Launching patronage reform, creating the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund, and strengthening cultural institutions: key results of the Ministry of Culture in 2025

This year, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine focused its efforts on strengthening institutions, protecting cultural heritage, and forming a long-term framework for the development of the sector in the context of war and recovery. The Ministry of Culture team also worked on systemic changes in the sector. In 2025, the Ministry of Culture, together with its partners, launched a patronage reform, created the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund (UCHF), and added new financing instruments and digital services.

"The year marked a transition from response to systemic solutions. We have established culture as an element of national security, with clear rules, new financial instruments, and international support. At the heart of the Ministry of Culture's policy are strong cultural institutions, the protection of heritage, and the people who create culture today and will create it tomorrow. In 2026, we will focus on scaling up these solutions, strengthening financial support and developing accessible tools to support culture," said Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Minister of Culture of Ukraine Tetiana Berezhna.

In 2025, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine implemented specific projects and decisions aimed at international support for culture, protection of cultural heritage, and institutional strengthening of the sector. We have yielded the following results:

• Initiated the Cultural Resilience Alliance, an international platform to support Ukrainian culture and strengthen global cultural security. More than 20 countries and international organisations have joined the Alliance.
• The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Fund was established. International partners have already allocated over EUR 3 million to cultural heritage restoration projects.
• Cooperation with international organisations on protection: 19 Ukrainian sites were included in the UNESCO International List of Cultural Properties under Enhanced Protection.
• Cooperation with Poland was launched: Ukrainian and Polish experts conducted search and exhumation work in Ukraine and the Republic of Poland as part of intergovernmental cooperation in the field of historical memory preservation.
• The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the Strategy for the Development of Culture until 2030 and the Operational Plan for its implementation for 2025-2027, forming a long-term framework for the development of the sector.
• The Vlasna Sprava programme for creative industries was launched. Already, 155 entrepreneurs in the creative sector have received grants totalling over UAH 50 million.
• Opportunities for cultural institutions were expanded, allowing them to provide modern services and attract additional resources for development.
• Work to protect the Ukrainian language. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine updated the official translation of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. The document was brought into line with international standards while russian language was removed from protection.
• About 50 films dedicated to the resilience of Ukrainians in the face of confrontation with the enemy during the war against russia, and the formation of Ukrainian national and civic identity produced.
• Work on reforming patronage. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved a draft law on patronage, which was developed by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine to stimulate private support for culture.
• In the state budget for 2026, the state increased spending on culture by 45%.
• Work to support the cultural sphere and artists. In particular, the state allocated UAH 4 billion for the implementation of the National Programme for the Financing of Ukrainian Culture.
• Fifteen directors of russian museums responsible for the appropriation of Ukrainian museum treasures in the temporarily occupied territories were subject to sanctions initiated by the Ministry of Culture.
• The publication and free distribution of newspapers in the de-occupied and frontline territories was ensured so that people would have access to socially important information.
• The Ministry of Culture approved the procedure and conditions for insuring the life, health and working capacity of journalists and media workers. From 14 November 2025, such insurance will apply to those working on assignments in combat zones and temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Digitalisation, reconstruction and accessibility

Ministry of Culture of Ukraine:

• Created the CuRe (Culture for Recovery) platform, which integrates culture into the processes of reconstruction and restoration of Ukraine.
• Launched three national digital registries: a basic network of cultural institutions; publishers and distributors of publishing products; and the museum fund of Ukraine.
• As part of the Culture Without Barriers project, the Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with LUN, created a map of barrier-free cultural institutions. More than 5,000 objects throughout the country have already been added to it.
• As part of the Information Without Barriers initiative, 60,000 specialists were trained in the principles of plain language, and more than 1,000 media and cultural workers underwent specialised training.
• The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine registered a draft law drafted by the Ministry of Culture, "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding Ensuring the Accessibility of Audiovisual Media Services (except for Audio Media Services) for Persons with Disabilities."

The year of 2025 was a productive and successful year for the cultural sector. The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine adopted a number of strategic decisions and launched tools that are already working in practice — from international support mechanisms and financial programmes to digital services and barrier-free solutions. Many initiatives have already yielded tangible results this year.