• E-news, December 2009 / January 2010

Sponsorship opportunities for major exhibition

In March 2010, The Ukrainian Museum plans to mount an important exhibition – Ukraine‒Sweden: At the Crossroads of History (17th-18th Centuries). The exhibition was shown to widespread acclaim in 2008-2009 at the National Museum of Ukrainian History in Kyiv to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Swedish-Ukrainian alliance, the Battle of Poltava, and the death of Hetman Ivan Mazepa. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden attended the opening of the exhibition in Kyiv.

Ukraine-Sweden: At the Crossroads of History includes more than 100 priceless historical artifacts from Ukraine and Sweden, Ukraine's ally in the Battle of Poltava, one of the most critical events in Ukraine's history. The exhibition promises to be a poignant reminder of an event that, to this day, continues to irk Russia. It will also demonstrate to the American public and to younger Ukrainian Americans that the battle to preserve Ukraine's independence was already being fought, by Hetman Mazepa and his Cossacks, 300 years ago.

Sponsorship brochure and form [PDF]
English	Ukrainian
Read [PDF] about the items to be exhibited and the list of lending institutions. Read a provocative article in The Wall Street Journal, July 9, 2009 Historical Battle Lines Why is Russia afraid of a 300-year-old Ukrainian hero? By Adrian Karatnycky and Alexander J. Motyl

A number of sponsorship opportunities are still available for this important exhibition. Among the benefits of sponsorship are recognition at the exhibition entrance, in the invitation to the exhibition opening, in the brochure, on the Museum's website, in e-news (circ. 4,000+), and (for sponsorships received by October 20) in the English-language exhibition catalogue. Sponsors will also be invited to the opening reception and will receive a complimentary copy of the full-color exhibition catalogue. For more detailed information, or to become an exhibition sponsor, please download the sponsorship brochure or contact the Museum's administrative director, Daria Bajko, at 212.228.0110 or info@ukrainianmuseum.org. All donations are tax-deductible and may be billed to your Visa or Mastercard.

A visit from President Yushchenko

President Yushchenko at the podium (left) and (right) with sculptor Igor Grechanyk, Museum director Maria Shust, and Museum president Professor Jaroslaw Leshko.

On Tuesday, September 22, the Museum was honored with a visit from Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and his wife, Kateryna. President Yushchenko was in New York for the opening of the United Nations General Assembly and took the opportunity to spend a few hours with approximately 150 members of the Ukrainian American community. His visit was organized by the Embassy of Ukraine in Washington, D.C., and the Ukrainian Consulate in New York City.

Kateryna Yushchenko tours Dreams of Ukraine accompanied by sculptor Igor Grechanyk (left).

During his visit, in addition to speaking at length about Ukraine's history, culture, progress since independence, current challenges, and prospects for the future, the president toured an exhibition of sculptures by Kyivan artist Igor Grechanyk. Dreams of Ukraine was organized specifically to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the independence of Ukraine. It has been shown at the Embassy of Ukraine in Washington and was displayed at the Museum during the week of the president's visit (through Friday, September 25).

President Yushchenko concluded his visit by bestowing awards on a number of community leaders, also on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, and in recognition of their efforts on behalf of Ukraine and the Ukrainian American community. The award recipients were:

· Natalia Danylenko, permanent member of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women's Organizations (Order of Princess Olga, Third Degree)
· Andrew Fedynsky, director of the Ukrainian Museum-Archives in Cleveland, Ohio (Order of Merit, Third Degree)
· Dr. Roxolana Horbowyj, vice president of the World Federation of Ukrainian Medical Associations (Order of Princess Olga, Third Degree)
· Myron Kuropas, community activist (Order of Merit, Third Degree)
· Nadia Matkivsky, cofounder of the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund (Order of Princess Olga, Third Degree)
· Ulana Mazurkevich, president of the Ukrainian Human Rights Committee (Order of Princess Olga, Third Degree)
· Sonya Soutus, community activist (Order of Princess Olga, Third Degree)
· Evhen Stakhiv, community activist (Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, Fourth Degree)
· Helen Woskob, president of the Ivan Bahrian Foundation (Order of Princess Olga, Third Degree)

VIDEO by Damyan Kolodiy

SLIDESHOW

About the Museum
The Ukrainian Museum was founded in 1976 by the Ukrainian National Women's League of America as a showcase for Ukrainian culture. Over the past 32 years, the Museum has amassed extensive collections of folk art, fine art, and archival material. It mounts several exhibitions annually; publishes accompanying bilingual catalogues; organizes courses, workshops, and other educational programs; and hosts a variety of public events. In April 2005 the Museum moved into a new, state-of-the-art facility in New York's East Village, funded entirely by the Ukrainian American community.