Art Contact Ukraine is an independent curatorial platform founded in 2022 by Ukrainian artist and curator Yana Gryniv, dedicated to fostering international cultural dialogue and supporting socially engaged art. Based in Vienna, Austria, the platform functions as a catalyst for cross-cultural collaboration, responding to urgent global issues. Art Contact Ukraine centers themes of diversity, resilience, freedom, migration, and social justice, and is committed to creating accessible cultural spaces for inclusive participation and intercultural understanding.

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Core Activities and Focus Areas:

• Exhibitions & Artistic Interventions: Art Contact Ukraine curates multidisciplinary exhibitions addressing themes like war and displacement, identity, food security, sacred art, and ecological awareness. These include international projects such as BeLive, 1 Gram of Life and Between Homes.

• Cultural Diplomacy & International Partnerships: The platform works in close collaboration with embassies, cultural institutions, and NGOs. Key partners include the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna, local Austrian institutions and such locations as Volkskundemuseum Wien, the OSCE and the UN office in Vienna.

• Support for Displaced and Marginalized Voices: Through initiatives that center migrants, women, war-affected communities, and artists in exile, Art Contact Ukraine creates space for dialogue and healing, especially in cities like Vienna with significant diaspora populations.

• Educational & Community Programs: The platform organizes talks, panel discussions, and community workshops, often in accessible formats and venues—from churches and embassies to former bakeries and cultural centers—bridging traditional heritage and contemporary discourse.

• Heritage & Innovation: Deeply rooted in Ukrainian sacred art, iconography, and folk traditions (e.g., pysanka, kolyada, vertep), the platform reinterprets these in new contexts, promoting the living heritage of Ukraine while fostering innovation and international engagement.

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Social and Cultural Impact:

• Promotes inclusive cultural participation and access to the arts for migrant and marginalized communities.

• Enhances Vienna’s cultural diversity and international profile through strategic cultural diplomacy.

• Builds bridges between traditional heritage and contemporary practices.

• Encourages female-led artistic leadership and gender-conscious curating.

• Contributes to intercultural understanding, peace-building, and community solidarity.

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Through its interdisciplinary approach and commitment to cultural activism, Art Contact Ukraine helps shape a resilient, pluralistic, and globally connected community, during a time of profound upheaval and transformation. At Art Contact Ukraine, we believe in the transformative power of art as a catalyst for dialogue and societal transformation. Join us in shaping a future where art is not only seen, but truly felt—where it serves as a force for awareness, unity, and progress.