On November 17–18, 2025, the Museum of Kyiv History hosted the scientific and practical conference “Kyiv and Kyivans. The Cultural Space of the City in the Conditions of Wartime Hardships,” held in a hybrid format, with an option of in-person participation and remote attendance.
The conference was dedicated to the reflection on the experience of the functioning of Kyiv’s cultural institutions and the activities of its cultural figures under the conditions of wartime challenges of the 20th–21st centuries. The focus of the participants’ attention was on issues of preserving cultural heritage, the transformation of the city’s cultural environment, and the formation of new practices in response to contemporary threats caused by military aggression.
Within the framework of the event, historical examples of the activities of cultural institutions during wartime upheavals of the 20th century were discussed, in particular the problems of monuments destruction, loss and evacuation of cultural valuables, as well as their return and restitution. Special attention was given to the contemporary challenges faced by cultural institutions during the full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine: issues of security, preservation of collections, transition to the digital space, adaptation of working formats, and the formation of new cultural and memory narratives.
An important component of the discussion was the problem of cultural diplomacy, the role of the Ukrainian diaspora in promoting national culture, as well as cooperation with international institutions in countering propaganda narratives.
Within the framework of the conference, a thematic section dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the birth of Serge Lifar was held. Its participants addressed the Kyiv period of the artist’s life, his contribution to the development of ballet and dance theory, the research and popularization of his collection, as well as contemporary interpretations of his figure in culture.
During the conference, thematic events also took place: an artistic reprise, a mini-exhibition, and a tour dedicated to the artist’s anniversary, which complemented the scientific program and contributed to a broader understanding of his legacy.
The event became an important platform for professional dialogue, exchange of experience, and the development of approaches to preserving and developing Kyiv’s cultural space under wartime conditions.
On November 23–24, 2026, the annual scientific and practical conference “Kyiv and Kyivans” will take place at the Museum of Kyiv History. The event will be held in a hybrid format — both offline and online.
