“There are two key priorities in cultural diplomacy. First, creating new meanings and narratives that we promote about Ukraine around the world. Second, implementing new, striking projects that surprise the world and use the soft power of culture to influence attitudes toward Ukraine in various countries,” he noted.
The Minister also emphasized that each country has its own specific understanding of Ukraine and its own attitude toward it: “The art of cultural diplomacy lies in targeting individual countries as distinct audiences with their own perceptions of our country, within the framework of Ukraine’s overall promotion.”
According to him, effective cultural diplomacy, like foreign policy, requires adequate funding, and this involves not only budgetary resources but also mutually beneficial partnerships with patrons: “We need to develop formats for cooperation with businesses and exporters who are interested in trading in the markets of specific countries. We are the best allies.”
Representatives of executive authorities, cultural institutions, educational institutions, think tanks, foreign embassies, international organizations, and others are also participating in the forum.
The non-governmental organization “Scientific Society of Diplomacy and International Relations” was established in accordance with the decision of the Founders’ Constituent Assembly on September 9, 2016, and is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit public organization that brings together Ukrainian citizens, foreign nationals, and stateless persons engaged in the study of the history of diplomacy and international relations, based on the principles of voluntarism, equality among its members, self-governance, legality, and transparency, for the joint implementation of the goals and objectives set forth in its Charter, as approved by the Founding Assembly.
The Association’s activities are of a public nature, which does not preclude its interaction with government agencies or its close contact with other civic organizations, movements, foundations, and individual citizens.
The purpose of its activities is to promote a comprehensive study of the history of Ukrainian and world diplomacy, the activities of Ukrainian diplomatic and consular missions and foreign missions in Ukraine, the formation and development of international relations, the preservation and promotion of the traditions of the Ukrainian diplomatic and consular service, its interaction with foreign missions in Ukraine, to help foster a positive image of Ukraine in the world, to ensure proper recognition of the personal contributions of outstanding Ukrainian diplomats and consular service employees, as well as foreign diplomats and consular representatives who have served in Ukraine, and to meet the research and informational needs of scholars studying the history of diplomacy and international relations.
It is worth noting that cultural diplomacy is recognized as an effective tool for shaping a country’s positive image in the world, addressing national security issues, stimulating demand for national products abroad, and ensuring the development of many sectors of society, including the social and cultural spheres. However, today the state lacks a consistent approach to implementing a cultural diplomacy policy; it lacks the necessary tools, strategies, and institutional foundations. This presents the state with corresponding challenges. At the same time, it can be noted that the demand for a cultural diplomacy policy has already taken shape, as has the framework for its implementation (Global Ukrainians, the state-funded network of cultural and information centers, individual artists, and participants in collaborative projects). The key stakeholders have essentially been identified; what is lacking is the political will on the part of the state to establish the foundations for this policy. Therefore, in the near future, it is important to bring all initiatives together under a single coordinating body to develop a document that will outline the foundations of cultural diplomacy policy. A cultural diplomacy strategy—as a document that should define the goals, objectives, and key areas of activity in this field for the medium term, ensuring synergy between diplomatic and cultural policies—should be developed within the context of Ukraine’s Foreign Policy Concept and reflect its main provisions.
Thus, the development of cultural diplomacy depends, first and foremost, on how a country’s cultural policy is formulated. It should stimulate the development of the cultural sector by promoting the creation of high-quality and competitive cultural products.
Cultural policy must also include a policy for promoting culture, which, on the one hand, will introduce cultural products to new markets and, on the other, will encourage high quality. It is clear that the quality of cultural content depends on its target audience. Therefore, among the priority areas for the development and institutionalization of cultural diplomacy is the systematic implementation of monitoring and analytical studies on the perception of Ukraine around the world and the demand for Ukrainian cultural products in specific countries. This is a thorough undertaking that involves tracking Ukrainian cultural events abroad for further analysis and forecasting.
An increase in the number of cultural projects, programs, Ukrainian Culture Days abroad, print and electronic publications, and television programs will prove effective in raising the international public’s interest in Ukrainian culture.
The role of direct ties between cultural institutions and educational institutions is growing. The business sector’s active participation in cultural exchanges is a fully underappreciated element. Its representatives are developing multifaceted contacts with foreign partners, including the implementation of large-scale projects. However, at present, Ukraine is significantly lagging behind its foreign partners’ active efforts. Leading world powers view this aspect as one of the key strategic priorities of their foreign policy.
Ukraine’s new international cultural policy should involve government agencies, businesses, nongovernmental organizations, and educational institutions; while individual artists and cultural figures may be scattered, they must join forces and establish cooperation. An effective strategy in the cultural sector will serve as a guide for successfully addressing the challenges we face today. A foreign cultural policy that takes into account the role of culture will help inject new momentum into bilateral relations with foreign countries in this area, eliminate inconsistencies at the national level, enhance the country’s appeal to tourists, and strengthen Ukraine’s ability to advance its interests on the international stage.