The “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” warns: the cultural crisis will intensify the economic one

The non-governmental organization “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” appeals to the government and parliament not to kill the development of the country’s humanitarian sphere in order to save money. 

The lives and health of Ukrainians are a priority, and it is necessary to make every effort to preserve them. Such a situation requires financial restrictions. This entails redistribution of budget funds for public health needs. However, the Government’s proposed reduction in financing of entire branches of creative industries will inevitably lead to their actual destruction. It seems that the budget changes were prepared without consultation with the institutions and without taking into account the risks in the future. Even operational actions must be balanced so that the side effect of the “medicine” does not lead to irreversible damage to the country.

The non-governmental organization “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” contributes to the development of culture by implementing art projects and organizing meetings of leading intellectuals and politicians. For three years, we have been holding the Via Carpatia International Forum of Eastern and Central Europe. 

We know that without the support of the state, Ukrainian culture is doomed to another difficult period of stagnation, which is especially unfortunate in view of the violent revival of the past years. Many creative and production processes in culture are implemented over a long period and the creation of a critical imbalance in the budget financing project will lead to significant cultural losses.

All efforts should be made to prevent a deep humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

Since 2014, a number of government institutions have been created or strengthened their work on the support and development of culture: the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, the Ukrainian Book Institute, the State Agency of Ukraine for Film Affairs, the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance. They received proper funding for the first time and it had a powerful effect in the industry. 

Therefore, the change in financing conditions should be carried out after consultation with stakeholders and assessment of the long-term consequences of stopping project financing. National culture and memory are the key to the sustainability of reforms and the building of a democratic society in Ukraine, strengthening countermeasures against Russia’s hybrid aggression.

Please maintain the ability to conduct work at an appropriate level for:

• of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, because thanks to its work in Ukraine in recent years, high-quality innovative art projects have begun to appear, and cultural institutions have developed;
• Ukrainian Book Institute, thanks to which the publishing industry received additional opportunities for significant success;
• The State Agency of Ukraine on Cinema Issues, because the success of the Ukrainian cinematography in recent years was possible thanks to the support of the state;
• Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, which precisely in times of Russian armed and informational aggression opposes propaganda and promotes the formation of Ukrainian values; 
• The National Memorial Complex of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred – the Museum of the Revolution of Dignity and the National Holodomor Museum;
• The project for the restoration of the Old Academic Building of the Bratsky Monastery ensemble at the National University “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy”, which will make it possible to carry out rescue works of the architectural monument of world importance, as well as to receive significant foreign funding. 

All these institutions, objects, works and projects are an important foundation of Ukrainian cultural stability, spending on them does not mean “eating”, but will be an infusion into the economy and the creation of jobs. Spending on them means preserving the “humanitarian front” in the face of Russia’s hybrid aggression. Spending on them means strengthening the consolidation of society in the face of threats of a pandemic and armed aggression. 

Due to the pandemic, the economic crisis is inevitable not only in Ukraine, but also in the whole world. Reducing spending on culture and the humanitarian sphere will complicate the perception of this crisis by society and may exacerbate public confrontation, which the aggressor Russia will certainly take advantage of.

Therefore, for the sake of long-term stability, it is necessary to prevent the crisis of culture caused by the mechanical reduction of state appropriations by all means.