The National Library of Poland together with the Smithsonian Institution and the Kosciuszko Foundation invites you to the charity gala “Cultural Genocide: Ukraine’s Struggle to Preserve History and Identity” which will be held on Saturday June 15 at 18.00 in the National Library of Poland (al. Niepodleglosci 213, Warsaw).

It‘s main event will be a talk with the invited guests: modern Ukrainian writers and poets. Among artists who we hope will be able to join us are:

• Lyubov Yakymchuk – writer, screenwriter and cultural manager from Pervomaisk, Luhansk Region, Ukraine whose poems are translated into 15 languages including English, French, Polish, Hebrew and many more. In 2022 Lyuba performed at Grammy’s accompanied by John Legend;
• Hryhoriy Semenchuk – poet, musician, cultural manager whose poems are translated into Polish, English, Spanish, and Slovak to name a few. Director of the literary festival “Month of Author Readings in Lviv“, national delegate of Ukraine to Emmaus International. Participated in multiple literary and music festivals in Ukraine, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Latvia, France, Czech Republic, Romania, and the UK;
• Dmytro Lazutkin – poet, journalist, military. Author of numerous books. Former sports reporter on Ukrainian TV channels. Honored with the most prestigious national literary prize – Taras Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine in 2024. Currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Donetsk Region, Ukraine;
• Serhiy Savchenko – artist, painter, curator. Works in the field of painting, drawing, photography, video, animation, street sculpture, object. Participant of international residencies, workshops, and art events worldwide. Founder of the Savchenko Gallery and Savchenko Foundationin Gdansk, Poland.

We will also show a short video of the destruction of cultural heritage in Ukraine.

Each guest will be able to meet and talk to our guests personally as we will have also a cocktail reception with Ukrainian live music.

The benefit will be held in English.

Contact: Julia Konopka-Żołnierczuk j.konopka@bn.org.pl