News
UNESCO opens a new national cultural institution in Ukraine
Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, inaugurated the Lviv Culture Hub, an initiative supported by Spain to revitalize Ukraine’s cultural sector and fostering resilience during war. The visit underscores UNESCO’s unwavering commitment to preserving and promoting culture as a tool for recovery and peace. The Hub will serve as a center of excellence for training, innovation, and cultural dialogue.
Today, with the inauguration of the UNESCO Lviv Culture Hub, we highlight the support of our Organization and the international community to this unique city, one of Ukraine's cultural capitals. The hundreds of professionals who will be trained in this national institution will play a key role in the cultural revival of the city and the country.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Audrey Azoulay emphasized the role played by the city in times of crisis.
The visit also included a tour of the Hub’s newly renovated premises, a historic monument restored amidst the challenges of war. The project has already received the "Award of the National Union of Architects 2023" in the category of "Restoration of Architectural Monuments." The Hub’s inclusive design ensures accessibility for all members of society, including persons with disabilities.
Since February 2022, 91Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ·×ÔÅÄ trained over 2,000 cultural professionals across Ukraine through workshops on damage assessment, preservation of museum collection and digitization of inventories. Initiatives such as Art-Lab and Art Therapy have also harnessed the transformative power of culture to foster resilience, benefiting veterans and their families. Following the opening of the Culture Hub, hundreds more cultural heritage professionals and practitioners are expected to receive training in 2025 and more in coming years.
The Hub was created thanks to $1.7 million in funding from Spain, enabling the restoration of the space and the organization of activities. The ceremony was attended by José Manuel Albares Bueno, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, and Mykola Tochytskyi, Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine.
The opening of Ukraine’s first UNESCO Cultural Hub in Lviv is an incredibly important milestone for the city and the entire country. Lviv, as a center of culture, history, and creativity, gains another platform to promote Ukrainian heritage and support modern initiatives. Thanks to this hub, Ukraine moves closer to global cultural standards, and Lviv strengthens its status as a center for international cooperation. We sincerely thank all the partners who contributed to the opening of this center. It is truly significant for us.
The launch of the Culture Hub in Lviv – attended by dozens of officials and cultural figures from Ukraine – represents a pivotal milestone in UNESCO’s commitment to embedding culture at the heart of Ukraine’s recovery strategy.
The Lviv Culture Hub, launched in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications, the Lviv City Council, and the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO, was made possible thanks to the generous support from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
The city of Lviv has a unique connection with UNESCO. Its Historic Centre is inscribed both on UNESCO World Heritage List and the International List of Cultural Property under Enhanced Protection. Lviv is also a UNESCO Creative City of Literature since 2015.
