03 September 2026, 17:22
Ten artists from Odesa received the “Cultural Capital—2026” award
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Award Ceremony for the Winners of the "Cultural Capital—2026" Award. PHOTO: Odessa MBA
The winners of the annual “Cultural Capital—2026” municipal award were announced in Odesa. This year, ten local artists received the awards, including theater and ballet performers, photographers, and musicians.
This was reported by the Odesa Regional Military Administration.
The award recipients are:
- Svitlana Bondar, Head of the Literary and Dramatic Department at the Vasylko Odessa Academic Ukrainian Music and Drama Theater
- Olga Vorobyova, ballet dancer and principal dancer at the Odesa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater
- Photographer Heorhiy Gergaya
- Valentina Gubska, Honored Artist of Ukraine
- Elena Zhernova, artist in decorative and applied arts
- Honored Artist of Ukraine Volodymyr Kondratyev
- Nina Morozovich, Honored Artist of Ukraine
- Honored Artist of Ukraine Iryna Smotrytska
- Alexander Chupira, musician with the Odessa National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet
- Photographer Oleksandr Yakymchuk
The “Cultural Capital” Municipal Award was established in Odesa in 2016 to support and promote the local arts community. Each year, it honors outstanding cultural figures whose professional accomplishments, creative achievements, and community initiatives enrich the city’s cultural life. The award is traditionally given to artists in various fields—from theater and visual arts to music and photography.
Previously, Odessa-based researcherAnzhelika Kolesnichenkoreceived an Honorary Award as part of the European Association of Archaeologists’ (EAA) 2026 Early Career Achievement Award. She received the award for her research on ancient glass, the development of international scientific cooperation, and her contribution to the preservation of Ukraine’s archaeological heritage.
