Support of the arts has become an integral part of the philanthropy programs of Ukrainian companies.
In May, Nataliya Revika, the head of marketing department at Kraft Foods Ukraine, came up with the idea of Art Among Us, a project that exhibits works from modern Ukrainian artists in their office. At the fifth floor of the company’s office, bright and lively paintings featuring Kyiv scenes immediately catch the eye.
“We try to update the exhibition every three weeks,” Revika says. She has organized five exhibitions so far, displaying some 50 pieces from such Ukrainian artists as Yuriy Shapoval, Oleksiy Revika, