Iryna Borovets had a meeting with the President of the French Institute, Eva Nguyen Binh
Iryna Borovets emphasised the importance of cooperation between the Ukrainian and French Institutes, in particular in terms of supporting cultural projects and facilitating the activities of the Representative Office of the Ukrainian Institute in France.
“In the face of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, we must defend not only our country’s borders, but also culture and art. We must combine our efforts, resources and opportunities to make our voice heard on all continents. The cultural sphere, after all, permeates everything –– diplomacy, communication, and politics in general. That is why we are grateful to our French colleagues for their willingness to stand side by side with Ukraine on this important artistic and cultural front,” stated Iryna Borovets.
During the meeting, the Ukrainian Institute and the French Institute signed a Partnership Agreement aimed at strengthening the partnership between the institutions to jointly promote and develop visual arts, literature and publishing, and music. The priorities include organising studio visits, supporting internship programmes for Ukrainian restorers in France, and participation of Ukrainian representatives in the Cannes Film Festival and the Festival d’Avignon international theatre festival.
“It is crucial for me to support Ukraine in this difficult time. I wanted to visit Ukraine in person and meet the cultural actors here, to hear how they live and what challenges they face, to understand the context from the inside. Despite the geographical proximity, our countries know little about each other, and today it is important for us to change it and learn more about each other,” said Eva Nguyen Binh, President of the French Institute.
The Agreement also provides for support for the activities of the Representative Office of the Ukrainian Institute in France, which opened in Paris in autumn 2023, through establishing contacts with French institutions and potential partners, and jointly organising cultural projects.
“This visit is a manifestation of the French Institute’s solidarity with Ukraine and an opportunity to deepen Ukrainian-French cultural relations. We believe that strengthening the voice of Ukrainian culture in France is an important contribution to European security, mutual understanding, and countering Russian aggression,” said Volodymyr Sheiko, Director General of the Ukrainian Institute.
In Kyiv, the French Institute’s delegation met with cultural figures, including participants of Generation Ukraine, is a French-German media platform ARTE’s initiative in cooperation with European partners, the French Institute, and the Ukrainian Institute to support the Ukrainian documentary filmmaking industry. The delegation visited the Khanenko Museum, Dukat Gallery, Academy of Decorative Arts, Steadly Foundation, Vidchuy Charitable Foundation, and Ukrainian House.
The delegations included Maud Grimaud, Head of French Institute’s Geographical Coordination Division, Francky Blandeau, Deputy Director of the French Institute’s Cooperation, Dialogue and Societies Department, and Gael Veyssiere, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Ukraine.