Panel discussion at Buch Wien 2026

How can Ukrainian and European cultural cooperation evolve, and what opportunities and challenges lie ahead? This panel brings together voices from the Ukrainian and European cultural scenes to discuss the potential, complexities and future perspectives of cross-border collaboration in the arts and culture.

The panel discussion relates to the international conference Networks of Cooperation (15–16 October 2026 at Kunsthaus Graz), which focused precisely on these issues – the development of sustainable cultural partnerships. The conference is a joint initiative of Office Ukraine (Vienna/tranzit.at and Graz/rotor), the Austrian Federal Ministry of Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport (BMWKMS), Creative Europe Desk Austria, in cooperation with Kunsthaus Graz, Creative Europe Desk Ukraine, and the Institute for Human Sciences.

Participants
Volodymyr Yermolenko, philosopher and president of PEN Ukraine
Gerhild Steinbuch, Vice Rector for Cooperative Disciplinarity, Engagement and Innovation, University of Applied Arts Vienna
Anna Zvyagintseva, Visual artist, Kyiv / Vienna
Anton Lederer, Co-founder and artistic director of < rotor > Centre for Contemporary Art Graz, co-initiator Office Ukraine, Graz
Kathrin Kneissel, Head of the »Funding and International Affairs« group within the Arts and Culture Section of the Federal Ministry of Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport of Austria (BMWKMS). 

Moderator
Mariya Donska, Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Graz, moderating and co-organizing literary evenings, exhibitions, and festivals featuring leading Ukrainian authors.

Discussion in English language.

The event is organised as a joint initiative by the Federal Ministry of Housing, Art, Culture, Media and Sport (BMWKMS) and Office Ukraine (Vienna / tranzit.at and Graz / rotor), with the kind support of ERSTE Foundation.

Please note that a one-day ticket for Buch Wien is required to attend the panel discussion.