Germany and Ukraine Art Aid Center deliver humanitarian aid to Ukrainian museum workers
Representatives of the Sofia of Kyiv reserve and volunteers led by Iryna Nikiforova, in charge of aid to Ukrainian museums, received another humanitarian shipment for the Ukrainian museums of Ukraine from the German Foreign Ministry and the Ukraine Art Aid Center, Ukrinform reports.
What is the problem?
During the war, Russia has not only destroyed material values but also tried to destroy the very identity of Ukrainian culture. Museums of Ukraine come under Russian fire, are under occupation, and are robbed by Russians. However, museum staff continued to work despite the war.
According to UNESCO's new count, 152 cultural sites in Ukraine have been partially or totally destroyed since the beginning of the war. Russian forces have also damaged at least 763 cultural heritage sites since the beginning of the invasion in February 2022. Ukraine's cultural ministry reports that the most damaged sites have been documented in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Kherson, Kyiv, and Odesa regions.
What is the solution?
Ukrainian museum workers received the 28th grant from the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ukraine Art Aid Center.
"Everything brought is documented and recorded. The German side sees all of this," said Nelia Kukovalska, the general director of the reserve. "They really wanted us to work with them, without intermediaries, without officials."
How does it work?
According to her, the humanitarian aid will then be delivered to all Ukrainian museums. It includes indispensable things for institutions, especially those that were forced to evacuate — everything needed for packing exhibits and their storage.
Volunteer Iryna Nikiforova reported that it was the 28th humanitarian shipment for museums of Ukraine. This time, museum workers received powerful charging stations and power banks, climate equipment (Thermo hygrometers, dehumidifiers, humidifiers), LED lights, cordless tools, boxes for transporting museum exhibits, and various packaging materials.
More than 500 Ukrainian museums have already received humanitarian aid from the Ukraine Art Aid Center in Germany, particularly those located in the front-line and border zones and affected by Russian armed aggression.
Background
At the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, more than 30 museums and galleries in Germany expressed their desire to help Ukraine preserve its cultural heritage. This is how the Ukraine Art Aid Center was born.
Initially, the aid came from its own funds. Later, the Ministry of Culture and Media and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany joined the initiative.
Rubryka reported that the rescued collection of the Museum of Marine Painting from Ochakiv is being digitized in Mykolaiv.
Rubryka also reported that a powerful digital project, namely 3D scanning of the Trinity Gate Church, was launched in Kyiv in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve.
