The Ukrainian Institute opens its first office abroad

Over 300 guests, including politicians, cultural figures, journalists and civil society activists from Germany and Ukraine, attended the inauguration of the Ukrainian Institute’s representative office in Berlin last week. It is its first office abroad, according to the UI.

The event’s cultural program included performances by Ukrainian actors and musicians, an exhibition of Ukrainian wartime posters and a VR documentary about Ukrainian art and artists during the war.

“The opening of the Foreign Ministry’s Ukrainian Institute representative office in Germany is a landmark event for our bilateral relations and evidence of the growing influence of Ukrainian cultural diplomacy in Europe. Together with my German counterpart Annalena Baerbock, we welcome this historic step, which will allow German society to understand Ukraine and Ukrainians better. We strive to strengthen the interaction not only between our governments but also between institutions, scientists, artists, public figures, businesses and expert communities. This lays the foundation for strong and strategic relations,” said Dmytro Kuleba, Foreign Minister of Ukraine.

“The last year has shown that the people of Ukraine are stronger than Russian aggression. Just as they assert themselves, Ukrainian culture asserts itself in its independence and diversity. We are pleased that the first Ukrainian cultural institute outside of Ukraine is opening in Berlin – as a symbol of hope and as a meeting place for our two countries. The fact that Berlin was chosen is also a recognition of the openness of this city and the resolute support of so many people across our country for Ukraine and its people,” said Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

For 2023, the representative office is preparing a number of events in Germany, including concerts and presentations of musical bands in Hamburg, a Ukrainian art exhibition in Dresden, theatrical plays in Cologne, discussions in Wiesbaden and a Ukrainian literature booth at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

The office will be run by a team of four selected through an open competition, which also named Kateryna Rietz-Rakul, a co-founder of KUL’TURA, the team leader.

The opening of the UI representative office in Germany became possible due to the trilateral partnership between the Ukrainian Institute, Goethe-Institut and Open Society Foundation with support from the Embassy of Ukraine in Germany.

The Ukrainian Institute was established in 2017 by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on the Foreign Ministry’s initiative. Its mission is to use cultural diplomacy tools to strengthen Ukraine’s international and internal perception as a subject.