Charity Gala in London to Save Ukraine’s Cultural Heritage

Supporters of Ukraine from the fields of business, culture, and politics gathered at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to support the Ark III project, initiated with the backing of the Karel Komárek Family Foundation (KKFF). The mission of the Ark III mobile scanning unit is to protect Ukrainian culture from the devastation caused by war.

This unique Ark initiative, which brings together both the private and public sectors, was endorsed by numerous distinguished figures during the charity event at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Among the speakers on stage were Karel Komárek; the founder of KKFF, Michal Lukeš; the Director General of the Czech National Museum, and former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Maksym Ostapenko; Director of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, expressed gratitude in his speech to Ukraine’s allies for their support in the country’s pursuit of freedom, dignity, and the preservation of its cultural heritage. "The Russian war against Ukraine is not just a struggle for territories. It is an attempt to destroy Ukrainian identity, erase our culture, and obliterate our historical memory. Russia seeks to resurrect a new version of the Soviet Union, which disregarded national cultures. This is why the assistance of our allies in preserving heritage is so crucial.”

As part of the Ark project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture the Czech National Museum and the Czech Committee of ICOM, a new digitization station will be sent to Ukraine. This state of the art mobile unit is specifically designed for 3D scanning of valuable cultural artifacts. The Ark III unit is equipped with advanced 3D scanning technology, enabling the precise documentation of objects from all angles. Thanks to this station, museums in Ukraine will be able to digitize their valuable collections and create accurate 3D models, which can be used for further study and restoration in case the originals are lost. The project is highly complex, requiring significant financial resources and expert knowledge.

"Thanks to our expertise in digitalisation, we have a unique opportunity to take the next step and help Ukrainian cultural institutions protect their cultural heritage, which is under threat due to the war. The unique Ark III project is a concept that fully aligns with the mission of the National Museum – preserving history and the collection items and artefacts that shape it. Thanks to the new Ark III digitalisation station, we are able to support our colleagues in museums across Ukraine in digitising their valuable objects – historical artefacts and natural history exhibits – and assist them in their efforts to protect cultural heritage," says Michal Lukeš, Director General of the National Museum.

"The protection of culture during times of war plays a crucial role in preserving a nation’s identity and maintaining hope for its recovery. Given the urgent need to provide humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine, state budgets and the financial capacities of nonprofit organizations are already stretched. That is why we must seek new ways to protect Ukraine’s cultural heritage. One of them is a partnership between the private and public sectors," noted Karel Komárek, the founder of KKFF, adding that this project serves as a model for cultural protection on a global scale.