Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ukrainian Institute and what does it do?
Yes, the Ukrainian Institute is a cultural institute similar in its remit to the Goethe-Institut, the Institut Français, or the Instituto Cervantes, but it also has its own unique characteristics. It was founded in Kyiv in 2017 and is a public institution affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
In March 2023, the first representative office abroad was opened in Germany, followed by a second one in France in October 2023. In April 2025, the third representative office began operating in the Netherlands.
The Ukrainian Institute in Germany is a registered association and can also implement its own projects and apply for funding.
The Ukrainian Institute is dedicated to promoting intercultural cooperation and creating a space abroad for encounters with Ukrainian culture.
However, both the Ukrainian Institute and its foreign representative offices have their own specific characteristics.
The Ukrainian Institute is an associate member of EUNIC (European Union National Institute for Culture), an association of cultural institutes of the European Union.
The Ukrainian Institute is a public institution affiliated with the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The representative office in Germany works closely with the Ukrainian Institute in Kyiv. The opening of the foreign representative office in Germany was made possible by a trilateral partnership between the Goethe-Institut, the Open Society Foundations, and the Ukrainian Institute.
The Ukrainian Institute initiates and implements projects primarily in the areas of art, culture, and Ukrainian studies.
The Ukrainian Institute represents Ukrainian culture from a decolonial perspective, focusing on cooperation and exchange with German and international cultural actors. Each year, the institute dedicates itself to selected topics in Ukrainian history and culture. In 2023, the focus was on the Holodomor, the Revolution of Dignity, and Crimean Tatar culture and society. In addition, the representative office of the Ukrainian Institute in Germany addresses current issues such as the Russian-Ukrainian war, the reconstruction of Ukraine, the role of civil society in the context of Ukrainian resilience, and cultural self-assertion and the revision of colonial narratives.
Our work is guided by these important principles: postcolonial mindset, trauma-sensitive approach, evidence-based work, reciprocity, respect, and exchange.
We do not currently offer language courses for Ukrainian. However, we will offer them in the future.
In the meantime, we recommend a list of online resources about and for the Ukrainian language prepared by the Ukrainian Institute.
Prior to 2022, the Ukrainian Institute was financed from the Ukrainian state budget. However, budgetary resources are currently needed primarily for the protection of Ukraine and European security, meaning that the Ukrainian Institute in Germany relies on cooperation and public and private support for its projects abroad.
The Ukrainian Institute is committed to promoting and presenting Ukrainian culture abroad. It is also dedicated to establishing and expanding long-term intercultural cooperation. The most important premise of our work is independent and evidence-based expertise, which is ensured through cooperation with renowned institutions such as universities, cultural institutions, research centers, and experts. In recent years, the Ukrainian Institute has worked with, among others, the National Art Museum of Ukraine, the National Film Archive of Ukraine Dovzhenko Center, the Khanenko Museum, and other organizations.
The Ukrainian Institute does not engage in propaganda.
The work of the Ukrainian Institute is subject to review by a supervisory board consisting of 11 independent cultural and media professionals. Positions at the Ukrainian Institute are filled through an open application process.
As an institution affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Institute is guided by Ukraine’s foreign policy objectives. The Institute’s program work and international cooperation are organized independently of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Institute focuses on key topics and areas of activity such as film, literature, music, visual arts, performing arts, Ukrainian studies, interdisciplinary projects, and the dissemination of knowledge through information campaigns on Ukrainian culture and history, with a particular focus on decolonization, civil society, and diversity.
If you have any questions about the topics listed below, we recommend that you contact the organisation with the relevant expertise. You can find a list of Ukrainian organisations below:
- Political Activism
- Humanitarian aid for Ukraine
- Counseling and assistance for people seeking protection from Ukraine
- Residences for artists seeking protection (Artists at risk)
- Ukrainian Diaspora
How you can participate: as an artist, as a visitor, as a supporter
- Room search
The Ukrainian Institute in Germany is looking for suitable premises in Berlin to host our events, as well as a representative location that can serve as a physical point of contact for our institution.
Further details about the premises we are looking for can be obtained by emailing [email protected].
- Media partnership
The Ukrainian Institute in Germany is looking forward to long-term cooperation with German media. Please, feel free to contact us: [email protected].
- Funding
The Ukrainian Institute in Germany is always looking for suitable funding for our projects. We are also interested in institutional support to secure the long-term future of our work. Would you like to support our work? Please contact us at: [email protected].
- Projects and events
Do you have an exciting project idea, are you looking for Ukrainian partners, or would you like to receive advice on cooperation with Ukraine in your cultural field? Then please write to us at: [email protected].
Our events take place throughout Germany. Under “News” and “Calendar” you can find out where and when you can meet the team or learn about the projects of the Ukrainian Institute. To stay up to date, you can subscribe to our monthly newsletter and follow us on (X) Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook.
If your principles and areas of activity match ours and you would like to plan joint projects, we look forward to hearing from you: [email protected].
We are also interested in working with photographers, videographers, graphic designers, and PR agencies. Please write to us at: [email protected]
Please also note our response regarding the areas in which we do not operate as an institution (see question in the FAQ).
The Ukrainian Institute’s website ui.org.ua and social media channels (Instagram and Facebook) regularly publish calls for submissions and open calls for projects organized by the Ukrainian Institute, which Ukrainian artists are welcome to apply for.
We are also interested in photographers, videographers, graphic designers, and PR agencies who would like to work with us. Write to us at [email protected].
You can provide support by donating to the Ukrainian army or humanitarian aid in Ukraine, for example.
Here you will find the accounts of the National Bank of Ukraine for:
Why was the Ukrainian Institute opened in Germany?
Since its foundation, the Ukrainian Institute has collaborated with numerous German cultural institutions, such as the Goethe-Institut, the Reeperbahn Festival, the Zentrum Liberale Moderne, the Berlinale, and the Frankfurt Book Fair. As one of the leading member states of the European Union, Germany is an important partner for Ukraine on its path toward European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
The Ukrainian Institute in Germany promotes the expansion of existing cooperation and the establishment of new contacts between institutions, artists, and cultural actors. Especially in light of the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine, the associated movement of people seeking protection and migration, and the current decolonization processes in Ukraine, there is a growing need in Germany for understanding Ukraine, its society, culture, and history.
The opening of the representative office of the Ukrainian Institute in Germany was followed with great interest by the German and international cultural scene, representatives of civil society, and the media, highlighting the relevance and necessity of a well-founded and long-term mediation of Ukrainian culture.
The idea of opening foreign representative offices of the Ukrainian Institute has existed since its foundation in 2017. The idea and the need for such an institution arose in particular in connection with the Revolution of Dignity in 2013 and the associated growing interest of the world public in Ukraine. The escalation of Russia’s war against Ukraine, with Russia’s full-scale invasion since 2022 and its consequences for Europe and the world, have reinforced the urgency of this project and accelerated the necessary steps.
We have long-standing contacts and partnerships with the German Federal Foreign Office, the Open Society Foundation, the Federal Agency for Civic Education, the Goethe-Institut, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the Heinrich Böll Foundation, the Berlinale, the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Leipzig Book Fair, the Reeperbahn Festival, the members of EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture), the Ernst von Siemens Art Foundation, the Arsenal – Institute for Film and Video Art, the Academy of Arts, the Literaturhaus Berlin, the Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations (ifa), the House of Poetry, the Obmin Foundation, and others.