In a bid to rejuvenate Ukraine’s cultural landscape and foster dynamic leadership, the Congress of Culture has issued an open letter to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Verkhovna Rada, urging them to support the appointment of Yuliia Fediv as the new Minister of Culture and Information Policy. The letter, which was prominently featured on the Congress’s Facebook Page, emphasizes the need for fresh perspectives and innovative approaches within the Ministry.
“The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy should become an institution of new design like a number of others created after the Revolution of Dignity in accordance with a new public demand. And it requires a leader for the Ministry with fundamentally different approaches from those that we have seen in recent years,” the letter asserts. It highlights the prevailing perception of the Ministry of Culture as “an atavistic body” whose true value and importance have been overlooked, causing it to fall behind in terms of core values, ethical standards, and flexibility in its managerial decisions within Ukraine’s cultural community.
The Congress of Culture, which represents a consortium of influential voices within Ukraine’s cultural landscape, firmly believes that the current management system in the field of culture necessitates fundamental transformations. “No new minister will change the long-ailing system in a day, and must move to change every day, preventing this incredibly sensitive system from stagnating or even degrading,” the letter contends. It goes on to commend the achievements of Yuliia Fediv during her tenure as the head of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, where she, alongside her team, demonstrated an unwavering commitment to fostering a transparent, effective, and flexible cultural ecosystem, thanks to her clear vision, dedicated service, leadership, and ethical principles. The Congress of Culture expresses their full trust in Fediv’s ability to lead the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy.
The Congress of Culture is calling for prompt action and urges the authorities not to delay the voting process for the appointment of Yuliia Fediv. “The Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers has already employed people who cause delight and bewilderment. It sets a high level of expectations outside and inside the country. We are convinced that Yuliia Fediv is ready to meet expectations. Her appointment gives a chance to all of us,” conclude the cultural figures who have endorsed the letter.
As a part of this initiative, supporters have the option to add their signatures to the letter in favor of Yuliia Fediv’s appointment.
Yuliia Fediv, best known for her role as the inaugural executive director of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, served in this capacity from 2018 to 2021. Following her term, she opted not to participate in the competition for the executive director’s position. In 2021, Fediv assumed the role of director at Hromadske. However, in the summer of 2022, she temporarily stepped down from her post to undergo an internship in the United States as part of the G. Humphrey program for the 2022-2023 academic year.
