Institutions are not established in a day or even a year. In its first full year of operation the Ukrainian Institute has taken flight. It has proven to be an expert and professional institution capable of acting as a reliable partner for foreign cultural institutions and building a positive image of Ukraine abroad.

It is already obvious how difficult 2020 will be, not only for cultural diplomacy but for many other areas as well. This is the year of the Corona challenge, but at the same time it is also a year of new opportunities for Ukraine to strengthen its international position, in the field of cultural diplomacy, in particular.

It is now more important than ever for a modern and positive image of our country to be built abroad, for our culture to be integrated institutionally into the world cultural industry. The Ukrainian Institute is indispensable for this task. We need to show the world a creative, progressive, innovative Ukraine. A country that can amaze you. A country that is an integral part of Europe's cultural space, the cultural tapestry of Europe. We need to show Ukraine that its culture is valued in the world and that people want to see and hear it.

The global COVID-19 crisis is also changing the face of diplomacy. The methods of classic diplomacy need to give way to experimentation and unconventional solutions.

Personal meetings and visits are often impossible. Hence, digitalisation and modernisation have ceased to be novelty words. They became the only means for further development. For this reason, we at the Foreign Ministry are stepping up our digital diplomacy as an important component of public diplomacy.

Closure of borders should not stand in the way of Ukraine's introduction to the world. In fact, virtualisation can bring us even closer to the world when Ukraine is only two or three clicks, and not a two- or three- (or more) hour flight away. I am convinced that the Ukrainian Institute will act as our reliable partner in achieving this goal.

I wish the Ukrainian Institute a lot of enthusiasm and success to carry on with their important mission, despite all the challenges and obstacles. The best way to predict the future is to create it. Let's keep on creating the future of the Ukrainian culture together.

2019 marks the first full year of the Ukrainian Institute's activity. For a long time, Ukraine observed the experience of cultural diplomacy in other countries, finally setting up its own institution designed to foster dialogue and solidarity with the world through its humanitarian potential. Many experts and professionals joined forces to establish the Institute and outlined the ambitious framework of our mandate.

Starting this year with a dozen people in the team, in the clutch of bureaucratic restrictions, but with many plans and ideas, we have come to year's end having realised nearly a hundred projects in 12 countries, a team expanded by fourfold and even more ambitious plans. Much of this work went unnoticed and was painstaking, but necessary for the start and subsequent steps of a new state institution.

Cultural diplomacy is a relatively new practice for Ukraine. Therefore, one of our tasks is to give it a clear meaning, to find the right words and actions, so that Ukraine appears to the world not as a failed state or a "blank spot" on the map of Europe, but as a capable and sovereign partner. There is no need to invent a new universal language other than that which culture provides. It is unlikely that anyone will be able to speak about Ukraine more convincingly than its artists, intellectuals, scientists, activists, foreign friends - all those who shape our country's modern and colourful identity.

The basis of our projects and programmes is cooperation between people and institutions because these provide the basis for global cultural interaction. Acting alone, one can do far less than when acting in partnership with like-minded people. This is another challenge for Ukrainian cultural diplomacy: to think outside the box, and to be able to work for a common, systemic result.

I'm happy to be a part of this dream team. There are people of many professions, with different experiences and preferences working with us. They are outstanding and talented. For each of us, this work is a great responsibility and an incentive for self-improvement. I want to thank my colleagues for this difficult but unforgettable year.

I would also like to thank the members of the Supervisory Board for their assistance, advice and comprehensive support in the establishment of the Institute, our colleagues in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and foreign diplomatic missions, friends in Ukrainian cultural institutions, project participants, partners, sympathizers and constructive critics.

P.S. We have worked on this report in a difficult time for Ukraine and the world, forcing us to rethink how cultural diplomacy can work. I hope that the foundation we have laid in 2018 and 2019 will withstand this unprecedented stress test.

Since Ukraine's declaration of independence in 1991, we have all been talking a lot about whether and how Ukraine is known in the world, and how we are to present ourselves abroad in the media space and in cooperation with partners. There has been much criticism of our country's positioning as a nondescript geopolitical player, as a country of permanent "catastrophes"; there's been criticism regarding the lack of a project promotion strategy that would captivate and surprise the world. There had been much talk and finally, after twenty-six years, something was finally done about it: we created the Ukrainian Institute, a group whose main task is to present the real, modern face of Ukraine — personal, young, contemporary, intellectual, innovative and vibrant.

In 2019, Ukraine experienced its European informational breakthrough via the Bilateral Cultural Year Ukraine-Austria, an effort largely overseen by the Ukrainian Institute team. Austria's largest and most powerful media outlets have covered our work; some of the world's most renowned research centres, museums and orchestras, prestigious festivals, as well as individual artists and intellectuals have signed on as our partners. Thanks to the Ukrainian Institute, our cultural vanguard has become integrated into both Austrian professional platforms and networks and those of Central and Western Europe. This type of collaboration is one of the strategic directions of the Ukrainian Institute's work, and it is a strategy that is proving to be effective.

