In October 2022, Ukrainian Dialogues, invited by Europa House – the Representation of the European Commission in Denmark, presented Ukrainian culture at one of Denmark’s largest cultural events — Kulturnatten. For more than 30 years, this annual festival has opened the doors of museums, institutions, galleries, cultural centres, and organisations across Copenhagen, offering thousands of visitors a night filled with art, conversations, and discovery.
The programme prepared by Ukrainian Dialogues at Europa House focused on Ukrainian culture in times of war. It introduced visitors to Ukraine’s artistic and historical heritage, shaped by centuries of struggle for freedom, periods of cultural flourishing, and times when language, songs, and traditions were preserved quietly under imperial bans and repression.
Against the backdrop of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the event invited guests to look beyond daily headlines and ask deeper questions: What do we really know about the country that chose to resist overwhelming aggression? Where do Ukrainians find their resilience? How did the values of dignity and freedom become central to Ukraine’s modern identity?
Through a selection of classic, urban, and contemporary works, the programme showed Ukrainian culture as a living heritage and a form of resistance. The evening included several thematic stations: a contemporary dance performance by a Ukrainian dancer; music performed by a Danish pianist of Ukrainian origin; historical corners exploring the role of women throughout the centuries in shaping Ukraine’s resilience and resistance; exhibits on revolutions and the long history of struggle from early times to the present; a “Stand-up from the Shelter” video segment by a Ukrainian comedian highlighting resilience through humor; a mini rave zone featuring music by Ukrainian artists and a corner for kids with folk tales-inspired storytelling and creativity.
Ukrainian Dialogues created a space for reflection and conversation, allowing Danish visitors to encounter Ukraine not only as a country at war, but as a vibrant cultural community whose creativity is inseparable from its struggle for freedom. According to the festival organisers, Europa House became one of the most visited locations at Kulturnatten 2022, demonstrating strong public interest in Ukraine and its culture.
