ICOM UK Talks – Heritage in Crisis 3: Identifying and collecting Ukrainian cultural heritage

Ukrainians have lived in the UK for centuries and have long contributed to economic and cultural life here. A major wave of immigration happened after the Second World War, when thousands of displaced Ukrainians were unable to return to their homeland due to Russian persecution there. Many active communities became established across the UK and beyond – including London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and other towns and cities – where national customs and traditions have been kept alive and passed on to younger generations.

This final talk in the series will focus on identifying and collecting cultural heritage from Ukraine. We will consider the challenges associated with identification; the significance of collecting Ukrainian cultural heritage; how collections might be developed; and where to find relevant expertise. This knowledge may be invaluable when the time comes to rebuild and replace collections in Ukraine that have been damaged or lost as a result of the war.

Attendees will be encouraged to review their own collections for objects that may require additional research to identify as Ukrainian – and to share thoughts on how to take this forward.

Attendees will be asked to share the Red List for Ukraine as part of an awareness campaign. They will also be encouraged to identify ways to support the professional development of Ukrainian cultural heritage professionals in the UK.

The series of talks is free to attend for ICOM UK and ICOM members, or you have the option to pay what you can via a donation ticket. For non-members, we ask you to pay what you can via a donation ticket. We suggest a donation of £5 - £10 per talk.

All donated income from the series (minus Eventbrite fees) will be donated by ICOM UK to ICOM Poland's fund to support Ukrainian museum professionals fleeing Ukraine.

This online talk is part of a series of on-line lunchtime discussions about the destruction of global cultural heritage and how heritage professionals can help.

The series consists of three talks that focus on the war in Ukraine where cultural heritage is under attack. Through case studies and knowledge-sharing, practical actions will be identified for heritage professionals to use in support of Ukraine. Learning from the situation in Ukraine may, in turn, prove useful for responding to future crises elsewhere.

This pilot series is being organised by ICOM UK in collaboration with cultural experts from the Ukrainian Institute London* and the Ukrainian Institute in Kyiv**.

* The Ukrainian Institute London is a centre for Ukraine-related educational and cultural activities. The Institute is a charity registered in England and Wales.

** The Ukrainian Institute in Kyiv is a separate organisation, which promotes and develops cultural ties between Ukraine and other countries.