Nova Ukraine’s collaboration with Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture helps fund national TysyachoVesna initiative for Ukrainian arts and culture.
Nova Ukraine is helping ensure that Ukrainian culture continues to thrive despite the ongoing Russian assault.
The organization signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine in June, and their first collaborative effort proved to be an inspiring success. Nova Ukraine contributed funding for TysyachoVesna (translation: “Thousand-Spring”), a large-scale initiative to create and support competitive Ukrainian cultural products in the fields of cinema, music, theater, animation, and visual arts.
More than 180 independent experts evaluated 2,634 cultural projects that were applying for funding under the program. Of those applications, 1,227 projects advanced to the final pitching and 546 were recommended for government support, according to Ukranews.com. Nova Ukraine provided funding for the work of the independent experts, who ensure a transparent, professional, and high-quality process for evaluating the cultural projects.
Arthur Frantchouk von Manstein, Senior Strategic Consultant at Nova Ukraine, participated in a panel at one of the sessions. He said he was “highly impressed” by TysyachoVesna, which he described as one of the most engaging and well-executed events he had ever seen in Ukraine.
“The quality of the organization and the projects pitched exceeded expectations, showcasing both innovation and real impact,” he said. “Events like this are essential for fostering creativity, collaboration, and future growth. We are excited about the opportunity to further strengthen our engagement through our partnership with the Ministry of Culture and support the development of similar high-impact initiatives.” — Arthur Frantchouk von Manstein
TysyachoVesna is a state-sponsored program with a budget of about $90 million. The inaugural event included more than 7,000 participants at 26 different sessions, both online and in person.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the final session and announced that the project would be repeated next year. TysyachoVesna will also be expanded in 2027 to include two additional categories: video games and books.
Russia attacks Ukrainian culture
Nova Ukraine’s focus on preserving the nation’s culture is especially important at a time when Russia has been seeking to degrade Ukraine’s cultural identity. As of the end of July, Russian attacks have damaged or destroyed 1,990 cultural heritage sites and 2,625 cultural infrastructure facilities, according to the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.
For example, Russia has conducted attacks on at least 21 book-related facilities in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion. In the summer of 2026 alone, more than 10 million books were destroyed in Russian attacks, causing losses totaling more than $26.8 million, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine reported.
“Russia is waging a systematic war against Ukrainian culture in an attempt to erase our identity,” said Tetyana Berezhna, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture of Ukraine. “Repeated strikes on already damaged heritage sites, in particular, demonstrate the deliberate nature of Russia’s aggression against Ukrainian culture.”
Supporting Ukrainian Culture at Home and Abroad
Through its EMPOWER pillar, Nova Ukraine has long supported the creative culture of Ukraine, such as through the sponsorship of artistic projects that have been featured at Burning Man festivals in the U.S.
This year, Nova Ukraine has also launched the Ukrainian Film Marathon followed by the Ukrainian Film Series, which is being shown at the C Ukraine Cultural Showcase in downtown San Francisco. With the support of the Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco, Nova Ukraine is creating a regular cultural forum that strengthens Ukrainian-American ties through art, discussion, and shared experience.
Speaking at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine earlier this year, Nova Ukraine CEO Ambassador Erin E. McKee emphasized the resilience of Ukrainian culture and Nova Ukraine’s commitment to supporting it.
“Ukraine’s cultural memory will survive this war despite Russia’s deliberate, systematic attempt to erase Ukrainian identity,” she said. “If you destroy a people’s archives, their film heritage, their museums, and their language, you destroy their claim to a distinct existence as a nation.
“Ukraine’s cultural memory will survive this war despite Russia’s deliberate, systematic attempt to erase Ukrainian identity. If you destroy a people’s archives, their film heritage, their museums, and their language, you destroy their claim to a distinct existence as a nation.
This is why Nova Ukraine invests in Ukraine’s greatest asset, its people. We preserve and amplify Ukrainian culture at home and abroad by supporting artists, safeguarding heritage, and strengthening national identity rooted in freedom and democratic values.” — Nova Ukraine CEO Ambassador Erin E. McKee
