THE ALL-UKRAINIAN SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL ONLINE CONFERENCE “UKRAINIAN ART AND CULTURAL STUDIES: CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY” HAS BEGUN AT KYIV NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGIES AND DESIGN

On November 10, 2026, the Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design held the official opening of the All-Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Online Conference “Ukrainian Art and Cultural Studies: Challenges of the 21st Century.” The event marked an important launch for the Department of Performing Arts and Culture of the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries at KNUTD. It brought together 92 participants: leading scholars, lecturers, postgraduate students, and higher education students from numerous higher education institutions and research establishments across Ukraine and abroad. The large-scale meeting created a space for professional dialogue, the exchange of scientific ideas, and in-depth reflection on current trends in the development of Ukrainian art and cultural studies amid the present-day challenges of war and digitalization.

Welcoming remarks were delivered by the chairs and members of the scientific and organizing committee, including Oleksandra Olshanska, Rector of KNUTD; Viktoriia Marhasova, Vice-Rector for Research and International Activities; Iryna Trusova, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries; and Vira Burnazova, Head of the Department of Performing Arts and Culture. Greetings were also offered by distinguished figures from the worlds of science and culture: Olha Bench, Myroslava Karatsuba, Yuliia Trach, Zhanna Denysiuk, Andrii Furdychko, Serhii Vytkalov, Andrii Dushnyi, Anastasiia Tormakhova, and Olha Protsyshyna. The participants emphasized the importance of preserving national cultural identity and consolidating the scholarly community in order to advance knowledge in art and cultural studies.

Following the official opening and the plenary session, the conference continued across four thematic platforms. On the first platform, “Audiovisual Art in the Era of Digital Transformation,” moderated by Denys Kocherzhuk, participants discussed the co-creation of humans and artificial intelligence, digital concept art, game design, and immersive practices of memory. The second platform, “Ukrainian Art Studies: Historical, Theoretical, and Practical Aspects,” moderated by Olha Kopiievska, focused on reflections of war in graphic art, the development of scientific schools, exhibition practice, and transformations in contemporary design. The third platform, “Ukrainian Cultural Heritage: Reimagining and Revitalization,” moderated by Vladyslav Berkovskyi, was devoted to ethno-renaissance in the creative industries, cultural diplomacy, and the protection of heritage from historical manipulation. On the fourth platform, “Social Communications: Influence on the Development of Contemporary Ukrainian Culture,” moderated by Daryna Cherniak, scholars examined the impact of digitalization, artificial intelligence in education, media communications, and the culture-shaping potential of contemporary cinema. The event demonstrated the high scientific potential of its participants and became a significant step in the development of modern Ukrainian cultural studies.

We express our sincere gratitude to the leadership of Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design, the organizing committee, co-organizers, esteemed moderators, and all 92 participants of the conference for the high level of organization, active participation, and substantive presentations.

Special thanks go to our Defenders of Ukraine, thanks to whose courage we are able to hold the scientific front, unite to preserve Ukrainian culture, and work for the future of our country!

11.11.2026