Photographer: Domas Rimeika
The Vilnius City Council will allocate 300,000 euros for the reconstruction of the Taras Shevchenko Theater in Dnipro, as announced by the mayor of the Lithuanian capital, Valdas Benkunskas, according to LTR.lt.
"We are ready to allocate 300,000 euros from the assistance fund to Ukraine for the reconstruction of the Taras Shevchenko Theater in Dnipro," said the Vilnius mayor at a conference on the restoration of Ukraine's cultural sector. The theater is set to restore a 500-seat concert hall, weather-resistant and "adapted to modern realities."
"This is our partner city, but we also have close ties with Taras Shevchenko," emphasized Valdas Benkunskas. "He is an outstanding artist who left a bright mark in the history of the city of Vilnius."
This commitment is part of the declaration of the conference taking place in the Lithuanian capital.
According to the Minister of Culture of Lithuania, Simonas Kairys, this document not only provides assistance to Ukraine in the restoration of specific cultural objects but also commits to paying special attention to the restoration or preservation of such values at the future conference on Ukraine's restoration in Berlin.
"The main goal is for the cultural dimension to be systematic throughout the restoration process," said the minister. "One of the areas where we really plan to help is strengthening the competencies of Ukrainian specialists, especially in restoration and digitization."
"We will create a joint program, a common model, so that this assistance is not a one-time but a systematic measure," he added.
Acting Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine Rostyslav Karandeev stated that it is important for Ukraine not only to protect existing cultural objects from Russian aggression but also to ensure that damaged ones are restored and the people caring for them have the necessary skills.
"We declare that culture and solving its problems cannot be postponed until the post-war period. It is important for us to start and fulfill specific tasks today," he said.
"We see no other possible forms of our development except in partnership with EU countries and international organizations supporting Ukraine," he noted. "One of the issues we ask you to consider is maximum isolation of Russia from the processes taking place in the international cultural sphere to reduce Russia's influence."
Deputy Director-General of UNESCO for Culture, Ernesto Renato Ottone Ramirez, stated that the restoration of Ukrainian cultural objects could cost at least $6.9 billion.
"Culture and heritage cannot be sidelined. There can be no recovery plan if culture is not integrated into it," emphasized the Deputy Head of UNESCO for Culture.
