Coalition of Culture Actors

The Coalition of Culture Actors (Ukrainian: Коаліція дієвців культури, КДК) is a Ukrainian civil society coalition that brings together cultural professionals to advocate for the interests of the cultural sector, foster cross-sectoral professional dialogue, and exercise public oversight of cultural policy. It was established in November 2021 on the initiative of Daria Badior, Ivan Kozlenko, Iryna Podoliak, Olga Sagaidak, and Iryna Chuzhynova. The coalition describes itself as a community of specialists who make change in culture possible, working from engagement with communities to shaping decisions for the state. The coalition's work focuses on several areas: advocacy for the cultural sector at various levels through consolidated representation of different sectors; cross-sectoral professional dialogue, development of ethical standards for the field, and mutual assistance; exchange of professional experience to help the community be more adaptive and flexible in the face of challenges; and public oversight — red lines and ethical standards that are undermined by opaque processes in the cultural sphere. Its key projects include monitoring and advocacy of the Culture Development Strategy, dialogues seeking common ground with other civil society sectors, and information campaigns such as positions, appeals, and open letters. The coalition emerged from the project 'National Association for Good Governance in Culture', implemented in cooperation with the Lviv City Public Organisation 'Art Council Dialogue' with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. Among its early outcomes were the drafting and announcement of the CCA Manifesto at the Culture Congress in Lviv; meetings with cultural representatives in six cities — Odesa, Uzhhorod, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Kyiv; research into current cultural legislation compiled into a Green Paper analytical report; creation of the CCA agreement based on research into the opinions, expectations, and needs of cultural communities; and two strategic sessions on creating the CCA community and its strategy. The coalition has responded promptly to developments in the sector, including violations of the law during an audit of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, attempts by the Supervisory Board of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation to initiate institutional support exclusively for state institutions, and detentions of cultural figures. It publishes analyses and statements, such as its 2026 analysis of the first year of implementation of the Culture Development Strategy, which found that the strategy is being implemented but not measured, and a 2026 presentation of a concept for a pilot institutional reform of the museum sector. It also participated in discussions at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) 2026 on the role of culture in times of social rupture and recovery.

The Coalition of Culture Actors was established in November 2021 on the initiative of Daria Badior, Ivan Kozlenko, Iryna Podoliak, Olga Sagaidak, and Iryna Chuzhynova. It emerged from the project 'National Association for Good Governance in Culture', implemented in cooperation with the Lviv City Public Organisation 'Art Council Dialogue' with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. The project's early outcomes included drafting and announcing the CCA Manifesto at the Culture Congress in Lviv; hosting meetings with cultural representatives in six cities — Odesa, Uzhhorod, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Kyiv; researching current legislation in the field of culture, which identified problem areas in the sector at the end of 2021 and was compiled into a Green Paper, an analytical report structured by sectors in which state cultural policy is implemented — management, financing, human and resource capital, and cultural heritage; creating the CCA agreement based on research into the opinions, expectations, and needs of cultural communities; and holding two strategic sessions on creating a CCA community and its strategy. The project became the starting point for bringing together cultural figures, highlighting the need to unite to achieve goals and influence state and local authorities, as well as to communicate with each other at the level of individuals, organisations, cities, and regions, share experiences, think together, and act together. The coalition promptly responded to developments in the cultural sector, including violation of the law during the audit of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, attempts by the Supervisory Board of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation to initiate institutional support exclusively for state institutions, and detentions of cultural figures. By 2026, the coalition was actively publishing analyses and statements. On 14 September 2026 it published an analysis of the first year of implementation of the Culture Development Strategy, finding that the strategy is being implemented but not measured. On 11 August 2026 it presented a concept for a pilot institutional reform of the museum sector, framed as moving from maintaining a museum to financing its functions. On 28 September 2026 it participated in discussions at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) 2026 under the theme 'Europe at Times of Rupture', addressing the role of culture in times of social rupture and recovery. It also issued statements, such as one on 31 July 2026.

• Coalition of Culture Actors established on the initiative of Daria Badior, Ivan Kozlenko, Iryna Podoliak, Olga Sagaidak, and Iryna Chuzhynova.

• Drafted and announced the CCA Manifesto at the Culture Congress in Lviv.

• Hosted meetings with cultural representatives in six cities: Odesa, Uzhhorod, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Kyiv.

• Researched current legislation in the field of culture, compiled into a Green Paper analytical report.

• Created the CCA agreement based on research into the opinions, expectations, and needs of cultural communities.

• Held two strategic sessions on creating a CCA community and its strategy.

• Issued a statement.

• Presented a concept for a pilot institutional reform of the museum sector.

• Published an analysis of the first year of implementation of the Culture Development Strategy.

• Participated in discussions at URC 2026 on the role of culture in times of social rupture and recovery.

A non-profit civil society coalition advocating for transparent, participatory cultural governance in Ukraine.

• Green Paper

  An analytical report structured by sectors in which state cultural policy is implemented — management, financing, human and resource capital, and cultural heritage.

• CCA Manifesto

  Drafted and announced at the Culture Congress in Lviv.

• CCA agreement

  Created based on research into the opinions, expectations, and needs of cultural communities.

• Analysis of the first year of implementation of the Culture Development Strategy

  Published 14 September 2026; found that the strategy is being implemented but not measured.

• Concept for a pilot institutional reform of the museum sector

  Presented 11 August 2026; framed as moving from maintaining a museum to financing its functions.

1. 1Головнаcoalitionforculture.org.ua
2. 2How the things begancoalitionforculture.org.ua
3. 3Coalition of Culture Actorswikidata.org