences using artistic tools. The theatre in Kherson (Ukraine) has been going through a difficult time since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. The city was under occupation, and now, even after the de-occupation, the theatre building is constantly under fire. Despite all this, the theatre continues to work, holding performances in different cities and travelling to other countries. We talked to the theatre's director Oleksandr Knyha about the theatre's work and the performance of The Carrier, which was supported by ZMINA: Rebuilding implemented by Trans Europe Halles, IZOLYATSIA (Ukraine) and Malý Berlín cultural center (Slovakia). Young people in Zaporizhzhia are actively reshaping urban spaces through community-driven initiatives. From creating public spaces to advocating for local change, they are addressing gaps in youth engagement and city planning. This project highlights their efforts to foster sustainable, community-focused development. In de-occupied villages and frontline communities of eastern Ukraine, the Russian war left more than broken buildings—it fractured trust, silenced conversations, and pushed young people into isolation. For teenagers growing up amid displacement and destruction, the simple act of talking, sharing space, or dreaming about the future often felt impossible.
ZMINA: Rebuilding - From Destruction to New Life. A Park of Hope for a War-Affected Community
ZMINA: Rebuilding - Community Recovery After Occupation: New Beginnings in the Chernihiv Region
ZMINA: Rebuilding - Kryvyi Rih. Industrial Heritage Revived Through Culture
ZMINA: Rebuilding | Angle 772: Two Communities and Reaweaked Tradition
Listening to remember: the project ‘Sound Experiences of War’
Theater director in Kherson: “When I see women going to the theatre, today, even though we’re playing in a shelter, they’re putting on dresses. This is the only opportunity they have in Kherson to wear dresses”
ZMINA: Rebuilding - How young people are changing urban space in Zaporizhzhia
ZMINA: Rebuilding - Social Recovery in Frontline and De-occupied Communities: Rebuilding Trust, One Conversation at a Time
The first call of international sub-grants
The ZMINA: Rebuilding grant programme supported the national Ukrainian pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennial, namely the Net Making project. The Biennale took place from 20 April to 24 November 2024. The Mariupol #nadiya_na_svitanok project uses theatre as both a reflection of Ukraine’s reality and a tool for healing. Co-authored by Maryna Bortnyk-Hulevata, head of the literary and dramaturgy department at the Khmelnytskyi Regional Academic Music and Drama Theatre, the play unfolds in the shelter of the Azovstal plant, immersing audiences in the psychological toll of war while focusing on resilience. Kino Guarimba – a festival connecting communities, art, and culture from around the world. Founded in 2012 in the Italian town of Amantea, the project has become a symbol of independent cinema and a platform for young creators. One of the organizers and co-founders of the entire La Guarimba Organisation is Ernesto Garrido, with whom we spoke about the latest edition of the festival. Last year, the White Disease: Fantastic Realism of the Times of One War project took Ukrainian theater beyond its borders, presenting Karel Čapek’s play through the unique perspective of the Virymo! Dnipro Drama Youth Theater. The project aimed to spark important conversations about war, recovery, and the values shaping post-war Ukraine both at home and across Europe. With performances in Austria and the Czech Republic, followed by discussion forums, the project reached international audiences, deepening their understanding of Ukrainian realities and the ongoing struggle for restoration. The screen shows a quiet port city—Berdiansk, now under Russian occupation. There was no voiceover. Just the sound of wind and water, the empty creaking of abandoned piers, and the slow rhythm of waves against concrete. It’s a haunting kind of silence—the kind that suggests something has been taken, and nothing has yet returned. The project aimed to strengthen the relationship between artist-run and non-institutional cultural spaces in Poland and Ukraine while questioning and sharing how Ukrainian cultural heritage, art and contemporary critique can be popularised abroad. As part of this project, the partners produced two publications, two exhibitions, five essays published online and one capacity-building workshop. In the face of war and displacement, cultural exchange becomes more than just artistic