Ukraine has begun to appear on the international cultural radar as an equal partner. A nation with a distinct vector of development, clear priorities, the power of free and courageous artists and thoughtful intellectuals. And despite the physical and psychic toll from its ongoing struggle with Russian-backed hostilities in its east, Ukraine is a state that has shown it can offer the world singular capabilities both for survival and development.

I had the honour of serving as the Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of the Ukrainian Institute since its inception (2018-2019). Thanks to the expertise of the members of the Supervisory Board, the cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the team of the Ukrainian Institute and our brilliant Ukrainian artists, we have succeeded in creating and securing an Institute of sterling reputation both at home and abroad.

A country is often judged on the reputation of its people and institutions, its capacity for cooperation and personal responsibility. I hope that this performance report of the Ukrainian Institute for 2019 will serve as a template for the entire sphere of public administration: this is how state institutions must work in difficult and changing times — transparently, flexibly, responsibly and globally.

Following consultations with stakeholders and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was decided to launch the Institute in the following countries in 2019: Austria, Poland, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Lithuania, UK, USA and Czech Republic.

Having analysed the requests from the cultural sector of Ukraine, considering the status and dynamics of cultural processes in Ukraine and abroad, and having studied the best practices of cultural diplomacy institutes of the UK, Germany, France, USA, Czech Republic, Lithuania and Spain, the team identified the priority cultural sectors with which we would begin our work: music, film, performing arts, visual arts, literature. With their potential to attract wider audiences and enhance the Institute's media reach, communication and cross-sectoral projects were not overlooked.

One important objective for 2019 was the testing of various formats of project activities. Experience from our pilot year helped us better understand the effectiveness of these formats, as well as the limitations faced by a Ukrainian state institution. In addition, we launched our first long-term programmes designed to increase the visibility of Ukrainian culture abroad, deepen its integration into the international environment, and resulting in a more stable and systemic cultural diplomacy effort.

The first of these were the Exter Art Residencies programme and the Audible to U programme for the creation of Ukrainian-language audio guides at international museum venues. In addition, we have made considerable efforts to launch institutional partnerships abroad, to build confidence in Ukrainian cultural diplomacy and to lay the groundwork for future projects and programmes.

Our most ambitious programme was the Bilateral Cultural Year Ukraine-Austria brought forward in 2018 by both countries and resulting in the implementation by the Institute of 39 events in 5 Austrian cities in 2019.

Despite the considerable attention to Austria, the Institute has also initiated cooperation with prestigious institutions and forums from other countries, including the French Cinematheque, the international film sector and theatre and arts festivals. We have organised regular study and professional visits to Ukraine, and supported projects of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Munich and the Consulate of Ukraine in Gdansk. These connections and working contacts will serve to further expand the network of Institute partners both in Ukraine and abroad.

Iryna Prokofieva, Head of the Programme Department

With foreign media interest largely focused on Institute activities and projects, the broadest media coverage was provided in those countries featuring the largest number of events - Austria, Poland, France and Germany. These countries were able to offer coverage by key national media providers with a large audience reach. Examples of this include repeat coverage by ORF television and radio stations, the Austrian national broadcasting company, publications in major Austrian newspapers like Die Presse, Kurier and Der Standard; articles in key French publications, including Le Monde and Liberation; German periodicals including Deutsche Welle and Opernwelt; as well as appearances on Polskie Radio and in Gazeta Wyborcza. Not surprisingly, the Bilateral Cultural Year Ukraine-Austria received the greatest number of media references. In addition to news broadcasts, a documentary about Ukrainian culture produced with the support of the Ukrainian Institute and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Austria was broadcast several times on the ORF TV channel. The Institute also implemented a special project "Ukrainian Week", dedicated to contemporary Ukrainian culture, together with Radio Klassik, a Vienna FM station. The APA, Austria's largest news agency, repeatedly released information on the Institute's activities to all of Austrian media.

In November-December 2019, in cooperation with the International Renaissance Foundation, we conducted a preparatory stage and developed a methodology for researching the perception of Ukraine abroad. Its purpose is to define the expectations of Ukraine that foreign professionals may have, to explore the perception of its cultural potential and to evaluate the possibilities of cooperation in the fields of culture, education, science and civil society. The research is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2020 in Germany, France, Poland and Hungary, with possible expansion to other countries.

In collaboration with the Ukrainian Crisis Media Centre and One Philosophy Group of Companies, we have launched a study dedicated to the historical memory and interpretation of the "awkward" heritage of the 20^th century. The project began with a monitoring of how the leading media in the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, France, Russia and Ukraine covered the historical events of the 20^th century that influenced Ukraine's role in world processes. The moods, accents and tone of the media, their influence on the formation of national and international narratives have been analysed. The results of the monitoring will be presented in the second quarter of 2020.

At the end of 2019, the Institute began developing an internal evaluation system based on the international practice of cultural diplomacy institutions. This system will allow a comprehensive assessment of the Institute's performance on the basis of quantitative and qualitative data. It has a three-tier structure. At the primary, institutional level, the overall indicators that demonstrate the scale of the Institute's activity are evaluated. The second level determines the volume and quality of the engagement with the audience. The third level is dedicated to the qualitative impact of our work on each area of project activity. The system will be run in test mode throughout 2020.



