Contemporary Music Exchange in Europe: Ukraine

Country Presentation: Ukraine
Discussion: Hybrid Institutions — Growing Resilience Amid Institutional Scarcity

The workshop opens with presentations on the contemporary music landscapes of Ukraine, followed by a discussion on practical ways to connect and collaborate with Ukrainian musicians.

The current state of the Ukrainian new music scene is a paradox of extreme resilience and severe dispersion. Despite the ongoing war, the community remains highly productive: new pieces are commissioned, complex international collaborations are realized, and grassroots initiatives continue to emerge. The scene has become more international than ever, with Ukrainian musicians and organizations based around Europe and actively engaging in transnational collaborations.

The workshop will map the present constellation of key Ukrainian new music actors, starting with the domestic institutional framework, available funding sources, and grassroots initiatives, and expanding to the larger Ukrainian new music community in and outside the country. The discussion will focus on opportunities for music professionals unfamiliar with the Ukrainian scene to connect and forge partnerships.

Hosted by: Kyiv Contemporary Music Days

Experts/Special Guests: Galyna Grygorenko (General Producer, Open Opera Ukraine; ex-First Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine); Oleksandr Chornyi (Founder, Youth Music Center, Ensemble 24)

Moderator: Les Vynogradov