Ukrainian institute at EJC (Europe Jazz Network Conference)
The European Jazz Conference is an annual event that brings together leading professionals from the jazz sector in Europe, in particular promoters, cultural managers, agents, and representatives of national and regional industry support organisations.
Europe Jazz Network Conference 2025
Under the theme “Somewhere Called Home”, the programme of the conference, which tool place in Bari from 25 to 28 September, combined keynote speeches, panels, workshops, and networking sessions offering a forward-looking perspective on the challenges and opportunities of today’s music sector. Some of its most pressing issues were discussed during the conference days – from migration, sustainability and social impact to burnout, innovation, and the transformative role of culture.
The event was organised by Europe Jazz Network and Puglia Culture, within the framework of Puglia Sounds project, and with the support of Regione Puglia, in collaboration with Comune di Bari.
At the conference Ukrainian delegates – representatives of Ukrainian festivals and jazz venues – had a chance to get insights on current tendencies in jazz music, discuss with colleagues from other countries various issues on organizing jazz events in challenging times and also picked many new contacts that potenially can grow in new partnerships and cooperation.
Delegates' reflections
- Tetyana Fiks, Festival Manager of Bouquet Kyiv Stage:
“Being part of such a large-scale and authoritative event is an opportunity to make our voice heard and to show that Ukraine is present on the map of the jazz and cultural world — that we continue to create and work even under extremely difficult conditions.It was a chance to tell the international community that during the full-scale invasion we never stopped our cultural life — festivals, concerts, and events continued, and in particular, Bouquet Kyiv Stage took place every year. Seeing surprise, genuine interest and respect in response to these stories is yet another proof of how important it is to be present, to speak, and to share our experience. Participation in the European Jazz Conference is not only about exchanging experience; it is also about visibility, solidarity, and creating a shared European cultural space, of which Ukraine is an integral part.”
- Serhii Hemberg, Director of Art Jazz Festival: “Participation in the conference created a strong foundation for the further integration of the ART JAZZ Festival into the European jazz network. Several concrete proposals for future cooperation were received, including possible performances of Ukrainian artists at European festivals and the participation of foreign musicians in the ART JAZZ programme. Participation in the 11th European Jazz Conference in Bari proved to be extremely productive and important for the development of ART JAZZ’s international relations. The conference confirmed the high level of interest of the European jazz community in cooperation with Ukraine and provided a valuable platform for presenting the Ukrainian jazz movement at the international level.”
- Olesia Levytska, Manager of DZYGA Art Center: “Participation in the conference made it possible to present the activities of DZYGA Art Center on a European platform, establish contacts with key players in the jazz industry, and gain practical knowledge about contemporary formats of promotion, management, and networking in the European context. I really enjoyed the conference format — the intimate atmosphere made it easy to communicate, find like-minded people, and even make friends. I felt like part of this big European jazz family and had the opportunity to emphasise that the Ukrainian scene exists, works despite all challenges, and is a worthy partner for the European community.”
Europe Jazz Network Conference 2024
For the third year in a row, the Ukrainian Institute has joined the conference organised by the European Jazz Network.
The conference was held from 12 to 15 September in Ghent (Belgium). The Ukrainian delegation joined the events:
- Anastasiia Vahanova, a lecturer at Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUAS) and a programme director at Caribbean Club Concert Hall.
- Kateryna Ziabliuk, a pianist.
- Mariana Bondarenko, Head of Music in the Ukrainian Institute.
The conference featured a music collection – Serhii Artemov. In Memoriam – by jazz musician Serhii Artemov, who died in 2023 while defending Ukraine. The collection was published at the initiative of the Ukrainian Institute with the aim of disseminating music scores among foreign specialists and musicians.
Plenary panel debate: Tomorrow comes Today
Kateryna Ziabliuk took part in the panel discussion on 14 September.
During the debate we will hear from young people about their concerns on the future of our planet, and our music ecosystem. The looming environmental crisis is self-evident, and social and economic disparities are growing within our societies in Europe, where young people, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds, struggle to find their place. The creative music sector cannot exist in isolation, and young musicians are confronted with these challenges when thinking about their future career. The panel will bring together the perspectives of activists, youth workers and young artists to discuss possible solutions that address these challenges towards a more just, sustainable and inclusive future.
