The European Commission has been supporting the creative communities of Ukraine since the start of the war more than a year ago. Programs like Creative Europe, Erasmus+ and initiatives on the preservation of the cultural heritage of the country provide crucial support to diverse cultural and creative sectors of Ukraine, and the Creatives Unite platform is an integral part of this.
More than one year on, the unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine has led to great suffering, and it has raised serious concerns about peace and stability in the continent. The EU has firmly condemned this violation of international law. In 2022, the overall support provided by the EU budget amounted to €11.6 billion, and unprecedented support for Ukraine is allocated for 2023 across all sectors of financial and social life, amounting to €18 billion. On top of this, €450 million will be provided in humanitarian assistance and bilateral support to increase Ukraine’s resilience and support reforms.
The Ukrainian community of creatives has been instrumental in articulating and communicating the country's message against Russian aggression to the world. The culture war has been an integral part of the Ukrainian resistance, not only by defending the Ukrainian identity and the country’s heritage, but also through the use of Media and Social Media in spreading the message. The European Union (EU) recognises the vital role Ukrainian artists and creatives play in defending the country and shaping its future. EU support has been provided in different formats:
The Creatives Unite platform on Ukraine
Even during the war, cultural events never stopped happening in Ukraine. Creatives Unite has been consistently informing the European public about the news of the creative industries, the supporting programs, and funding opportunities in Europe, providing sufficient and immediate information to artists in need. Almost all cultural events have a fundraising purpose to donate to the Ukrainian army or separate units of the army and medical staff.
Following the Kalush Orchestra that led Ukraine to victory at last year’s Eurovision Song Contest, Ukrainian singer-song-writer Jerry Heil won the Public Choice Award of the EU-funded Music Moves Europe Awards, in January. Much more is yet to come. The Creatives Unite platform will be on the ground to bring you the latest, and help the creatives meet their communities and find ways to give us back the vibrant voices that Europe needs.