Preserving Culture in Times of Conflict

Luboš Veselý, Director of KKFF, joined an international panel at the Art Symposium in Rome titled Cultural Diplomacy: The Value of Soft Power in Times of International Tensions. In a city known for its deep cultural legacy, Veselý introduced the Ark initiative and called on governments, cultural institutions and civil society to come together to protect what defines us. “Without Ukrainian culture, our identity is not complete,” he stated.

The project Ark for Ukraine is a partnership between the KKFF, the Czech and Ukrainian Ministries of Culture, the Czech National Library and the National Museum. Since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, hundreds of cultural sites in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed. Ark mobile units operate as cultural first responders, providing tools and expertise to digitise and protect libraries, museums and historic objects on site. The newest unit, Ark III, uses 3D imaging to preserve the intricate details of artifacts that may otherwise be lost forever.

The project is built on Czech experience with cultural disasters, particularly the floods of the 1990s and 2000s that led to large-scale digitization efforts. That expertise is now being used to support Ukrainian professionals who continue to work under threat. Beyond the technical impact, Ark sends a message of solidarity and hope.

KKFF has secured half of the funding needed to sustain the project and is calling on partners to help expand its reach. Every contribution helps preserve history, protect identity and support those risking their safety to save their culture. Ark for Ukraine is a symbol of shared responsibility and belief in the power of culture to connect and endure.

As Karel Komárek, founder of KKCG and KKFF, explains: “We all remember very well what freedom means. Freedom of expression and freedom of culture are vitally important for every nation. Without culture, a country is just a territory. Without a past, and without a future.”