International symposium "Ukrainian Museums at War: Conceptual, Historical, and Legal Perspectives".

The symposium aims to explore the consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian war (2014-present), especially the full-scale invasion since 2022, on Ukrainian museums and cultural heritage. What challenges arise from the destruction and the indirect consequences of military expansion, and what means can be employed to address them from both national and international perspectives? Invited speakers from Ukraine and Sweden will discuss topics such as risk asset management, documentation of cultural and museum-related crimes, international collaborations, practices related to post-war restitutions and reparations, and other subjects.

The audience is welcome to join the event online via Zoom: https://sh-se.zoom.us/meeting/register/u50kf-msrjksHtX7w_G1YH3DF5qrKnhSv54i

Please register to participate.

PROGRAMME:
Place: Södertörn University.

9 to 11 am, Stockholm time (GMT+2)

Presentations:

Olena Zhyvkova, Deputy-Director General on Research, Curator, and the Keeper of European Painting at The Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko Museum of Arts in Kyiv.

Elmira Ablyalimova-Chiyhoz, Expert at the Crimean Institute for Strategic Studies, Kyiv; Former Director of the Bakhchisarai Historical and Cultural Reserve, Crimea/Kyiv.

Anna Yanenko, Deputy Head of the Research Department of History and Archaeology at the National Preserve "Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra," Kyiv; Research Fellow at the National Memorial to the Heavenly Hundred Heroes and Revolution of Dignity Museum, Kyiv; Board member at the Ukrainian Association of Archaeologists.

Milena Chorna, The National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War; Expert of the Subgroup on Safeguarding Ukraine's Cultural Heritage at the European Commission; Volunteer of the "Museum Crisis Center."

11 am to 1 pm, Stockholm time (GMT+2)

Roundtable discussion

Ukrainian and Swedish curators, museum professionals, and heritage experts will cover a wide array of topics, including:

- Activities by Ukrainian museum practitioners, scholars, governmental bodies, and NGOs to protect museums and heritage in Ukraine.
- International collaborations between Sweden and Ukraine in the museum industry and heritage.
- The role of mediators in facilitating exchange and dialogue among stakeholders, including international organizations, museum professionals, lawyers, associations, academics, and activists.
- Legal frameworks for future restitutions and repatriations.
- New practices and approaches for emergency plans, risk assessment management, preservation of collections, and other war-related activities.

Participants include representatives from leading Swedish museum and heritage institutions such as ICOM Sweden, the National Archives, the Swedish National Heritage Board, Nationalmuseum, the Nordic Museum, Moderna Art Museum, the National Museums of World Culture, the University of Södertörn, Stockholm University.

Coordination and support: The Centre for Baltic and East European Studies (CBEES), Stockholm.

Concept: Maria Silina, an Adjunct Professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal, and a CBEES Visiting Researcher.

Organizing committee (In collaboration between CBEES, the School for Culture and Education, and the School of Historical and Contemporary Studies at Södertörn University):
Florence Fröhling, Ramona Rat, Irina Sandomirskaja, Maria Silina, Yuliya Yurchuk.

Special thanks to Professor Per Bolin, Vit Kysilka, and Eleonor Jurackova for their support and contributions to the event.

For inquiries please contact mariia.silinash.se