UNESCO and EU launch project to preserve Jewish documentary heritage in Ukraine

The organizers emphasized that the main goal is to preserve and provide access to the cultural and documentary heritage of the Jewish community of Ukraine, as well as to promote the recognition of such heritage and its significant contribution to the cultural diversity of Ukraine.

UNESCO, in cooperation with the Ukrainian side, will be engaged in the protection and digitalization of Jewish documentary heritage in 10 memorial institutions, providing equipment and restoring archival documents. Ukrainian conservation specialists will be trained and supported in their research. The project will also finance artistic initiatives and multimedia events.

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The 24-month project will focus on Kyiv, Odessa and Dnipro. The organisers focus on supporting the development of Ukrainian institutions and archives, as well as facilitating access to documents, including through their digitisation.

“I am grateful to UNESCO and the EU for launching this project to protect Jewish documentary heritage, which is an integral part of our past and history. In the context of Russia's genocidal war, it is extremely important to preserve the heritage. Russian aggression has created many obstacles to the protection of our sites,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Beca.

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As reported by Ukrinform, during a visit to Lviv, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay announced projects to protect Jewish documentary heritage in Ukraine, restore and popularize more than 300 works by almost 50 Ukrainian artists.