Participants: Kateryna Ziabliuk (artist, UA/PL), Frederike Berendsen (artist & activist, NL), Fatih De Vos (rapper, sociologist & youth worker, BE). Moderator: Anna Umbima (writer & broadcaster, UK).
Photos: Europe Jazz Network
Europe Jazz Network Conference 2023
This year’s Europe Jazz Network conference, held from September 14 to 17, gathered 472 participants from 40 countries in Marseille, France. It was the most attended conference since its inception. International jazz industry experts were warmly welcomed by the Marseille Jazz de cinq continents festival in collaboration with the leading institution, the European Jazz Network (EJN).
The conference theme, “Illuminations,” focused on educational processes in music, including creative music education, inclusivity, non-academic education, support for young musicians, and more. Important topics also included the functioning of the jazz industry in the face of climate change.
Results
For the second time, the Ukrainian Institute had the honor of being a participant in Europe’s key jazz event. Mariana Bondarenko, Head of the Ukrainian Institute Music Sector, stated, “Throughout the intensive three days of panel discussions, networking sessions, and showcases, we were able to:
- Expand our network of contacts and potential international partners.
- Scale up existing partnerships with colleagues from Sweden, France, Denmark, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and others.
- Secure support for Ukrainian music content in foreign media.
- Develop a participation algorithm for Ukrainian jazz venues and festivals in the Green Pilot Tours programme, facilitating foreign musician tours and studio visits by international jazz industry experts to Ukraine.
- Collect materials from the latest releases by leading European musicians for inclusion in Ukrainian jazz programs.”
We extend our gratitude for the continuous support and cooperation of the Europe Jazz Network, which has enabled the Ukrainian Institute’s participation in the conference for the second consecutive time and consistently helps integrate the Ukrainian jazz scene into the European context.
Mariana Bondarenko with EJN award laureate, artistic director of L’arme! festival Louis Rastig, Swedish artists Anna Lundqvist, Terese Lien Evenstad and music managers from Latvia and Germany.
Europe Jazz Network 2022
European Jazz Conference 2022 occurred in Sofia, Bulgaria, between 22 and 25 September.
The theme of the 2022 European Jazz Conference was BREAKING NEW GROUND.
A Ukrainian duo of electronic musician Koloah (Dmytro Avksentiev) and trumpet player Dennis Adu performed at the special block devoted to Ukraine on September 23 at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia, with an introduction by Mariana Bondarenko, Music Programme Manager of the Ukrainian Institute.
The collaboration between the musicians was born in 2020 for Am I Jazz? festival, thanks to Olga Bekenstein, music curator, founder and artistic director of this festival. For all the time of preparation for EJN, artists did not even see each other and only exchanged messages on Telegram. Despite these circumstances, the collaboration still exists and is developing into new projects.
Koloah (Dmytro Avksentiev) and trumpet player Dennis Adu
About cooperation between Ukrainian Institute and EJN
The cooperation between Ukrainian Institute and EJN has started In 2022 and developed actively on different levels. From the very beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, EJN was one of the first organisations of its kind to have published a statement in support of Ukraine. In cooperation with Ukrainian Institute EJN published an interactive list of Ukrainian musicians who had to leave their country and fled to the EU, thus motivating EJN partners throughout Europe to cooperate with Ukrainian musicians.
In April 2022, in the framework of JAZZAHEAD! in Bremen two delegations from Ukraine and EJN had a first meeting to discuss potential perspectives of mutual cooperation. Thus, in June 2022 Olga Bekenstein, was invited to attend the Sarajevo festival to meet other delegates and have a possibility of networking.
Moreover, Ukrainian Institute initiated joining one of the biggest online EJN projects: Jazz Panorama – an interactive map which is the most comprehensive online guide on European jazz to date. Ukrainian content was published by the beginning of EJN Conference and was presented during the conference in Sofia.