A meeting was held at the Lviv Academic Puppet Theatre to discuss the future of the Lower Hall – the basement space where music concerts are held. Representatives of the city council, councillors, musicians, veterans, residents of the building, the theatre management and representatives of the NGO “Local Cultural Support” took part in the discussion.
The residents of the building, whose flats are located above the basement space, complained about loud music, vibration in their homes and the stairwell, as well as instances of visitors smoking and drinking alcohol in front of the entrance. They stressed that they are not opposed to cultural events as such, but object to loud rock concerts, which often take place at weekends and disturb the rest of families with children.
Representatives of the music community, veterans and event organisers, for their part, spoke in favour of preserving the Lower Hall as a venue for chamber, independent and niche music, theatre events and cultural initiatives. Charity events are also regularly held here to raise funds for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including for musicians who are currently serving in the military.
Following the discussion, the parties agreed to set up a working group to develop technical and organisational solutions that would preserve the cultural life of the space while at the same time reducing the discomfort for residents. This includes, in particular, options for improving soundproofing and eliminating vibration.
Deputy Mayor for Humanitarian Affairs Iryna Kulynych reported that during the meeting they also agreed basic rules for holding events in the Lower Hall: a ban on smoking and drinking alcohol during concerts, events to finish by 21:00, as well as constant free access for residents to the shelter. The theatre administration will be responsible for monitoring compliance with these requirements.
Vocalist of the band “1914” Dmytro Kumar stressed that such cultural spaces are important for the development of Ukrainian music. He cited examples from European cities, where concert venues are often located in residential areas, and conflicts are resolved through dialogue and technical solutions that reduce noise and vibration.
Head of the Institute of Cultural Strategy Yuliia Khomchyn recalled that the theatre’s basement has a long history as a cultural hub of Lviv. In the 1990s, it housed the arts club “Lialka”, created by the “Dzyga” association. At one time, the then young band “Okean Elzy”, “Mertvyi Piven”, “Plach Yeremii” and other Ukrainian performers appeared on its stage. Later, the Lower Hall began operating in this space, and concerts and art events have been held there for almost 30 years.
Head of the NGO “Local Cultural Support” and arts manager Marichka Chichkova said that the organisation had received around a hundred letters of support from military personnel and cultural figures from Ukraine and abroad. She emphasised that the Lower Hall is one of the few municipal spaces where young Ukrainian musicians, including rock performers, can play, and that it is important to preserve this tradition.
It was also recalled that in March 2026, at a session of the Lviv City Council, a decision was adopted to transfer the Lviv Academic Regional Puppet Theatre into the municipal ownership of the city. The theatre employs more than 60 staff, and the building at 8 Ivana Honty Street has over 2.2 thousand sq. m of non-residential premises.
A video recording of the meeting is available at: https://www.youtube.com/embed/t8SO_KzKeeU?feature=oembed