The PinchukArtCentre and Belgian art institutions launch For Ukrainians, By Ukrainians, a joint educational programme for Ukrainian refugees
The PinchukArtCentre and the Museum of Contemporary Art M HKA (Antwerp, Belgium) are launching For Ukrainians, By Ukrainians, a joint educational programme for Ukrainian refugees. It aims to support families who were forced out of their homes and came to Belgium to escape russian aggression against Ukraine. The programme is part of the Imagine Ukraine art project, the PinchukArtCentre's continued effort on the cultural front against russia's war in Ukraine.
The For Ukrainians, By Ukrainians programme is a series of art therapy sessions focusing on the creative development of children, where they can talk about painful and traumatic experiences, as well as on promoting mutual support and unity with other internally displaced persons. Ukrainian volunteers working with refugees undergo special training, getting psychological advice and step-by-step instructions for the classes from Olga Shyshlova, Head of Public Programmes at the PinchukArtCentre, and Valeriia Dehtiarova, educational programmes manager.
Participation in the workshops is free of charge but pre-registration is required.
Workshop schedule:1. Brussels (7, 14, 21, 28 May): Wiels Centre for Contemporary Art. Registration via link2. Antwerp (7, 14, 21, 28 May): M HKA Museum of Contemporary Art. Registration via link3. Leuven (7, 14, 21, 28 May): M Leuven. Registration via link4. Mechelen (May 14, 28): De Garage contemporary art space at Museum Hof van Busleyden. Registration via link5. Ghent (14, 21, 28 May): S.M.A.K. Museum of Modern Art. Registration via link6. Turnhout (21, 28 May): De Warande Cultural Centre. Registration via link
The PinchukArtCentre's educational project Workshop of Possibilities for people with special needs (12+ years) continues online, allowing its participants to tackle creative tasks together with artists. The Workshop gives project participants an opportunity to practice their knowledge and skills, realise results of their work, gain new experiences and socialise. Because of Russia's war against Ukraine, classes are held online. If you would like to join the programme, please fill in the form here.
Imagine Ukraine is an ambitious project that aims to reach out beyond the immediate urgencies, however pressing those continue to be. It wants to open up to the larger reflection and longer-term perspective that are needed for the future. Europe needs an enhanced focus on Ukraine, its concreteness and complexity, its possibilities and flight lines. Our joint understanding needs to grow.
The project is launched through three exhibitions, starting from the works of Ukrainian artists in the collection of the Flemish Community, presented at M HKA Imagine Ukraine - Art as a Critical Attitude (May 6 - August 21, 2022), Bozar Council Room Imagine Ukraine - Small and Big Stories (May 6 - June 21, 2022), and Parlamentarium of the European Parliament The Artist as a Witness (May 6 - September 30, 2022). These are the starting points to initiate a reflective space about the past, present and future of Ukraine as a part of Europe.
In the European Parliament, the perspective is that of the artist as a witness, in Bozar the tension between big narratives and the reality of human lives, in M HKA art as a critical mind.The exhibitions are curated by Bart De Baere, Director of M KHA, and Björn Geldhof, Artistic Director of the PinchukArtCentre.