Oksana Humeniuk, Head of the non-governmental organization “Around Us. UA” participated in the scientific conference “Preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Military Activities”, held in Wrocław, Poland. The conference, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Poland’s accession to NATO, was organized by the International Centre for Training and Research on Cultural Heritage in Danger.
During the event, participants explored the following topics:
- The role of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) during crises, with a focus on the ongoing war in Ukraine;
- Military traditions within the Polish Armed Forces and their connection to ICH;
- Practical solutions and experiences in preserving cultural heritage during crises.
The conference facilitated an exchange of ideas and in-depth discussions on safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, both in general terms and in specific military contexts.
In one of the panels, Oksana Humeniuk presented her report titled “Preserving Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Context of Armed Conflict: The Ukrainian Experience”. She shared insights into nationwide efforts to protect ICH during martial law, highlighting the work of “Around Us. UA“ in the Bohuslavshchyna:
“Amid armed and informational resistance to russian aggression, the study, preservation, revival, and promotion of Ukraine’s cultural heritage are of utmost importance. Our organisation approaches these issues comprehensively, demonstrating how local community initiatives can become models for the entire country.”
A central message of the conference, “No Discussion of Ukraine Without Ukraine’s Involvement”, resonated strongly, as Humeniuk received the highest number of questions among panelists.
We express our sincere gratitude to the conference organizers, including Anna Schreiber, Colonel Janusz Zając, Oleksandr Butsenko, and Valentyna Demian of the NGO Development Centre “Democracy Through Culture”, for their support in showcasing Ukraine’s cultural heritage on the international stage.
