The Shevchenko Prize is outdated: the chairman of the committee Yevhen Nyschuk explains about the changes – News
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, announced on his official website a decree on changes in the provisions of the Shevchenko Prize.
In the comment UP. Culture Chairman of the Committee for the Taras Shevchenko National Award of Ukraine and the new director of the Franka Theater in Kyiv Evgeny Nyshchuk shared that changes in regulations were planned for some time and were made at the initiative of the committee.
Follow the most important events of Ukrainian culture in Telegram i WhatsApp!
“Everything worked out on time, because from Monday, September 16, we start a new campaign[з вибору лавреатів – УП.Культура]. And that is why we need that before it starts, those willing to submit documents see all the changes to the provisions, new opportunities for submission“, Nyschuk explained.
In the “Literature” nomination, the 2024 prize was awarded to the poet and serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Dmytro Lazutkin for the book of poems “Zakladka”.
According to the chairman of the committee, the changes were due to the previous awarding campaign, and some things have already “were outdated morally and from the practical point of view of the work of the committee itself“. So, in 2024, Shevchenkovka was not awarded in the categories “Cinema” and “Literature and Art Studies”, although there were still applicants for the award.
Therefore, this year the committee provided suggestions for changes and they were subsequently taken into account.
“As for the additional nomination, it was really my idea. Because among the wide spectrum of beautiful, interesting works in the direction of visual art, decorative and applied art has always remained such a pearl and a distinctive feature of the Ukrainian people. Especially in times of war, where photography, performance art, sculpture and many other visual manifestations are very valuable“, the agent added.
Decorative and applied art is actually part of the visual arts, but it was an important decision to single it out. The members of the committee, and Nyschuk in particular, talked about this at the forum of intangible cultural heritage from the ICIP and UNESCO.
The laureates of the prize in the nomination “Theatrical art” were the director-producer Ivan Uryvskyi, the artist-producer Tetiana Ovsiychuk and the choirmaster Susanna Karpenko for the performance “The Witch of Konotop” based on the novel by Hryhoriy Kvitka-Osnovyanenko of the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater.
“When we talked about certain elements that are already under the protection of UNESCO in our country – Petrakiv painting, Kosovan ceramics, and many other things – we talked about carriers. That is, those masters who carry this original, authentic pearl of unique art. And in this regard, I wanted to support the idea of honoring such unique creators, be it from embroidery, be it from carvers, be it masters of blown glass, be it painting, and so on“.
Yevgeny Nyschuk also thanked the President of Ukraine for allocating additional funds for the new nomination and assured that the expert group of Shevchenkivka and the representatives of the committee include specialists in decorative and applied arts.
What was changed in the rules of the Shevchenko Prize in 2024
According to the new regulations on the Shevchenko Prize, decorative and applied art was added to the list of nominations. Previously, laureates were determined in literature, literary studies and art studies, publicism and journalism, music, theater, cinema and visual arts.
Only cultural institutions can nominate candidates for the competition in 2024. Previously, experts and members of the Shevchenko Committee could recommend works and artists for participation.
The laureate of the National Award is awarded a diploma, a badge of honor and a monetary part is paid, which was determined every year by the President of Ukraine at the proposal of the Committee. Now this amount is 160 subsistence minimums (about 467.2 thousand hryvnias as of 2024).
What is the Shevchenko Prize
The Shevchenko Prize is the highest creative state award for a significant contribution to the development of culture and art. The prize has been awarded since 1961 until Taras Shevchenko’s birthday, which is celebrated on March 9. Past winners of the Award received a reward in the amount of 397 thousand hryvnias each.
The national prize can be awarded to a citizen of Ukraine, a foreigner, or a stateless person. The laureate of the Shevchenko Prize cannot be awarded a second time, nor will the prize be awarded posthumously.
The national prize can be awarded to a citizen of Ukraine, a foreigner, or a stateless person. The laureate of the Shevchenko Prize cannot be awarded a second time, nor will the prize be awarded posthumously.
In 2023, the prize was involved in a scandal due to the delay in announcing the winners.
On March 10, the head of the Committee Yuriy Makarov published a post on his Facebook that they decided to supplement the existing nominations with an additional contest “For contribution to victory” and to announce the previously determined laureates and new ones together on May 22, the day of Kobzar’s reburial.
On March 11, the Taras Shevchenko National Award Committee of Ukraine still announced the names of the 2023 laureates, but only in some categories.
The relevant decree never appeared on the president’s website.
After a flurry of criticism, on March 13, Yuriy Makarov resigned from the post of Committee chairman.
Three days later, the Shevchenko Committee issued a joint statement regarding this year’s award and drew up the mandate.
At the end of July, the new composition of the Committee and all laureates of this year were announced. Currently, the Committee is headed by the former Minister of Culture and People’s Artist of Ukraine, theater, film and dubbing actor Evgeny Nyshchuk.