collaboration. The SoliDARE project, a partnership between Kino Úsmev (Košice, Slovakia) and the Hnat Khotkevych Palace of Culture (Lviv, Ukraine), set out to create a space where Ukrainian filmmakers could continue their work, share their stories, and connect with new audiences in Central Europe.We spoke with Kristína Novosádová, project manager at Kino Úsmev, about the project’s impact, the challenges of fostering artistic exchange during wartime, and how SoliDARE has shaped new opportunities for collaboration and understanding. The exhibition project ‘A Time in Pieces’ was created for the Kyiv Perennial event - the Berlin version of the 5th Kyiv Biennale, which was reimagined as a collaborative project based on political, social and cultural survival. The exhibition was the final stage of the Kyiv Perennial project. It ran from 24 May to 27 July 2024 in Berlin. We talked to the exhibition's co-curator, Serhii Klymko, about the preparation for the exhibition, the fragmentation of time, and the audience's reactions. The project called Jazz Kontakt is interested in building bridges in both cultural and social areas and connecting communities. Music collaborations, workshops, and panel discussions – these are all goals set by the organizers, who aim to increase the presence of Ukrainian music culture worldwide. Read more in an interview with Anastasiia Pokaz, creative producer of XJAZZ! FESTIVAL. As part of the month-long residencies organised in Košice at Tabačka, an idea was born for a project that not only breathed new life into an old factory but also strengthened Slovak-Ukrainian artistic collaborations. Under the umbrella of Reimagining Realities, unique works were created in a distinctive space and admired by an unconventional audience. We spoke with the project coordinator, Zuzana Kupcová to learn more.
ZMINA: Rebuilding - Net Making: A brief look at Ukrainian pavillion at the 60th Venice Biennial
ZMINA: Rebuilding - Theater as a Shelter: Mariupol#nadiya_na_svitanok Brings Ukraine’s Reality to the World Stage
ZMINA: Rebuilding - Kino Guarimba: Place with the movie soul
The White Disease: A Theatrical Journey of Reflection and Restoration
ZMINA: Rebuilding | The Language of Silence: Ukraine’s Cultural Resistance at Malta Biennale
ZMINA: Rebuilding:Under the Lying Stone, Water Does Not Flow
ZMINA: Rebuilding | “More Than Just Screenings” – How SoliDARE Built a Creative Hub for Ukrainian Filmmakers in Europe
ZMINA: Rebuilding | Ukrainian curator Serge Klymko: “We are in an extended 24 February, which has started and continues endlessly, and there is no point where it can stop.”
ZMINA: Rebuilding - Ukrainian music at Berlin's XJAZZ FESTIVAL: Jazz is the language that brings people together
ZMINA: Rebuilding - Tabačka and Smolník: Slovak and Ukrainian Artists Revive an Old Factory
The second call of international sub-grants
The audience stood in silence as the lights faded. Outside the theatre, the square near the Opera in Timișoara was already filling with people. They had just watched Blockpost—a searing play about war, loss, and resistance. Now they joined a growing protest sparked by the country’s controversial presidential election. In their hands were signs. On their phones, one word: #Blockpost. The combination of Danish possibilities and Ukrainian photographers brought about the exhibition Heart of Earth. It explores the connection of the Ukrainian nation's connection to its land and recalls the environmental, historical and geopolitical context of the Russian war. In an interview with Kateryna Stukalova from Ukraine House in Denmark and Natalia Stanko from Mystetskyi Arsenal, we discuss the origins of the exhibition, the events associated with it, and the feedback from people who have visited it. The Atmosféra Festival has a long-standing tradition in Slovakia. This well-known event has now also joined forces with artists from war-torn Ukraine. The project Forests of Our Hearts brought together artists from both Slovakia and Ukraine. We spoke with curator Tomáš Tholt and festival producer Lucia Šimášková about the idea, implementation, and progress of the project. The project Correct Mistakes_Showcase Ukraine aims at presenting the Ukrainian experience and context since the full-scale invasion of Russia at the Tbilisi Architecture Biennial 2024 (TAB), which is to take place from September 28 to October 19, 2024, in Tbilisi, Georgia. When the bombs fall, the violins still rise. In the face of war, young Ukrainian musicians are reclaiming strength, connection, and identity—through chamber music. The YsOU Chamber Music Lab project, launched