In the Lviv region, plans are underway to establish the Western Ukrainian Evacuation and Restoration Center.
This center will focus on the evacuation, conservation, restoration, research, and expertise of historical and artistic objects. It will serve as a hub for saving cultural memory, where artifacts will be stored, restored, digitized, and brought back to life. The center will also function as a scientific and educational hub, promoting the development of Ukrainian restoration education and improving the qualifications of professionals.
The project was initiated by the “Western Ukrainian Museum Association”, the Ukraine Art Aid Center (UAAC), the Lviv Regional Council, the Lviv Regional Military Administration, and the Regional Historical and Local Lore Museum. Partners in creating the center include museums and reserves from five regions of Ukraine, educational institutions, public organizations, and international institutions.
The restoration halls, storage areas, and specially equipped premises of the new cultural institution will be located on an area of about 1600 m². Legally and organizationally, it will operate within the structure of the LOR’s “Historical and Local Lore Museum”. The first set of professional equipment worth over 300,000 euros has already been provided by partners from Germany.
“The issue of evacuating cultural assets is extremely relevant today. During the war, about 90% of collections from risk zones were saved, but storage conditions do not always meet safety standards. We are working on creating secure repositories where unique artifacts can be stored and restored,” explained Igor Tymets, director of the LOR’s “Historical and Local Lore Museum”.
The center will also be involved in digitizing and cataloging repositories and scientific documentation to ensure long-term preservation and data accessibility for researchers. After the war, restored works will return to their native regions and communities, becoming part of museum collections and new cultural projects.
The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, the Lviv Regional Council and Military Administration, heads of museums and reserves from Lviv, Ternopil, Volyn, Khmelnytskyi, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, as well as representatives of Ukrainian and foreign institutions – specifically, the Lviv Academy of Arts, the Institute of Cultural Studies of the NAS of Ukraine, the Rescue Archaeological Service, Warsaw Academy of Arts, the Institute of Polish Heritage Abroad “Polonica”, and partners from Germany.
“In over 3 years of full-scale invasion, the enemy has destroyed or damaged about 1,500 objects of cultural heritage, including almost one hundred and fifty museums and galleries. During this time, cultural assets from various frontline regions have been evacuated to our region. This project will have national significance for Ukraine. We are grateful to European partners supporting this initiative,” noted the acting manager of the Lviv Regional Council, Yaroslav Hasiak.
Elena Vasylyk, Director of the Architecture and Urban Development Department of the Lviv Regional State Administration and regional council deputy, added that the shortage of specialists in restoration is one of the key problems. “The war has only exacerbated this issue. It is very important that specialized educational institutions participating in this project are training new specialists. I hope this broad team can fully implement the project, as its development prospects are extremely great,” noted the region’s chief architect.
The organizers invite restorers, museum workers, volunteers, and patrons who wish to contribute to the common cause of preserving Ukraine’s cultural heritage to participate in the co-creation of the Center.