Porto-Franco City

During the City Day celebration, Odesa's mayor, Hennadiy Trukhanov, reviewed the year's achievements and awarded the municipal prize "Cultural Capital" to prominent figures in culture and arts.

"In times of war, culture serves not only as a source of inspiration but also as an unwavering force that unites us. The ideas and emotions you convey through your creativity support our fellow citizens, heal wounds, and bring hope for a better tomorrow. You lay the groundwork for the restoration and development of our country in the future," said Hennadiy Trukhanov. 

Support for artists during this time is incredibly important. Their talent and creativity not only help restore national pride but also bolster the economy. 

Every project, exhibition, or concert provides an opportunity for us all to feel unity and affirm that we are together in the struggle for peace and prosperity. 

The "Cultural Capital" award recipients include: 

- Irina Biryukova, General Director of the Odesa National Scientific Library, Honored Worker of Culture of Ukraine;

- Dmytro Velychko, Honored Artist of Ukraine, Dean of the Art and Graphic Faculty of the South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynsky;

- Volodymyr Vrublevskyi, conductor of the project «VLASNE. Ukrainian Project: four centuries of Ukrainian music from Bortnyansky to Vakarchuk», maestro of the Odesa National Opera;

- Stas Zhalobnyuk, one of the brightest and most extraordinary artists in Odesa; 
- Oleksandr Samusenko, Chief Director of the Odesa Academic Ukrainian Musical and Dramatic Theater named after Vasyl Vasylyk;

- Tatyana Ivanova, Ukrainian actress, clown, and volunteer; 

- Semion Kantor, art critic, who headed the Museum of Modern Art in 2008; 

- Pavlo Kozlenko, Honored Worker of Culture of Ukraine, public figure, PhD candidate in Philosophy, Director of the Museum of Genocide «Territory of Memory»;

- Mykhailo Reva, Honored Artist of Ukraine, sculptor, founder of the RevaFoundation, co-founder of the charity fund «Future»;

- Esfir Serpionova, artist, master of Ukrainian decorative and applied arts, candidate of pedagogical sciences.