On May 28, the board of the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Regional State Administration held a meeting to discuss topical issues of implementing cultural initiatives, including supporting mental health through cultural practices and implementing the Places of Memory project as an important element in preserving the region’s historical consciousness.
One of the key topics of the board was the implementation of art therapy programs in communities. The heads of the structural units of the Pokrovsk, Avdiivka, and Cherkasy communities presented their experience of using cultural events to support the psycho-emotional well-being of the population, including internally displaced persons, military personnel, and children.
As part of the discussion of the «Places of Memory» project, the participants got acquainted with the implemented initiatives of the Kramatorsk, Sviatohirsk, and Sloviansk communities to create routes, books of memory, and memorial objects aimed at preserving the memory of fallen heroes, the tragic events of the Russian-Ukrainian war, and the resistance of local communities.
The board was attended by Deputy Head of the Regional State Administration Oleksandr Shevchenko, who in his speech emphasized the importance of cultural policy as a tool for maintaining social resilience in times of war. The board was also joined by deputy heads of district state administrations, district military administrations, deputy heads of military administrations of Donetsk region settlements in charge of cultural issues, and heads of cultural departments of local communities.
«Today, culture performs not only an aesthetic or educational function,» said Oleksandr Shevchenko. – «It helps communities preserve their identity, maintain mental health, and comprehend the tragic events of modern history. We must continue to work on the creation of the «Places of Memory» routes, because it is not only about honoring, but also about educating generations in the spirit of resilience and memory.»
Summarizing the results of the board, the participants emphasized the need for further development of cultural initiatives adapted to the challenges of today. The focus is on expanding art therapy practices in communities, supporting mental health, and continuing the implementation of the Places of Memory project. The importance of finding new formats of work that take into account the security situation and the needs of the population was also emphasized.
«We have to transform approaches to cultural work, focusing on the challenges of our time. It is culture that should become a point of support for people today,» emphasized Victoria Tochena, Head of the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Regional State Administration.
The board has become another important step in the formation of a coherent cultural policy in the region, which will contribute to its sustainability during the war and post-war periods.