Workshops for Preserving Ukrainian Crafts in Odesa
On October 15-16, the Odesa Regional Center for Ukrainian Culture hosted workshops aimed at preserving and promoting traditional crafts of our region.
The event's primary goal was to raise awareness about the intangible cultural heritage of Odesa, showcasing that folk culture is a living part of our present.
Participants had the opportunity to personally engage with authentic crafts:
- Pottery — creating clay jugs on a potter's wheel;
- Clay modeling — making traditional whistles;
- Steppe southern painting — decorating fabric with acrylic paints.
The workshops were led by experienced artisans — bearers of intangible cultural heritage, laureates of the regional award named after Rostyslav Paletskyi. Their passion united hundreds of attendees — from schoolchildren to students and teachers.
Even the planned two hours of creativity extended to three, as clay, paints, and inspiration kept everyone engaged.
The event was organized with the support of the Odesa Regional Development Agency and the Swiss-Ukrainian project “Cohesion and Regional Development of Ukraine” (UCORD), implemented with the support of Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and NIRAS Sweden AB.
Traditions serve as our connection across generations and inspire us to shape the present while preserving our Ukrainian roots.
