"Reimagining the museum"

Illustration

When: March 20 – May 31, 2025 Where: Kryvyi Rih

Open CallLecture by Yevheniia ButsikinaLecture by Svitlana BiedarevaPresentation of the book "Reclaiming History. Decoloniality and Art in Ukraine after 1991" Lecture by Olena ZhukovaLecture by Olena Zhukova part twoPresentation of the Results of the Project "Reimagining the Museum" + Discussion

Reimagining the Museum is a curatorial and educational project aimed at critically reassessing the exhibitions of the Kryvyi Rih Historical and Local History Museum through a decolonial lens. The focus is on dismantling imperial narratives, creating new, inclusive interpretations of local history, and shaping a contemporary vision of museum practice within the post-Soviet space and the context of full-scale war.
Kryvyi Rih is an industrial city deeply scarred by Soviet modernization, Russification, and exploitation. Today, it stands near the front line as a symbol of resilience, yet at the same time, its cultural infrastructure is in urgent need of new perspectives. Local museums often preserve outdated narratives and fail to serve as inclusive spaces for the community. This project seeks to change that.
The initiative is led by cultural manager and curator Sviatoslav Mykhailov, supported by the European Union under the House of Europe program, and involves international expert Neil Titman (United Kingdom), who brings over 25 years of experience working with cultural institutions across Europe, Asia, Central America, and the Middle East. 
● The project includes several key stages:
● Open Call for local artists, curators, researchers, educators, and other representatives of Kryvyi Rih’s creative sector.● Educational Module: a series of online lectures and consultations with Neil Titman focused on methodologies for decolonial analysis of museum collections.● A Series of Educational Events dedicated to the topic of decolonization, featuring leading Ukrainian museum professionals and researchers, including: – Svitlana Biedarieva (art historian, postcolonial art researcher), – Leonid Marushchak (NGO “Museum is Open for Renovation”), – Yevheniia Butsykina and Milena Khomchenko (PinchukArtCentre), – Olena Zhukova (museologist, heritage expert, researcher).● Practical Work in the Museum: participants, together with the curator, conduct a critical analysis of selected exhibits, examining how they represent (or distort) history.● Artistic Interventions: the results of the rethinking process are implemented through artistic actions, performances, lectures, or other public events.● Public Presentation and Documentation of the outcomes, including visual and textual materials, media publications, and online resources.
Project Participants:● Kateryna Bondarets (artist)● Nastya Ekh (artist)● Anzhela Kunytsia (designer, artist)● Oksana Zharun (artist)● Olha Marchenko (artist)● Tetiana Milchuk (tour guide, public activist, member of the All-Ukrainian Association of Guides)● Viktoriia Patsiuk (PhD in Geography, Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Geography, Local Studies, and Tourism at Kryvyi Rih State Pedagogical University)● Andrii Sechko (student at the Faculty of History and Philosophy, Department of Cultural Studies, I. I. Mechnikov Odesa National University)● Kseniia Fursa (student of Creative Industries Management)● Olena Shkolna (author of reviews on cultural events)
In a broader context, this initiative emphasizes the importance of regional cultural development and demonstrates how local actions can engage with global challenges — including the decolonization of memory, restoration of identity, and the creation of contemporary narratives in museum practice.

Practical Analysis of Museum Exhibits

Kryvyi Rih History MuseumApril 19, 2025
Photographer: Anna Balvas

Neil Titman is an expert with over 25 years of experience collaborating with museums, galleries, and cultural institutions across Europe, Asia, and North America. He is the head of Kulturalis, a publishing company that promotes global cultures through partnerships with museums. He holds a PhD in French and Latin literature.
Sviatoslav Mykhailov is a cultural project manager and curator with over six years of experience in the cultural sector. Under his leadership, more than 100 cultural events—including exhibitions, festivals, and lectures—have been successfully implemented in Ukraine and abroad (France, Portugal, Lithuania, Bulgaria, and Canada). He collaborates with cultural institutions such as Shcherbenko Art Centre (Kyiv), Kryvyi Rih Cultural Centre / KRCC, Garage33.Gallery-Shelter (Kyiv), OTOTO Art Foundation (Warsaw), and 39.9 Gallery (Kyiv).
Kryvyi Rih Cultural Centre / KRCC is a civic initiative dedicated to developing culture, art, and the creative industries in Kryvyi Rih. Its mission is to unlock the city's cultural potential by fostering a stimulating environment for the creative industries through KRCC’s institutional activities.

Public initiative designed to develop Kryvyi Rih

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Public initiative designed to develop Kryvyi Rih

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