This Ukrainian-language episode focuses on how art and culture can help preserve memory, humanity, and solidarity in times of war. Since 2021, the European Union’s Concept on Cultural Heritage in Conflicts and Crises has recognised cultural heritage as a key driver of peace, democracy, and sustainable development. In Ukraine, this principle takes on a concrete meaning every day, as cultural workers, artists, and communities face the ongoing consequences of Russia’s invasion. In this episode, Daryna Zhyvohliadova, a collaborator with culture Solutions and coordinator of the Heritage Ukraine project at KU Leuven, speaks with Cuba and Alaska, two Ukrainian frontline combat medics whose extraordinary courage and friendship have made them emblematic figures of resilience. Both women have served on the front line since the early stages of the war, risking their lives daily to evacuate and treat the wounded under fire. Their story, defined by sacrifice, solidarity, and a disarming sense of humour, inspired the creation of the documentary Cuba and Alaska. Also featured in the episode are Yegor Troyanovsky, the film’s director, and Olha Bregman, its producer. The discussion offers a look at life on the front line, where courage, exhaustion, and dark humour coexist, and explores how documentary film can help preserve truth and collective memory in the face of destruction. It also highlights the role of cultural cooperation, as the film was co-produced by 2Brave Productions (Ukraine), Clin d’Oeil Films (Belgium), and Tag Film (France), and presented at Sheffield DocFest and BRIFF.

This English-language episode focuses on how art and culture can help preserve memory, humanity, and solidarity in times of war. Since 2021, the European Union’s Concept on Cultural Heritage in Conflicts and Crises has recognised cultural heritage as a key driver of peace, democracy, and sustainable development. In Ukraine, this principle takes on a concrete meaning every day, as cultural workers, artists, and communities face the ongoing consequences of Russia’s invasion. In this episode, Daryna Zhyvohliadova, a collaborator with culture Solutions and coordinator of the Heritage Ukraine project at KU Leuven, speaks with Cuba and Alaska, two Ukrainian frontline combat medics whose extraordinary courage and friendship have made them emblematic figures of resilience. Both women have served on the front line since the early stages of the war, risking their lives daily to evacuate and treat the wounded under fire. Their story, defined by sacrifice, solidarity, and a disarming sense of humour, inspired the creation of the documentary Cuba and Alaska. Also featured in the episode are Yegor Troyanovsky, the film’s director, and Olha Bregman, its producer. The discussion offers a look at life on the front line, where courage, exhaustion, and dark humour coexist, and explores how documentary film can help preserve truth and collective memory in the face of destruction. It also highlights the role of cultural cooperation, as the film was co-produced by 2Brave Productions (Ukraine), Clin d’Oeil Films (Belgium), and Tag Film (France), and presented at Sheffield DocFest and BRIFF.

On the 22nd of September, culture Solutions hosted the webinar EU’s International Cultural Relations: Reality Check, welcoming Mafalda Dâmaso, coordinator of the recently published and important handbook The EU as a Global Cultural Power, along with four contributors: Avril Joffe, Matina Magkou, Alessandro Lamonica, and Andrew Murray.

The webinar offered a timely opportunity to assess where the EU currently stands in international cultural relations (ICR), the gaps that persist between ambition and implementation, and how culture can act as a strategic tool in today’s rapidly evolving global landscape. It also provided a necessary reflection on the nine years since the 2016 Joint Communication towards an EU ICR.

The handbook discussed during the event is a must-read for anyone curious about, committed to, or passionate about international cultural relations. Its foreword provides a valuable historical context for European cultural policy — shaped by the rise of global cultural exchanges. It also highlights the EU’s internal and external ambivalences in its cultural approach — shifting from a focus on promoting cultural values to seeking economic justification, from soft power to what some now call “enabling power,” and dealing with the challenge of making its own cultural sector more competitive.

In this podcast, we selected key moments from the webinar where panellists and the audience explored several critical themes:

• EU–Africa cultural relations

• Cultural relations in the Mediterranean region

• The absence of theory in international cultural relations

• The rise of digital cultural movements

• The call for a strong community of practice
  

Enjoy the podcast — and we’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Let’s continue to engage and grow this community of practice together.