The Ukrainian Institute and UN Women Ukraine to present the Fifth Women in Arts. The Resistance Award

Jubilee Women in Arts. The Resistance Award ceremony will take place under the slogan ‘Till The Storm Ends’. With the outbreak of a full-scale war in Ukraine, the Award came back with a renewed significance following a one-year hiatus, embedded under the 2023 name ‘The Resistance’. This symbolizes resistance and resilience — something that united not only Ukrainian women artists, but the entire Ukrainian nation together. 

Here are the nominees in seven categories for the Award:

●  Women in Visual Arts:
Kateryna Buchatska, Kateryna Aliinyk, Lesia Khomenko
●  Women in Music:
Mariia Yaremak, Jamala, Khrystyna Daletska
●  Women in Theatre:
Oksana Dmitriieva, Inna Falkova, Yuliia Zaulychna
●  Women in Film:
Alisa Kovalenko, Maryna Vroda, Maryna Maikovska
●  Women in Literature:
Yaryna Chornohuz, Liubov Yakymchuk, Iya Kiva, Olena Herasymiuk, Olesia Yaremchuk
●  Women in Cultural Management:
Olha Honchar, Olha Balashova, Oleksandra Koval
●  Women in Cultural Journalism, Criticism, and Research:
Kateryna Yakovlenko, Kseniia Bilash, Darka Hirna 

During the ceremony, a Special Mention will also be awarded. Introduced in 2021, this separate award aims to honor the accomplishments of women who, while not professional artists, significantly contribute to Ukrainian culture through their endeavors.

The laureates of the Women In Arts Award are chosen by experts in their respective fields. Nominees for the Award are evaluated based on key eligibility criteria such as professional achievements, reputation, innovation, and national or international recognition. The evaluation process is conducted by an Expert Council and a Jury comprising specialists in the field of culture and art, representatives from the public sector, and independent institutions.

The full list of the Expert Council and Jury can be found here.

Since 2023, the selection criteria for choosing laureates have been revised to include contribution to victory, reflecting activities in military, volunteer, cultural, or any other sphere directly contributing to Ukraine’s advancement towards victory.

Women in Arts is an independent award founded in 2019 by the Ukrainian Institute and UN Women in Ukraine as part of the HeForShe solidarity movement for gender equality. The award aims to spotlight the accomplishments of women artists and promote Ukrainian culture both in Ukraine  and internationally.

The Ukrainian Institute is a state institution in the field of management of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. The mission of the Ukrainian Institute is to strengthen the international and internal subjectivity of Ukraine through cultural diplomacy. We establish international cultural links between people and institutions and create opportunities for Ukrainians to interact with the world.

UN Women is a United Nations entity that focuses on achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women.

HeForShe is a global solidarity movement for gender equality, founded by UN Women, in which men and boys are the main agents of change. Since its launch in 2014, the campaign has been joined by heads of state, leading scientists, global corporate executives, athletes, artists, and gender equality opinion leaders. In Ukraine, the movement was launched in 2018, enabled by financial support from Sweden.