The XIV International Book Arsenal Festival has begun work at the Mystetskyi Arsenal in the capital. First Lady Olena Zelenska attended the opening. This is reported reported by the Office of the President.
Festival Program and Key Events
The focus theme for 2024 became the phrase "Carry Your Freedom." Its curator is journalist, human rights activist, and serviceman Maksym Butkevych, who recently returned from Russian captivity. According to him, the festival remains a "space of freedom."
Within the framework of the XIV Book Arsenal, 240 events are planned: lectures, discussions, workshops, meetings with authors, musical performances, and shows. The book fair features stands from large and small publishers, the bookshop book.ua, as well as 15 exhibition projects.
This year, new and revived directions have appeared in the program:
- Festival of First Plays and Veterans' Theater — special programs presented for the first time.
- Writer's Program — its curator, poet and soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Lyubka, offers discussions about Ukraine's neighbors.
- Children's Program — "Courage of the First Attempt."
- Book Arsenal Fellowship Program — a professional program for foreign publishers, in which representatives from eight countries participate, including for the first time from Peru, Egypt, and Taiwan.
The Festival's Mission and the Role of Culture in War
Vice Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy – Minister of Culture of Ukraine Tetiana Desiatniuk emphasized the symbolism of holding the event in a historic building. She noted that the Arsenal was once created to store weapons, and today it effectively "preserves what makes us a nation — the Ukrainian voice, the book, and literature." Desiatniuk also stressed that Russia deliberately destroys Ukrainian cultural institutions, libraries, and museums throughout the country.
"Every time, as an avid reader, I eagerly await this event and the opportunity to see the incredible community again... This time, I have the honor to join this event in my new role.", — said the minister during the opening.
Visit of the First Lady and Presidential Choice
Olena Zelenska attended the festival's opening. Together with the management of the Mystetskyi Arsenal, she familiarized herself with new releases and purchased several books, including "Hemingway Knows Nothing" by Artur Dron and the work of Finnish President Alexander Stubb "The Power Triangle."
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is currently on a visit to Sweden, also chose literature for himself and international partners. For the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, the president purchased Ryan Holiday's book "Discipline Is Destiny: The Power of Self-Control."
According to Olena Sushko, Executive Director of the Renaissance Foundation, the festival is currently a place of concentration for "quality thinking." Oleksandra Susko, co-founder of the Mnozhyna Foundation, added that the event has become a "place of strength where Ukrainian agency is growing."
The festival will continue at Mystetskyi Arsenal until May 31. The full program of events can be found on the official resources of the event.
