On December 11, 2025, the IX International Interdisciplinary Conference "Folk Art of the 21st Century: Current Research Directions" took place at the Institute of Folklore Studies of the NAS of Ukraine.
More than 30 young and leading scholars from various scientific, educational, and museum institutions of Ukraine joined the event – the Institute of Folklore Studies of the NAS of Ukraine, the National University "Lviv Polytechnic," the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture, Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, Kosiv State Institute of Decorative Arts, Mykhailo Boychuk Kyiv State Academy of Decorative Applied Arts and Design, Ivan Bobersky Lviv State University of Physical Culture, Ivan Trush Lviv Vocational College of Decorative and Applied Arts, Ivano-Frankivsk Vocational College of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University – as well as researchers from Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania) and the Severin Udziela Ethnographic Museum in Krakow (Poland).
The meeting discussed issues related to the traditions and current state of Ukrainian folk art, particularly Hutsul art, the preservation of cultural heritage in and outside museums, the organization of art education in educational institutions, the use of traditions in contemporary clothing, church vestments, and ceramics.
The following presented reports:
- Head of the Department of Folk Art of the Institute of Folklore Studies of the NAS of Ukraine, Doctor of Historical Sciences Ludmyla Herus;
- Leading Researcher of the same department, Corresponding Member of the NAS of Ukraine Olena Nykorak;
- Professor of the Design Department, Faculty of Culture and Arts, Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, Academician of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine Halyna Stelmaschuk;
- Professor of the Department of Theory and History of Art, Faculty of Theory and History of Art, National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture, Doctor of Art Studies Mykhailo Selivachov;
- Postgraduate student of the same department Anastasia Shvydiuk-Bohdan;
- Leading Researcher of the Museum of Ethnography and Artistic Industry of the Institute of Folklore Studies of the NAS of Ukraine, Doctor of Art Studies Halyna Ivashkiv;
- Researcher of the Department of Folk Art of the same Institute, Candidate of Art Studies Tetyana Kutsyr;
- Associate Professor of the Department of Industrial Design and Computer Technologies, Faculty of Design, Mykhailo Boychuk Kyiv State Academy of Decorative Applied Arts and Design, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences Alla Dyachenko;
- Associate Professor of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Design, Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania), Doctor of Technical Sciences Eglė Kumpikaitė and many other folk art researchers.
Participants of the IX International Interdisciplinary Conference "Folk Art of the 21st Century: Current Research Directions": Associate Professor of the Department of Design and Art Theory of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Arts of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, Candidate of Art Studies Hanna Makohin; Leading Researcher of the Department of Folk Art of the Institute of Folklore Studies of the NAS of Ukraine, Corresponding Member of the NAS of Ukraine Olena Nykorak; Senior Researcher of the Department of Folk Art of the Institute of Folklore Studies of the NAS of Ukraine, Candidate of Art Studies Romana Motyl; Head of the Department of Folk Art of the Institute of Folklore Studies of the NAS of Ukraine, Doctor of Historical Sciences Ludmyla Herus; Senior Researcher of the Department of Folk Art of the Institute of Folklore Studies of the NAS of Ukraine, Candidate of Art Studies Tetyana Kutsyr; Leading Researcher of the Department of Folk Art of the Institute of Folklore Studies of the NAS of Ukraine, Doctor of Art Studies Halyna Ivashkiv; Postgraduate student of the Department of Theory and History of Art of the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture Anastasia Shvydiuk-Bohdan; Leading Researcher of the Department of Historical Ethnology of the Institute of Folklore Studies of the NAS of Ukraine, Doctor of Historical Sciences Olena Fedorchuk; Lecturer at the Ivano-Frankivsk Vocational College of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University Oksana Soroka; Postgraduate student of the Department of Design and Art Theory of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Arts of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University Vitalii Horodetskyi; Senior Lecturer of the Department of Fine and Decorative Applied Arts and Restoration of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Arts of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University Larysa Sandiuk
Organizers of the IX International Interdisciplinary Conference "Folk Art of the 21st Century: Current Research Directions": Senior Researcher of the Department of Folk Art of the Institute of Folklore Studies of the NAS of Ukraine Tetyana Kutsyr; Head of the Department of Folk Art of the Institute of Folklore Studies of the NAS of Ukraine, Doctor of Historical Sciences Ludmyla Herus; Senior Researcher of the Department of Folk Art of the Institute of Folklore Studies of the NAS of Ukraine, Candidate of Art Studies Romana Motyl; Leading Researcher of the Department of Folk Art of the Institute of Folklore Studies of the NAS of Ukraine, Corresponding Member of the NAS of Ukraine Olena Nykorak
The participants focused on the significance of historical and local lore work in the educational and upbringing sphere. In particular, they identified the influence of school museums on young people's awareness of the importance of cultural memory and the preservation of ethnic identity, as well as ensuring the survival of folk crafts thanks to enthusiasts who care about the cultural heritage of their people.
Following previous conferences, the following have been published:
- "Folklore Notebooks," 2018, No. 2;
- "Folklore Notebooks," 2019, No. 1;
- "Folklore Notebooks," 2020, No. 1;
- "Folk Art of the 21st Century: Scientific Yearbook," Issue 1;
- "Folk Art of the 21st Century: Scientific Yearbook," Issue 2.
Information provided by the Institute of Folklore Studies of the NAS of Ukraine