The HERside project connects two UNESCO Creative Cities – Košice (City of Media Arts) and Lviv (City of Literature). Together with the Hnat Khotkevych Palace of Culture in Lviv, we are bringing a residency programme to Slovak and Ukrainian women working in culture, exploring the theme of resilience amid war and other global challenges.
The cultural sector in Slovakia faces growing political pressure, and Ukraine has been living through war for several years. HERside creates a space where women from both countries can create, present their work and be seen – behind the projects and in front of them. The outcome will be a joint exhibition presented in both Košice and Lviv, and an online database making the residents’ work accessible after the project ends.
The project builds on our previous collaboration with the Hnat Khotkevych Palace of Culture within the SoliDARE project.
Activities
Residencies
Six cultural professionals – writers, media and visual artists, musicians and others – will take up a residency in the partner city: three Slovak residents in Lviv and three Ukrainian residents in Košice. During the residency they gain time and space for their own work, get to know the local cultural scene and build new contacts. The residents will be selected through an open call prepared jointly by both partners.
Public presentations
Each residency culminates in a public event, in a format chosen by the resident herself — a reading, masterclass, workshop, discussion or mini-exhibition. Audiences will have the chance to meet the residents and see their work in progress throughout the project.
Exhibition
The main outcome of the project is an exhibition of work by all the residents on the shared theme of resilience, curated by both partners together with the residents. The exhibition will be presented in Košice and in Lviv, and will include an opening, conversations with the artists and guided tours. Admission is free.
Online database
The residents and their work will be presented in an online database, freely available without registration. The database will serve as a long-term space for connecting cultural professionals and for sharing their work beyond the region.
Partner visits
The teams of both organisations will visit each other to exchange experience in audience development, event production and strategic planning.
Accessibility
The open call is written in inclusive, plain language, and applicants can discuss their application with us in advance. Public events take place in step-free venues, with clear communication and trained staff. If you need any adjustment in order to take part, write to us.
Partners
- Hnat Khotkevych Palace of Culture, Lviv, Ukraine
Thank you for your support
The project HERside is implemented in the framework of ZMINA:Resilience, a cooperation between IZOLYATSIA (UA), Malý Berlín (SK) with support of Trans Europe Halles (SE).
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them
