The first UNESCO Cultural Hub in Ukraine was opened in Lviv. This was reported by the Lviv City Council. The office will support, develop and promote culture, art, historical heritage and contemporary initiatives. The Cultural Hub was created with the financial support of Spain. The total investment, which includes renovation of the premises and implementation of programme activities, is USD 1.7 million. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay arrived in Lviv for the opening.
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Preserve the historical heritage
The hub will be located in the centre of Lviv at 6 Kn. Romana Street in a historic municipal building built in 1912-1913. On the ground floor, there will be a municipal library-candy shop, which will have its own separate entrance from Nyzhankivskoho Street. On the second floor, there will be a reception, coworking and event rooms, an exhibition area, and a multimedia studio for audio and video recording.
‘There are three things in life that can be lost forever: you can lose your life, you can lose nature, and you can lose your historical heritage. In times of war, we understand this better than anyone. The aggressor wants to destroy us, our culture and our nature. Today’s meeting, the opening of this beautiful UNESCO hub, is a great message from the entire civilised world that we are together. Many thanks to everyone who has joined this project,’ said Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi at the opening.
The premises for the hub have been completely rethought and renovated. By the way, the hub project by the Design and Architecture Studio of Oksana and Marian Shumelda won a national architectural award. The main focus is on restoring lost elements and preserving authenticity.
Finds during the reconstruction
Restoration work began last year. The walls and ceilings of the premises were restored, and the lost plaster elements of the decoration were restored according to the model of the preserved decor. The floor was recreated in the same way as the authentic parquet found on the 3rd floor of the building. The windows and doors, marble and granite finishes were also restored. The metal gates and portals on the ground floor of the building on the side of O. Nyzhankivskoho Street were restored and the pavement repaired.
During the restoration work, experts found many interesting things, the most important of which was a 1912 stained-glass window depicting a lion that had been walled up inside the premises. The stained-glass window was opened and restored, and it is inlaid into the window that overlooks the coworking space to the stairwell.
A home for culture
The hub’s main goal is to become a training centre for managers who will later work with cultural projects and form a professional environment.
‘Lviv is a European city by nature. It is a creative city, as well as a city of education and training, very closely connected to the cultural sector. The city has an incredible history, educational and academic traditions. Philosophers, scientists, and prominent writers lived and worked here. That is why it is so important that they have their own space in this beautiful building. Not just a centre or a museum, but a place where future generations can be taught. We care about protecting culture and see how the city protects culture. We know that you face emergencies every day. But there is a future. A home for culture is what creates the future. And that is why we are here. Before the war, UNESCO did not have an office in Ukraine, but today we are in Ukraine because Ukrainians believe that culture is important,’ said Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General.
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