Third edition of the programme

The third edition of the Heritage Academy for Ukraine, focusing on the promotion of cultural heritage, will take place on 17–21 September. During the five-day seminar aimed at employees of the cultural sector in Ukraine, there will be lectures, workshops and study visits, including to the National Museum in Krakow and the Ignacy Historic Mine in Rybnik.

The Heritage Academy for Ukraine was established in 2023 on the initiative of the ICC in dialogue with representatives of the Ukrainian cultural sector. A particular impetus for the project was the need expressed by the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine. From the outset, the project has served to support specialists from Ukraine in the field of monument protection and modern management of cultural institutions and facilities. The classes will be conducted by experienced lecturers and practitioners associated with, among others, the Heritage Academy postgraduate studies and the V4 Heritage Academy educational programmes, which have been implemented by the ICC for many years.

The five-day seminar will familiarise participants with issues related to the identification of institutions and temporary exhibitions, the creation and implementation of promotional and marketing strategies, the management of social media presence with a view to increasing the accessibility of communication, as well as researching the needs and preferences of audiences. An important part of the project will be study visits, which will allow participants to look at the practical aspects of promoting cultural heritage. Participants in the Heritage Academy for Ukraine will see, among other things, the monographic exhibition “Chełmoński” at the National Museum in Krakow and will be able to learn about the revitalisation of mining heritage at the Historic Ignacy Mine in Rybnik. They will also visit the Norwid Cultural Centre in Nowa Huta and the Upper Silesian Ethnographic Park in Chorzów.

The Heritage Academy for Ukraine not only develops the competences of participants, who, thanks to their visit to Poland, improve their qualifications in the field of comprehensive heritage resource management, but also enables them to establish lasting relationships with Polish institutions. Thanks to this, the seminar strengthens Polish-Ukrainian cooperation and contributes to the sustainability of the results achieved. The project is part of a broader cultural and aid policy, strengthening Poland's role as a partner and leader in supporting Ukraine in the field of heritage protection and promotion. Its previous editions took place in 2023 and 2024.

The programme is implemented with funding from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage's Culture Inspiring 2025-2026 programme, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, the “Ancient Dvingorod” Reserve – a city institution of the Lviv Regional Council., and the Polish Institute in Kyiv.