The Center for the Preservation of the Identity of the Temporarily Occupied Territories at Mariupol State University has become a center of cultural unity.
On October 24, 2025, as part of the International Day for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, an interactive festival "Living Heritage - Unbreakable Identity" was held in Kyiv.
The event was organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Donetsk Regional State Administration together with the Donetsk Regional Educational and Methodological Center of Culture and Mariupol State University with the support of the Donetsk Regional State Administration.
Donetsk region is a region with a strong cultural potential. Ukrainian traditions, multinational influences, and modern creative initiatives are organically combined here. That is why we had the idea to organize and hold our Interactive Festival "Living Heritage - Unbreakable Identity".
The key point was the discussion of important issues related to the preservation of intangible heritage with the participation of leading experts in this field: Valentyna Demian, NGO "Development Center "Democracy through Culture", accredited by UNESCO, Head of the Expert Council on the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications, Institute of Cultural Studies of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, Victoria Tochona, Head of the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, Diana Trima - Head of the NGO "Network of Ukrainian Values "Polotno", Gulnara Anvyarina - historian, State Enterprise "Crimean House", Oleksandr Khar - Federation of Greek Societies of Ukraine, Lyudmyla Zhadanova - acting head of the Department of Education and Culture. Acting Head of the Department of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports of the Nyzhneduvansky Settlement Council of the Luhansk Oblast.
During their speeches, the participants emphasized the importance of preserving, researching and passing on traditions from generation to generation, as it helps Ukrainians to maintain their identity even in times of trial. The event was also attended by representatives of educational and cultural institutions of Ukraine.
In addition, guests and participants of the event had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of living tradition: to see exhibitions of intangible cultural heritage elements, join master classes from tradition bearers, and taste authentic gastronomic dishes of the cultural heritage of the communities of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
The festival became a real platform for live communication, inspiration and exchange of experience, where tradition and modernity, experience and youth, past and future met. This event proved once again living heritage is a memory of the past, a force that nourishes the nation, strengthens unity and inspires Ukrainians to create their future.