in 2024, brought together artists from Ukraine, Germany, and Spain to nurture talent, process trauma, and build cultural bridges through sound. Creators from two war-affected countries showcased their art at the DokuFest festival. Documentaries and photographs became a voice for powerful stories of resilience, justice, and remembrance. We spoke with organiser Eroll Bilibani about the Focus Ukraine project. “Let the Body Speak: Rebuilding the Community” is an initiative of the Ukrainian organisation Platform for Contemporary Dance in partnership with the Independent Dance Association of Estonia, the Toplocentrala Contemporary Art Centre in Bulgaria, and the PARTY Association in Latvia. This project aims to present Ukrainian contemporary dance in Europe, restore professional ties in the dance community, and unite Ukrainian choreographers in the three countries. We talked to Anton Ovchinnikov - the project organiser, choreographer, and founder of the International Festival of Contemporary Dance Theater Zelyonka Fest - about the forced migration of choreographers, the experience of partnership, and how performing arts can fight Russian propaganda. The LUSTR Festival in Prague has long been a celebration of illustration, a place where artists from around the world converge to share their work and ideas. In September 2024, the festival took on an even greater role: becoming a platform for Ukrainian artists navigating the realities of war, resilience, and the process of cultural restoration. Under the framework of ZMINA: Rebuilding, artists participated in exhibitions, discussions, workshops, and an artist residency programme, creating new works that reflect both the challenges and hopes of contemporary Ukraine. The Pavilion of the Future, Ukraine 2024: With the Beating Hearts project, presented at the Avignon Festival in July 2024 as part of the ZMINA: Rebuilding programme, stands as a testament to the power of culture in times of adversity. Organised by La Manufacture in collaboration with the Ukrainian Institute in France, the project highlights the role of art in fostering resilience, preserving cultural identity, and strengthening European solidarity with Ukraine. The Pavilion’s events unfolded over several months, weaving together performances, exhibitions, peer meetings, and discussions that placed Ukrainian artistic expression at the heart of one of the world's most renowned theatre festivals. When Ukraine is mentioned, the first thing that often comes to mind is the ongoing war. However, this self-defending country is not only a place of tremendous loss, but also a bearer of cultural heritage. The Ukrainian Drama Week Festival brought a piece of the country’s culture to Paris. In this case, it was theatre culture. The organizing team shared more details. Helsinki and Vilnius, two European capitals, have become home to the Ukrainian Film Days. The documentaries and feature films presented at the festival brought with them the reality of war, the power of culture, and the ability to build bridges between nations. We spoke with Nataliya Teramae, the organizer of the Helsinki festival, who also answered on behalf of Anna Burdina, the organizer of the festival in Vilnius, about both parts of the event held in these two different cities.
ZMINA: Rebuilding - Sunlight Over Borders: Blockpost — A Play That Became a Movement
ZMINA: Rebuilding - The Voice of Ukrainian Land in the Heart of Copenhagen
ZMINA: Rebuilding | Forests of Our Hearts: The Connection Between Slovak and Ukrainian Art at the Atmosféra Festival
Correct Mistakes_Showcase Ukraine
ZMINA: Rebuilding | Notes of Hope: Ukrainian Youth, War, and the Future They’re Composing Together
ZMINA: Rebuilding - DokuFest and Docudays Connect Kosovo and Ukraine
ZMINA: Rebuilding | How dance tells the story of war and trauma: project experience “Let the Body Speak: Rebuilding the Community”
ZMINA: Rebuilding | The Future for Ukraine: Art, Resilience, and Rebuilding at LUSTR Festival
ZMINA: Rebuilding | Pavilion of the Future: A Cultural Beacon Amidst Turmoil
ZMINA: Rebuilding - Ukrainian Drama Week Festival: Bringing Ukrainian Theatre to French Stages
ZMINA: Rebuilding | Ukrainian Films as Testimonies of War in Helsinki and Vilnius
ZMINA: Rebuilding is a project the EU's Creative Europe program co-funded as part of a special call for proposals to support Ukrainian IDPs and the Ukrainian cultural and creative sectors. The project is the result of cooperation between the IZOLYATSIA Foundation (Ukraine), the Trans Europe Halles network (Sweden) and the Malý Berlín organization (Slovakia).