Announcing UAxEU - UkrAinian cultural eXchange with European Union

ELIA is proud to have been selected to coordinate one of four largescale projects contracted under Creative Europe’s call to keep supporting the Ukrainian cultural and creative sectors, UAxEU UkrAinian cultural eXchange with European Union. In partnership with three Ukrainian partners – Lviv National Academy of the Arts, the Coalition of Culture Actors, and the Ukrainian Museum Association, the project will be supported by the State Agency of Ukraine for Arts and Art Education as an associated partner and two EU partners, the HKU University of the Arts Utrecht, and Culture Action Europe. 

UAxEU responds to the vital needs of Ukraine’s artists and cultural professionals. Building on the outcomes over the past three years of the UAx Platform (2022 – 2025), a project safeguarding arts education as a means to safeguarding Ukraine’s cultural heritage - UAxEU strengthens this solidarity by connecting networks and arts universities across Ukraine and the EU, forming the largest cross sectoral Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI) partnership of its kind. 

UAxEU confronts the most pressing challenges facing Ukraine’s CCSI: extensive ‘brain drain’ and skills shortages, with 37% of cultural professionals and artists having left the sector; dramatic destruction of cultural heritage; and the threat to the wellbeing of the entire nation.  

UAxEU aims to have a significant impact the CCSI skills landscape, arts education, culture heritage, and social cohesion in Ukraine. It will provide training and professional development for 450+ artists and cultural professionals, mentorship for 90 emerging artists, and internships for 30 cultural workers and educators, aligning with the European Skills Agenda and preparations for EU integration. Key peer-learning events in Ukraine and the EU will feature networking sessions, panel discussions, focus groups, and learning opportunities. By placing arts and culture education at the heart of post-war recovery, UAxEU upholds both artistic and democratic values supporting people and institutions in Ukraine to rebuild from within. 

Learn more about UAx and keep up to date with UAxEU developments here.