Ukraine/ 1. Historical perspective: cultural policies and instruments  

After the collapse of the Russian Empire in 1917, a "Ukrainian People's Republic" was proclaimed and was led by outstanding personalities from the cultural field. However, this first Ukrainian state was short lived. Just four years later, in 1921, Ukraine came under Soviet totalitarian rule which lasted for 70 years.

Although the official Soviet propaganda declared this period the "Golden Age" of national cultures it was in fact characterised by the forced deportation of entire cultural communities (Crimean Tatars, German settlers in Ukraine) and severe repression of the nationalist intelligentsia. Compared to other territories of the former Soviet Empire, the persecution of the bearers of national ideas in Ukraine was more wide-spread and of greater brutality. Whereas the population of the Ukrainian SSR constituted only about 17% of the total Soviet Union population, the share of Ukrainians among the "prisoners of conscience" in the Soviet GULAGs (concentration and labour camps) was more than 50%.

Shortly after the Second World War and during the first half of the 1950s, Ukrainian cultural policy was subject to the principles of the totalitarian state. This included strict centralism. Cultural institutions acted as intermediaries between the official state ideology and society. Through the ideological departments of the central and local communist party committees, the state decided which kind of culture was necessary for the people, and saw to it that cultural and artistic events remained on the "correct" political course. All artists' associations and unions (writers, painters, theatre workers, and architects) were administrated by the state through respective party units operating within these institutions. Independent artists or artists' organisations could not exist outside of this framework. The state also controlled all amateur arts, popular and other non-professional or voluntary organisations in the cultural field. Private cultural entrepreneurship officially didn't exist.

Regardless of these conditions, great efforts were made to disseminate the achievements of world culture among all strata of the Ukrainian population. A lot of attention was paid to the cultural education of young people and to the development of young talents. There was also broad support for amateur and folk art activities and for book publishing. At the regional level, a vast landscape of cultural infrastructure was created and supported by additional budget subsidies. Their operations were not, however, guided by principles of efficiency or meeting the real needs of the communities involved.

On the 24th August, 1991, the Ukraine became an independent national state, signified by the Parliament's (Verkhovna Rada) approval of the Declaration of Independence of the Ukraine. This Act coupled with the results of the All-Ukrainian Referendum of 1 December 1991, when more than 92% of the citizens voted for independence, put an end to ideological dictatorship and created the conditions necessary for the comprehensive development of a national culture.

There was, however, a drastic decrease in public support for culture due to political instability, the economic crisis, and contradictions between democratic goals and market conditions. The lack of a clear medium-term and long-term cultural development strategy resulted in the creation of ad hoc policies at the central and local levels. They are aimed, in most cases, at preserving the existing situation. This situation, along with declarations about false achievements, has provoked indifference and distrust in a large part among the artistic community towards the government.

Dissatisfaction within Ukrainian society became apparent, especially after the events of the so called "Orange Revolution". During the first "post-Orange" months, many meetings, conferences and round tables were organised by dissatisfied artists and cultural producers. Many appeals, requests and letters to change the situation were adopted and submitted to the President and the government. As a result, some new structures (public boards) were established at the Ministry of Culture and in the Presidential Secretariat.

The Presidential Edicts of 24 November 2005, N 1647/2005, proclaimed that "ensuring the enrichment and development of culture and spiritual heritage of the Ukrainian society is one of the high-priority tasks of the Cabinet of Ministers". In accordance with the Edict, the National Board for Cultural Affairs (NBCA) was established as an advisory body by the President of Ukraine. The NBCA, together with the Presidential Secretariat, elaborated an operation plan (The Roadmap to the Programme for Enrichment and Development of Culture and Spiritual Heritage of the Ukrainian Society) defining three key strategic priorities. They are:

• integrity of the national linguistic and cultural space;
• updating national cultural heritage, and
• protection of national cultural industries.

The Presidential Edict of 2 December 2005, N 1688/2005, approved the Regulations of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ukraine, which determined the main tasks of the Ministry. In particular, this edict concerns the formulation and realisation of the state policy in culture, tourism, leisure activities and linguistic issues.

In May 2007, the Council of Europe adopted the National Report on Cultural Policy in Ukraine (CDCULT(2007)14), along with the Experts' Review (CDCULT(2007)15), becoming the 27th country to complete this procedure for the CoE. (You can find both texts of the National Report and the Experts' Report on http://www.coe.int/t/e/cultural_cooperation/culture/policies/reviews/Ukraine.asp#TopOfPage or on http://www.mincult.gov.ua/ - Ukrainian versions).

In December 2007, the democratic majority formed the new government in Ukraine, which approved the governmental programme "Ukrainian breakthrough: for people, not for politicians". The new Cabinet of Ministers adopted amendments to the section "Cultural development of society" of its programme at the meeting on 16 January 2008. Five priority action lines are determined:

• development of the language-cultural space as a basis for social cohesion and understanding between Ukrainian citizens;
• preservation and actualisation of the national cultural heritage;
• creation of proper conditions for the activities of leading national institutions and groups in the field of visual, music, choreographic, theatre, circus and film arts; training of professional personnel for theatre, cinematography, TV and circus;
• state protection of the cultural industries of Ukraine by supporting the national cultural product and market development; and
• development of Ukrainian culture mindful of global integration trends, providing wider access to achievements of world culture and presenting the national culture in the world context.

Revitalising and preserving the memory of the Ukrainian nation is determined as a separate priority through actions to honour victims of the Famine 1932-1933.

By the end of 2008, the government adopted the draft Concept of the State targeted programme for innovative development of Ukrainian culture in 2009-2013. The Programme will improve the budget allocation process, increase the share and effectiveness of cultural expenditure, modernise mechanisms for attracting non-budget funds, regulate legislation, and modernise the governance system.

See also chapter 3.3 and chapter 4.1.