New representatives of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation will be established in the Odesa and Sumy regions to assist cultural communities in preparing grant applications and finding partners. This is stated in a press release provided by Suspilne Culture.
The launch of the network of regional representatives aims to enhance collaboration between the foundation and local cultural communities, with the pilot phase implemented in the Odesa and Sumy regions.
Anastasia Obraztsova, the executive director of the UCF, emphasized that the selection of regions was based on statistical data: applicants from these areas show high activity and submit numerous ideas, yet only a few projects are realized. The main objective of the initiative is to assist local communities in enhancing their capacity and increasing the number of successful projects.
"We aim for each region to have its successful cultural case that inspires others and shows that significant changes begin locally".
UCF representatives will help cultural communities better understand the requirements of grant programs, prepare higher-quality applications, seek partners, and implement their ideas.
What is UCF
The Ukrainian Cultural Foundation (UCF) is a state investor in the development of culture and creative industries. The institution was established in 2017 based on the Law of Ukraine "On the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation".
Project funding is conducted on a competitive basis across seven sectors:
- audio art;
- visual art;
- audiovisual art;
- cultural heritage;
- literary affairs;
- performative and stage art;
- cultural and creative industries.
Over eight years of operation, the foundation has funded 2951 projects, with total investments exceeding 2 billion hryvnias, reaching an audience of 56 million people. According to the draft state budget for 2026, 410.9 million UAH is planned to be allocated to the UCF (250.7 million in 2025). Next year, in the ninth grant season, separate grants for audiovisual creators will be established, operating independently from the UCF's collaboration with the State Film Agency and the Ministry of Culture.