UK and Ukraine Launch 100 Year Partnership Cultural Heritage Advisory Board
Historic England and Ukrainian partners have held the inaugural Advisory Board for the Cultural Heritage Programme under the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership, marking an important new phase of collaboration to support the protection, preservation and restoration of Ukraine’s cultural heritage.
The inaugural meeting was attended by Tetyana Berezhna, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture of Ukraine, reflecting the importance attached by both countries to cultural heritage cooperation within the wider UK-Ukraine relationship.
At its first meeting in London, the Advisory Board, chaired by Historic England Chairman, Lord Neil Mendoza, brought together representatives from Historic England, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the British Council, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Institute and the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Foundation to help guide the strategic direction and delivery of the programme through to 2029.
100 Year Partnership Cultural Heritage Programme
The Board has been established as part of the 100 Year Partnership Cultural Heritage Programme, a multi-year initiative delivered by Historic England between 2025 and 2029 under the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership and funded by DCMS. The programme supports educational exchange, professional development and capacity building for those working to protect, preserve and restore Ukraine’s cultural heritage.
First pilot project: conservation of historic photographic collections
The launch of the Advisory Board coincides with the announcement of the programme’s first pilot project: a new partnership with the Taras Shevchenko National Museum in Kyiv focused on the conservation of historic photographic collections and the development of specialist conservation skills.
The project will see the conservation of 11 historic photographic objects from the museum’s collections, undertaken by Historic England conservators working alongside Ukrainian conservation professionals to support development of long-term conservation capability within Ukraine.
We were delighted to host the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture, Tetyana Berezhna to launch the Cultural Heritage Programme under the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership. Russia is increasing its targeted attacks on museums and cultural heritage, like the drone bombing of the Dormition Cathedral in Kyiv in June. We are deeply committed to working with our colleagues in Ukraine to ensure that Ukrainian heritage is protected, preserved and restored.
Ukraine’s cultural heritage is under daily threat from Russia’s war, and protecting it requires both urgent action and long-term investment. Through the 100 Year Partnership, we are bringing together British and Ukrainian expertise to preserve collections, strengthen professional capacity and prepare for the recovery ahead. I am grateful to Historic England and the UK Government for standing with Ukraine in protecting the culture and memory Russia is trying to destroy.
The inaugural meeting was a very productive start to the Advisory Board’s work, bringing together UK and Ukrainian partners around shared priorities for cultural heritage. The 100-Year Partnership gives us an important long-term framework for this cooperation, and the British Council is pleased to contribute its experience in cultural relations and collaboration between the UK and Ukraine.
The project will provide training and professional development opportunities for Ukrainian conservators, helping to strengthen specialist photographic conservation skills and support future heritage recovery efforts.
Partnership to explore future UK-Ukraine exhibition
A third strand of the partnership will explore the development of a future UK-Ukraine exhibition showcasing the conserved photographs and wider material relating to Taras Shevchenko, one of Ukraine’s most significant cultural and literary figures. An exhibition would celebrate cultural collaboration between the two countries while highlighting the importance of safeguarding cultural heritage for future generations.
The Advisory Board
The Advisory Board will provide strategic advice on programme priorities, partnership development, project proposals and capacity-building initiatives. It will help ensure that programme activity reflects both UK and Ukrainian perspectives, responds to sector needs identified by Ukrainian partners and maximises opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The Advisory Board will meet every six months until the programme’s planned completion in March 2029 and will be supported by a wider informal stakeholder group comprising organisations and specialists from across the cultural heritage sector in both countries.
Also of interest
