In Lviv, forcibly displaced Ukrainians are invited to free study tours. “Lviv Meets” is a charitable cultural initiative of people who work in various institutions: the Association of Gallerists, Art Center “I Gallery”, LCP “Heritage Bureau”, Department of Ecology and Natural Resources of the LMI and others
The program includes easy introductory walks through the streets, parks and art spaces of Lviv, which are conducted by the founders and employees of local cultural institutions, as well as the Lviv City Hall.
Pavlo Gudimov, art manager and curator of Ya Ya Gallery, is convinced that now there is a great need for both cultural people and people who have come to Lviv to communicate and get acquainted.
“The main important problem is the trauma of our society, the trauma of people who survived the bombing, who survived the war. Lviv is now a shelter city, and, God forbid, it will continue to be so. We understand that a lot of people came here for the first time. And the idea arose to make a program for them. First there was the test mode. And when we took a walk in Stryj Park, we realized that it works very well. We hoped that 20-30 people would come, but 150 came. This is a great need of people and great gratitude. Interestingly, the same evening the exhibition at “I Gallery” gathered 55 people, and this is the limit. When we talk about the therapeutic power of art, no one has any questions. And the gratitude of the people who came to the event is simply outrageous. I want to work and work. As an example, yesterday there were two tours from the Heritage Bureau – more than 100 people on each of them, and after another hour people did not let go of the guide and constantly asked him questions. This is happiness. Is happiness possible during war? Possible. Is it possible to fight not only with weapons? Perhaps. Is it possible to find new potentials in society and not forget about eternal values? Perhaps. “Lviv Meets” is, in fact, about this, “Pavlo Gudimov summed up.
According to Oleksandra Sladkova, the head of the Department of Ecology and Natural Resources of the City of Lviv, the excursions do not focus on chronology. Interestingly, Lviv residents also join the excursions. “Up to 30% of the people who come are from Lviv who ask to join. Perhaps this is one of the missions of environmental management in this situation. We rest during these excursions, gain positive impressions, finally want to live, want to work. We try to make excursions not historical, but to show the park through our personal connection with the city. In these 2 hours we saw as many smiles as we have not seen in these terrible 3 weeks, “said Oleksandra Sladkova.
Due to the interest and demand, the topic of excursions will expand next week. In particular, a series of lectures on Lviv contemporary art is starting. In addition, the Territory of Terror Museum is launching its program as part of this initiative.
“We understand the need very well. We are well aware that there is no certainty now. That is why we will work with such a program as “Lviv Meets” all the time, “Pavlo Gudimov added.
Contact telephones:
+380 97 924 9792, Art Center “I Gallery”
+380 50 665 0603, Green Sofa Gallery
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/466102218537361/?ref=newsfeed
By the way, the city volunteer headquarters launched a telegram channel with opportunities for forcibly displaced Ukrainians “Currently in Lviv”. It will publish, in particular, information about free city tours and workshops for children and adults, interesting vacancies and more.