February, 2026

International Workshop of the project “Improve the visibility of the joint cultural heritage through Carpathian Cultural Route”

From 11 to 13 February 2026, an International Online Workshop on cultural heritage was held within the framework of the project “Improve the visibility of the joint cultural heritage through Carpathian Cultural Route”, which is implemented by the Maramureș County SME Development Center (Romania) in partnership with the NGO “Association of Economic Development of Ivano-Frankivsk (AEDIF)” (Ukraine) and Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas (Ukraine) in the framework of the Interreg VI-A NEXT Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine Programme 2021-2027 (https://next.huskroua-cbc.eu). The project is co-funded by the European Union.

More than 80 participants from the Ukrainian and Romanian sides took part in the International Workshop on the ZOOM platform. These are representatives of historical and cultural objects, state authorities and local governments, as well as national natural parks and reserves, tourism service providers and public organizations, scientists from higher educational institutions of Ukraine, cheering for the development and promotion of our centuries-old cultural heritage.

The workshop participants became acquainted with a theoretical course covering the wooden churches of the Carpathian region and museum exhibition methodologies. As part of the workshop, presentations were delivered showcasing the experience and activities of sites along the Carpathian Cultural Route in Ukraine and Romania.

On the first day of the International Workshop on February 11, 2026, the participants of the workshop were welcomed by:

Mariya Kovaliv – Vice-chairman of the NGO “Association of Economic Development of Ivano-Frankivsk (AEDIF)” (Ukraine), Project Manager – noted that workshop participants would have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with a theoretical course covering the wooden churches of the Carpathian region and museum exhibition methodologies. The workshop program included presentations of experience and discussions among participants regarding the sites of the Carpathian Cultural Route, which would contribute to establishing open dialogue and fostering cross-sectoral partnership within the Carpathian Cultural Route network. She also emphasized that despite the challenges faced due to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the project beneficiaries and participants continue to work actively and remain committed to preserving cultural heritage and promoting the development of the Carpathian region.

Radu Big – Executive Director of the Development Centre for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Maramures (Romania) – emphasized that the implementation of this project is particularly important for Ukraine during the current war. He noted that despite the difficult situation in Ukraine, significant progress has been achieved in the project’s implementation. In particular, the National Tourism Administration of Romania has officially recognized the Carpathian Cultural Route as a transnational tourist and cultural route. It now ranks 6^th among the transnational tourist and cultural routes recognized by Romania.

Halyna Makota – Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation and European Integration of Communities of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration – conveyed words of gratitude to the Romanian people for their support of Ukraine on behalf of the Head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Military Administration, Svitlana Onyshchuk. She emphasized that the implementation of this project reflects not only the preservation of memory, but also cross-border development. The creation of modern digital solutions will make cultural heritage more accessible to a wider audience.

Oksana Shyychuk – Expert of the Ivano-Frankivsk Branch Office of the Joint Secretariat of the Interreg NEXT Programme Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine – noted in her welcoming speech the quality and consistency of the project’s implementation. She emphasized that the continuity of decisions and the project team’s ability to adapt and reformat the project in response to contemporary challenges constitute a key strength in its implementation within the fields of culture and tourism.

During the first day, the workshop participants attended a theoretical course on the wooden churches of the Carpathian region, delivered by Andrii Savchuk, Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture and Construction at King Danylo University.

In addition, the first day of the workshop included presentations of practical experience from the Carpathian Cultural Route sites in Ukraine and Romania.

Tetiana Petriv, Head of the Rohatyn Branch of the Prykarpattia Art Museum, presented the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit in Rohatyn and Ioan Ardelean, priest of the Desești Orthodox Parish, introduced the workshop participants to the wooden Church of Saint Venerable Paraskeva in Desești.

On February 12, 2026, the International Online Workshop continued its work.

Andrii Savchuk, PhD in Architecture and Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture and Construction of King Danylo University, concluded Session 1: “Wooden Churches of the Carpathian Region” and Olena Zhukova, museologist, heritage specialist, and PhD in History (Museology and Heritage Studies), began her presentation of Session 2:“Museum techniques for exposing”.

On February 13, 2026, the final third day of the international workshop took place.

Olena Zhukova, museologist, heritage specialist, and PhD in History (Museology and Heritage Studies), concluded Session 2: “Museum techniques for exposing”. At the closing session, Yaroslava Tkachuk, General Director of the National Museum of Hutsulshchyna and Pokuttia Folk Art named after Y. Kobrynskyi and Honored Worker of Culture of Ukraine, presented the experience and activities of the National Museum of Hutsulshchyna and Pokuttia Folk Art named after Y. Kobrynskyi, which is part of the Carpathian Cultural Route in Ukraine.

The participants of the international workshop discussed the importance of preserving and promoting cultural heritage, as well as further developing the Carpathian Cultural Route. They received comprehensive answers to their questions and expressed their willingness to participate in future project activities. Given the high level of interest and the positive feedback from attendees, the workshop achieved its main objective: enhancing the knowledge and professional skills of representatives of historical and cultural sites, tourism companies and service providers, state authorities and local governments, and civil society institutions from Ivano-Frankivsk and Zakarpattia regions (Ukraine) and Maramureș County (Romania) in the fields of culture and tourism, as well as in the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage.

The high level of organization and conduct of the training, having received a high evaluation from the workshop participants and their interest in the speakers’ materials, testifies to the intention to apply the knowledge and experience gained during the training and has prospects for their implementation.

Reference:

Project “Improve the visibility of the joint cultural heritage through Carpathian Cultural Route” isimplemented in the framework of the Interreg VI-A NEXT Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine Programme (https://next.huskroua-cbc.eu). Overall objective of the Project is to improve the visibility of the existing  Carpathian Cultural Route as an instrument aimed to support the valorisation of the cultural and historical heritage in the Carpathian Euroregion. Specific objectives are: to enlarge the integrated cultural heritage product “Carpathian Cultural Route” that connect places of historical and cultural heritage with other attractions and services; to improve the skills and knowledge of cultural tourism representatives through the training and sharing experience program; to improve the visibility of the integrated cultural heritage product “Carpathian Cultural Route” at the regional and international level through the development of digital promotional materials, joint online information sources and mobile application.

This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the public organization “Association of Economic Development of Ivano-Frankivsk (AEDIF)” and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

 

 

 

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