The promotion of inclusive art, support for artists with disabilities and neurodiverse artists, as well as the development of sustainable cultural projects are at the heart of the new Memorandum of Cooperation between the British Council and the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.
The agreement reflects the common desire of the parties to strengthen inclusion and accessibility in the cultural sector and creative industries of Ukraine and to expand international partnership within the framework of the Centennial Partnership Agreement between Ukraine and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Within the framework of the Memorandum, the British Council and the UCF plan:
- co-financing of two priority LOTS of the updated inclusive program to support artists with disabilities and form a barrier-free society;
- mentoring support for UCF grantees, which provides for the provision of additional support from UK partners to selected teams, which will ensure the sustainability of their initiatives beyond one financial year.
The first step will be the British Council's contribution of £50 thousand (approximately UAH 2.79 million), which will be used to support projects focused on international cooperation. This will strengthen the impact of cultural initiatives on communities, in particular in the frontline and de-occupied regions, and at the same time open up new opportunities for interaction with partners in the UK.
Cooperation also includes trainings and workshops for artists and cultural managers, exchange of experience between Ukrainian and British organizations in the field of inclusion and universal design.
The partnership between the British Council and UCF in the field of inclusion is sustainable and results. Back in 2019, the parties jointly launched the Inclusive Art competition program as part of the Unlimited: Making the Right Moves art program. In the first year, the program supported 39 cultural initiatives that combined support for artists with disabilities and the development of cultural products with an increased level of accessibility. Subsequently, the program developed into three separate LOTS – "Support for Artists with Disabilities", "Inclusive Cultural Product" and "Inclusive Society". The current Memorandum logically continues this common history, enhancing its scale and constancy.
Scott MacDonald, Director General of the British Council: "The British Council has been working in Ukraine for more than 30 years and we are convinced that today it is more important than ever to build positive connections, mutual understanding and trust between people. Our work with Ukraine did not stop in 2022 — it only intensified. Today, as Ukraine continues to confront the full-scale war unleashed by Russia, support for inclusive cultural practices is of particular importance. War inevitably leads to an increase in the number of people with disabilities, and art itself can become a space for their reintegration, restoring a sense of belonging, and increasing the public visibility of artists with disabilities. Our long-standing partnership with the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation in the field of inclusion began back in 2019. Today's Memorandum opens a new stage — it will help artists with disabilities and neurodiverse artists get the opportunities, resources, and recognition they deserve. It is not only about grants, but also about long-term sustainability and international ties that will support Ukrainian culture in the future."
Anastasia Obraztsova, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation: "UCF consistently works to ensure that culture in Ukraine is inclusive, accessible, and sustainable. Cooperation with the British Council allows not only to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Foundation, but also to provide grantees with mentorship and international connections that will help their projects develop in the long term. At the center of our work are people, their creativity and the communities they change through culture."
As a reminder, the British Council is an international organization of the United Kingdom in the field of cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by creating connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and around the world. We work in the fields of art and culture, education and English. Our operations cover more than 200 countries and territories, and we have a physical presence in more than 100 countries.
The Ukrainian Cultural Foundation is a state investor in the development of culture and creative industries. The institution was founded in 2017 on the basis of the Law of Ukraine "On the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation". Projects are supported on a competitive basis within seven sectors: audio art, visual arts, audiovisual arts, cultural heritage, literature, performing and performing arts, cultural and creative industries. Over eight years of activity, the foundation has financed 2951 projects that have changed society. The total amount of investments is more than UAH 2 billion, the audience is 56 million people.