photo by Viktoria Savitska
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Institutions of culture and arts are gradually beginning to operate in Ukraine on April 1. From today, according to the head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, Maksym Kozytskyi, the format of work will be expanded by theatre and concert institutions, museums and reserves. In particular, these are the Lviv National Opera, the Lviv National Theater named after Maria Zankovetska, the Lviv National Philharmonic named after Myroslav Skoryk.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops, most of the city’s cultural institutions have become shelters for those fleeing the bombing. Now, they will resume operation according to their own programs and schedule. Part of the proceeds from the purchased tickets will go to help Ukrainian defenders or humanitarian support as reported by the press service of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy.
«Art is not only an invisible bridge that connects reality and the world of fantasy, but also a real cure for emotional wounds. Ukrainians have received so many of them that it’s impossible to count, so artists are ready to work non-stop to alleviate the suffering of people from the horrors of war,» – the Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko stated.
In the Lviv region, the state historical and cultural reserves «Tustan» and «Nahuyevychi», as well as the open-air museum «Museum of Folk Architecture and Life in Lviv named after Klymenty Sheptytsky» will continue to receive visitors.
Also from March 26, departments of the Lviv National Gallery of Arts named after Borys Voznytsky are also available to visitors: museums-reserves «Pidhirtsi Castle», «Zhovkva Castle», «Pyatnychanska Tower». Also, the team of the Lviv Museum of the History of Religion regularly organizes thematic tours about the religious life of Lviv, tours of the museum’s dungeons and entertainment and educational quests for children of refugees.
Institutions, where IDPs are living now, are also resuming work, but shelters within them will continue to function.
The Ministry of Culture stated that the events in cultural and artistic institutions will take into account the requirements of martial law. In case of an air alarm, all spectators must go to the shelter, which is located in the institution, so the number of seats is limited. At the entrance to the establishments, visitors can have a cursory inspection to identify objects whose circulation is prohibited, restricted or threatens human life or health.
We will add that the media hub «Tvoe Misto» has launched a project of video stories «On the First Line» about those who help Ukrainians during the war – on the front line or in the rear. This is a series of short videos about war heroes, about their systematic work in defense of the country and hometown. The video will be published in two languages: Ukrainian and English.
Translated by Vitalii Holich
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Lviv Now is an English-language website for Lviv, Ukraine’s «tech-friendly cultural hub.» It is produced by Tvoe Misto («Your City») media-hub, which also hosts regular problem-solving public forums to benefit the city and its people.