Our wonderful festivals may be coming to a close, but they will live on in our memories for a long time. Today, we want to tell you about one of the events of the Travelling Festival in the Ternopil region, dedicated to the topic of historical memory, the central theme of this year's festival. The regional coordinators of the Travelling Docudays UA, Volodymyr Khanas and Oleksandr Stepanenko, aimed to explore this theme deeply and help the audience comprehend it to the fullest.

In a warm and friendly atmosphere among like-minded individuals and admirers of the talented carpet weaver, dissident, long-term prisoner of Soviet labor camps, and native of the picturesque Zalishchyky area, Stefania Shabatura, the Museum of the National Liberation Struggle of Ternopil Region hosted the artist’s evening under the title “The Unconquered Spirit of a Blazing Heart.”

“We must stand firm and prevail. Moreover, it is imperative that we remember everything – every event, and most importantly, every individual who brings us closer to the end of the war. This includes not only fighters on the frontlines but also those supporting them in civilian life. We must remember and honor all those who have defended the honor and dignity of humanity and Ukraine for centuries. Without a doubt, Stefania Shabatura is among those who inspire victory,” Volodymyr Khanas emphasized to all the guests of the memorial evening and other special events of the festival.

Photo: the 21st Travelling Docudays UA in Ternopil

Well-known public and political figures, human rights activists, and museum workers shared their memories of the life and creative work of the great Ukrainian patriot, Stefania Shabatura. A special highlight of the event was an exhibition of paintings by students of the Zalishchyky Art School, inspired by Shabatura's works. During the preparation of this exhibition, Nataliya Vitsynska, a guest from Chisinau, visited the museum with a proposal of collaboration to publicize the work of Ukrainian and Moldovan artists.

According to Volodymyr Khanas, regional coordinator in the Ternopil region, the incredible experiences, sincere feedback from guests, and perpetual interest in such events even after the festival inspire and strengthen the resolve in the struggle for freedom, justice, and the preservation of our country's cultural heritage.

“The Travelling Festival is formally over, but some events and processes it initiated will continue,” says Volodymyr. “This time, we discussed our history, memory, and the outstanding and extraordinary personalities who, unfortunately, are not well known to the broad public. We talked about the need to honor them. After the festival, individuals begin to reflect and develop an interest, enabling us to progress. The subjects, concerns, and messages we present resonate with people, take hold, and produce tangible results. I believe this is of great importance.”

The 21st Travelling Docudays UA is supported by the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine, and International Media Support. The opinions, conclusions or recommendations do not necessarily reflect the views of respective governments or charitable organizations of these countries. The author(s) of this publication are solely responsible for its content.