For the first time in its fifteen-year history, the Ukrainian youth art project PROSTO NEBYLYTSI will be presented in Canada. Throughout August 2026, Calgary Central Library will host an exhibition featuring selected artworks created by young artists from across Ukraine.
The exhibition marks an important milestone in the project’s international development and represents a meaningful opportunity to strengthen cultural connections between Ukraine and Canada through the universal language of art.
Founded in 2011, PROSTO NEBYLYTSI is an independent Ukrainian cultural initiative dedicated to supporting the artistic development of children and young people while introducing their creative achievements to international audiences. For fifteen consecutive years, the project has provided a platform where emerging artists can share their vision of the world beyond national borders.
The Calgary exhibition will present a carefully selected collection of outstanding artworks created by participants of the project. Every work has been chosen through an independent international evaluation conducted by a nine-member jury composed of professional artists, art educators, curators, art historians, and cultural leaders from different countries. The composition of the jury is renewed annually to ensure independent and diverse artistic perspectives.
Because of exhibition space limitations, only a portion of the project’s permanent collection will be displayed in Calgary. Nevertheless, the exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to discover the imagination, creativity, and artistic talent of a new generation of young Ukrainian artists.
Over the past fifteen years, more than 13,000 artworks have been submitted by young participants from every region of Ukraine. Nearly 2,000 works have become part of the project’s exhibition collection, which has already been presented in more than twenty countries around the world.
The fifteenth edition of the project, held in 2025, attracted 808 submissions, of which 717 qualified for international evaluation. Following the jury’s independent assessment, 138 artworks were selected for inclusion in the 2025 exhibition collection.
More than an art exhibition, PROSTO NEBYLYTSI demonstrates how culture creates opportunities for dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect. Every year, artists, educators, curators, scholars, and cultural professionals from many countries contribute their expertise to encourage young creative voices and support international cultural exchange.
The organizers view the project as a long-term contribution to strengthening trust between people and cultures. Through artistic expression, educational initiatives, and international collaboration, the project promotes cultural diplomacy, mutual understanding, and lasting international partnerships.
The Canadian premiere invites audiences to experience Ukraine through the imagination and creativity of its young artists and to discover art as a shared language that connects people across cultures and generations.
The organizers warmly invite residents and visitors of Calgary to experience this unique exhibition throughout August 2026.
Official Presentation and Meet-and-Greet with the Project Representatives
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
6:00 p.m.
Calgary Central Library
800 3 Street SE, Calgary, Alberta
