Results of the International Festival Tour of the "Volynianka" Creative Ensembles in Italy
A media presentation of the international festival tour undertaken by the creative ensembles of the Lutsk Palace of Culture — the Volynianka People's Amateur Dance Ensemble and the Volynianka People's Amateur Folk Instruments Orchestra — was held at the Lutsk Palace of Culture.
38 talented Lutsk performers have returned from a 48-day festival marathon in Italy, under the auspices of CIOFF — the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Traditional Arts affiliated with UNESCO. This large-scale project was made possible thanks to the organizational and financial support of Lutsk City Council.
Between July 13 and August 31, 2026, our artists travelled approximately 7,800 kilometres, visited 20 cities, took part in 5 international festivals, gave 40 concert performances, and presented Ukrainian art to nearly 20,000 spectators. In addition, the ensembles took part in 7 social and cultural projects and held official meetings with representatives of local authorities and communities in Italian cities.
It is worth noting that the tour programme harmoniously combined major festival stages, concert venues, and vibrant street parades with important cultural and social initiatives. Ukrainian dances, live music, and blue-and-yellow flags reached far beyond the usual stages — directly into the urban spaces of Italy, where Ukrainian art became the basis for a sincere and direct dialogue with European audiences.
During the meeting at the Palace of Culture, Anastasiia Matiushyk, choreographer of the Volynianka People's Amateur Dance Ensemble, gave a detailed account of each of the five festivals, presenting video footage and sharing her emotional impressions of the trip, as well as her thoughts on how Ukrainian culture is perceived in Europe today.
The event was moderated by Tetiana Hnativ, director of the Department of Culture of Lutsk City Council, who expressed sincere admiration for the creative work of the Lutsk ensembles in her remarks.
"Volynianka is a brand of Lutsk known far beyond Ukraine's borders. Today, thanks to your artistry, Ukraine has the opportunity to speak loudly to the world in the language of art — the language of the unique heritage our people possess. This international tour has become another page in the ensemble's recent history and, at the same time, proof of just how powerful a tool of international communication a community's culture can be," Tetiana Hnativ emphasized.
First Deputy Mayor Iryna Chebeliuk took part in the event and thanked the leaders and members of the ensembles for their tremendous contribution to our community's culture and cultural diplomacy.
"I am truly proud that our city is home to such talented young people. Thanks to your mission, Lutsk is now known in many countries around the world, and you are recognized everywhere as true professionals. You have travelled a long road of hard daily work and incredible effort to achieve this remarkable success. My sincere thanks to the ensembles for their resilience, patriotism, and outstanding performing skill!" said Iryna Chebeliuk.
For organizing the international festival tour and promoting the national culture and creative potential of the Lutsk territorial community, Iryna Chebeliuk presented Certificates of Appreciation from the Mayor of Lutsk to the artistic directors and coordinators of the international festival tour:
Anastasiia Matiushyk — choreographer of the Volynianka People's Amateur Dance Ensemble;
Vitalii Okhmaniuk — director of the Volynianka People's Amateur Orchestra, Honoured Artist of Ukraine;
Oleh Kozachuk — director of the Volynianka People's Amateur Dance Ensemble, Honoured Cultural Worker of Ukraine;
Olena Kozachuk — director of the Volyniachka Model Amateur Dance Ensemble, Honoured Cultural Worker of Ukraine.
All participants of the festival tour also received a well-deserved monetary reward.
At the close of the event, Olena Kozachuk, director of the Volyniachka dance ensemble, and Oleh Kozachuk, director of the Volynianka dance ensemble, expressed their gratitude to Lutsk City Council and the Department of Culture for their ongoing support.
The festival marathon has come to an end. New, equally exciting tours across Europe and the world await Volynianka!
The Lutsk community is proud of its cultural ambassadors!