Yuliia Hnat, Head of the Information and Analytics Department

During the first half of the year, work continued on introducing amendments to a number of legal statutes that significantly restricted or prevented the full operation of the Institute. In particular, time limits for the prepayment of goods and services procured by the Institute for the implementation of activities and projects were extended; the ban on increasing the number of employees and the prohibition on expenditures for exhibitions, fairs, symposia and congresses were lifted. The procedure for using funds allocated in the state budget for the implementation of measures and projects of the Ukrainian Institute was approved. This procedure details the directions for the use of funds and expands the list of the types of expenditures that are allowed.

It wasn't until the second half of the year that were we able to expand the team from 11 to 37 people and implement our project and programme plans.

We expanded both the programme and the accounting departments, established departments of communications, information analysis, administration, legal support and public procurement. We developed processes for interaction between departments of the Institute and with external partners.

The rapid expansion of the team and the need to achieve our ambitious goals required a lot of effort from all our departments, as well as the involvement of professional consultants and team-builders. Establishing the institution took a full six months, during which we carried out 90% of the activities planned for the year.

In 2019, the Institute, in conjunction with the Projector School of Design and Technology, developed and implemented a new visual identity and brand, enhancing our communication work and the development of our own information platforms.

An important component of our activities in 2019 was the establishment and development of a network of partner institutions in Ukraine and abroad. This made it possible to develop and approve the 2020 Activity Plan in time, as well as to prepare for the implementation of the three-year budget planning.

In 2019, the Institute signed cooperation agreements with a number of Ukrainian and international institutions. These agreements are variously concerned with consolidating efforts and capabilities to improve the perception of Ukraine abroad;

the dissemination of objective information and knowledge about Ukraine; the implementation of joint projects and initiatives in information, communication, cultural and other fields; the expansion and deepening of international cooperation. Among our partner organisations are the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, the Ukrainian Crisis Media Centre NGO, One Philosophy Group of Companies, MUMOK - Museum of Contemporary Art of the Ludwig Foundation (Vienna, Austria), the ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius Foundation (Hamburg, Germany). The Institute has established close cooperation with the Austrian Cultural Forum in Kyiv and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs in implementing the Cultural Year Ukraine-Austria programme.



Tetyana Filevska, Deputy Director General

For work undertaken in the field of cultural diplomacy, a broad range of competencies is required: foreign language skills, project and process management, implementation of international cultural, educational and scientific programmes; reputation and institutional communications management; expertise in various sectors of culture; extensive professional networks; ability to work in a multicultural environment; understanding of the theory and practice of international relations and more.

We have successfully formed a team whose expert profile indicates a high level of competence and readiness for professional growth. This is the key to the Institute's internal expertise, i.e. the ability to take professional, thoughtful, well-grounded and ethical decisions about project selection and their subject matter.

Cultural diplomacy as a professional discipline is only beginning to emerge in Ukraine, fittingly, the Ukrainian Institute pays a great deal of attention to the professional development of our team and to the study of the best international practices in fields relevant to our work.

As part of the Knowledge Transfer Programme for Public Diplomacy of Ukraine, with the support of the American Councils for International Education and the US Embassy in Ukraine, Volodymyr Sheiko, Director General of the UI, underwent training at the Summer Institute of the Centre for Public Diplomacy at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles in July 2019. Iryna Prokofieva, Head of the Programme Department, and Olexandr Vynogradov, Programme Manager, took part in an Open World study tour to Washington DC in November 2019. The project also provided training for Institute staff with the participation of pro.mova professionals on institutional communications, reputation management and public sector work.

In March 2019, representatives of the Institute visited the UK to learn about international practices employed in cultural diplomacy and the experience of the British Council, as well as to establish professional contacts with the cultural institutions of London and Edinburgh.

In June 2019, a representative of the Institute made a study visit to Greece within the EU's Culture Bridges programme.

At the invitation of the Czech Centre, the staff of the Institute visited Prague and Brno to get acquainted with the organisational structure and programme policies of the Czech Centres and to establish contacts with Czech cultural institutions in February 2019. A number of employees have undergone training in public procurement.

90% of staff speak English and/or other languages. 31% speak two foreign languages, 14% speak three, 8% speak four, and two staff members speak 5-6 foreign languages). These include English, German, Polish, French, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Danish, Croatian / Serbian, and Belarusian.

The Supervisory Board includes prominent Ukrainian and/or foreign public figures, as well as representatives of some ministries. The powers of the Supervisory Board include, in particular, the approval of the Institute's annual work plan and changes thereto, control over financial and economic activity, consideration of current issues, approval of the main areas of project activity, etc.

The experience and knowledge of experts, experienced managers from state institutions and civil society is extremely important for the establishment, development and upholding of the Institute's interests.

During the year 2019, the Supervisory Board of the Ukrainian Institute held 18 meetings in person or online. At different times of the year it consisted of: