Hull City Council has today announced Galyna Grygorenko, First Deputy Minister for Culture and Strategic Communications, Ukraine, as the keynote speaker at the city’s Cultural Tides conference on Friday 14 March at Hull Truck Theatre.
Supported by the British Council, Ms. Grygorenko will speak about and introduce a documentary, ‘Culture vs War’ by Serhiy Zhadan, which will also provide the focus for an in-conversation session facilitated by Mark Babych, Artistic Director of Hull Truck.
Councillor Mike Ross, Leader, Hull City Council, said: “Hull stands with Ukraine and, as a city, we are honoured and proud to host Ms. Grygorenko at the Cultural Tides conference.
“This year, we have set out to reconnect with our northern European neighbours and, as we do so, we are reaching out our hands in solidarity and support to Ukraine.”
Ms. Grygorenko said: “I am delighted to be invited to visit Hull. For me, it is an opportunity to showcase the artists and creatives who have strived to raise the voice of the Ukrainian people and culture, and who have continued to raise spirits and tell our stories.
“It is also an opportunity to extend and deepen our relationship and partnership with Hull, and I look forward to meeting Hull’s civic leaders, creatives and the local community.”
Cortina Butler, Global Director of Arts, British Council, added: “We are pleased to have helped forge the connection between Hull and the Ukrainian Culture Ministry.
“The British Council has supported over 30 years of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the UK – most recently through the UK/Ukraine Season of Culture and supporting Ukrainian collaborations with Eurovision’s EuroFestival in Liverpool in 2022-23.
“Our team will continue to support Hull in developing its international ambitions and expertise.”
