The all-Ukrainian project for young artists, “Prosto Nebylytsi,” is a vivid example of a cultural initiative that has been annually supporting and revealing Ukraine’s artistic potential since 2011. This platform is created to provide opportunities for self-expression to young talents and promote their works internationally. Thanks to the joint efforts of organizers, patrons, benefactors, and participants, the project has developed into a strong community initiative, effectively fulfilling the role of Ukraine’s cultural ambassador for 13 consecutive years.
Over the years of its activity, the “Prosto Nebylytsi” project has grown into a significant art marathon, which takes place not only in Ukraine but also in many other European countries, introducing foreign audiences to Ukrainian art. The project plays a unique role for hundreds of children from specialized institutions, providing them with materials and the opportunity to express their visions through art, helping them acquire new creative skills, and presenting artistic achievements to a broad audience.
The “Prosto Nebylytsi” project was initiated by the International Association of Culture and Art in 2011. Since then, the Lviv Regional Charitable Foundation “TORBA” has been coordinating the project, with the NGO “Center for Cultural & Arts Initiatives” acting as the main organizer.
In 2023, the project gathered over 500 works from various corners of Ukraine, including works by orphaned children and those with special needs. This underscores the indomitable power of art to unite people regardless of their background and life circumstances.
The organizing committee expresses gratitude to all participants and partners whose dedication and assistance enabled the project’s effective operation, especially when state financial support was lacking. The committee is also sincerely grateful to the Lviv Author’s Drama Theater “ScenA8” for its ongoing participation in the project and loyalty to its idea. Amidst the difficult wartime conditions of today, this unique non-budget cultural and artistic organization in Lviv remains a steadfast partner of the “Prosto Nebylytsi” project.
As a result of the evaluation, 87 works were included in the exhibition of the best works of this year’s project. These works not only reflect the artistic strength of the young generation but also bear witness to their endless faith in its growth and insatiable thirst for creativity.
The presentation of the exhibition collection of the best artistic works “Prosto Nebylytsi” 2023 will take place in Lviv, in the exhibition halls of the Lviv Historical Museum (Rynok Square 6). The start of the global exhibition tour is planned for 2024, beginning in the city of Kyiv. Outside of Ukraine, the exhibition will start with a presentation in Warsaw.
The qualifying board of the Project:
Maja Denekova
Graphic artist, illustrator, Slovakia
Mykola Kaftan
Painter, sculptor, recipient of the Bohdan Lepky Award, Ukraine
Ruslan Kutnyak
Artist, educator, senior lecturer at the Department of Painting, Kyiv State Academy of Decorative-Applied Arts and Design named after Mykhailo Boychuk, member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, Laureate of the Premio Pittura Lorenzo il Magnifico at the Biennale Internazionale Dell`Arte Contemporanea (Florence 2003), Ukraine
Andriy Mayovets
Graphic artist, iconographer, educator, PhD student at Lviv National Academy of Arts, Ukraine
Iryna Mykhalkiv-Winnik
Artist, journalist, instructor, Switzerland
Maki Nagumo
Artist, assistant professor at the Faculty of Humanities of Rikkyo University, member of the Japanese Association of Women Artists, Japan
Dovilė Tomkutė
Artist, curator of art projects and exhibitions, member of the Lithuanian Artists Association, Lithuania
Roman Harevsky
Watercolor artist, restorer, wood carver, Czech Republic.
Mykola Shevchuk
Sculptor, educator, Honored Artist of Ukraine, member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, head of the regional organization of the Vasyl Stus “Memorial” Society, “Person of the Year of Ternopil Region – 2015”, Ukraine
FIRST DEGREE LAUREATES
SECOND DEGREE LAUREATES
THIRD DEGREE LAUREATES
SPECIAL AWARDS RECEIVED:
- Viktoriia Kuzmenko 14 age Free and Independent Shostka
- Daria Penziaieva 7 age New Year’s Celebration for Kittens Odesa
- Iryna Dmytriv 8 age Miracle Creature Lviv
- Mariia Hontarenko 15 age Gaze Okhtyrka
- Markiian Tumanov 13 age Horse with a Surprise… Stryi
- Nina Zhyzhnevska 12 age Cat Melodies Odesa
- Oleksandra Lenartovych 11 age Master of Science Stryi
- Olha Levko 10 age What a tall tale – the bear got scared of the fox! Lviv
- Sofiia Haletska 13 age November Seredyna-Buda
- Tymofii Buzovskyi 11 age Singing Dragonfish Sumy
