In Ukraine, the first virtual museum of the opera theater has been launched to preserve archives from destruction due to shelling.

In Ukraine, the first virtual museum of the opera theater has been launched, according to the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.

This initiative pertains to the Kharkiv National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet named after Mykola Lysenko. Its archival collection has been digitized to prevent loss during shelling and attacks by Russian military forces.

In the first phase, the virtual gallery will feature around 6,000 exhibits, including sketches of sets, costumes from various productions, posters, photographs, and programs.

Attention has also been paid to national operas and ballets that premiered in Kharkiv, such as Mykola Lysenko's opera "Taras Bulba," the first Ukrainian ballet "Pan Kanyovsky" by Mykhailo Verikyvsky, and others.

A virtual tour showcasing works by Ukrainian artists has also been created. Later, works by European composers and artists, as well as exhibits from the Kyiv Museum of Theater, Music, and Cinema Arts, and the Kharkiv Art Museum, will be added.

"Over a year of our work preparing materials, negotiating with museums and collectors, working in archives, selecting exhibits, photographing, scanning, retouching, describing, and cataloging has yielded results — the first virtual opera theater museum in Ukraine is now operational. In the first phase of the project this year, the virtual gallery will feature around 6,000 exhibits. These include sketches of sets, unique costumes from various theater productions, posters, photographs, and programs," stated the Kharkiv National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet.

Currently, in collaboration with museum professionals from Kyiv and Kharkiv, work continues on cataloging the most valuable exhibits, attributing archival materials, and digitizing them.

"All of this is being done to prevent the loss of information regarding the development of Ukrainian musical and theatrical culture, to promote Ukrainian opera and ballet art worldwide, and to engage researchers in the in-depth study of our collection," explained the project team.

The museum can be visited via a link.