On September 4, a significant event took place in Brussels where the Acting Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, Tetiana Berezhna, and the Executive Director of the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas, Valeri Freelan, signed an agreement to establish a new fund.
According to the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications, this fund will serve as the primary mechanism for coordinating international financial assistance dedicated to the preservation and restoration of Ukraine's cultural heritage.
The fund's main tasks will include attracting donor contributions, organizing project competitions, supporting digital transformation in the heritage sector, and developing the professional community. Its headquarters will be located in one of the EU member states, with representation in Ukraine.
“This fund will provide a reliable platform for implementing crucial projects – from protecting collections to restoring damaged sites. With clear governance rules, we are creating not just a fund, but an effective tool with a long-term impact,” emphasized Tetiana Berezhna.
Valeri Freelan highlighted that ALIPH has been actively working on protecting Ukraine’s cultural heritage and that the establishment of the fund allows them to leverage their experience and expertise within a new independent international framework.
The initiative to create the Ukrainian Heritage Fund was announced on July 10, 2025, during a conference on Ukraine’s recovery held in Rome. Since the beginning of the year, the Ministry has been systematically working on this initiative, integrating it into the Cultural Development Strategy of Ukraine until 2030.
A significant milestone was the seminar in Florence in June, which brought together international experts to discuss mechanisms for heritage protection during crises. The signing of the memorandum with ALIPH officially marks the practical start of this initiative.
ALIPH (International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas) is a leading international fund that specializes in the protection of cultural heritage in conflict and crisis zones. Since 2022, ALIPH has supported over 500 Ukrainian organizations, implementing projects for the conservation of collections and the stabilization of heritage sites across the country.
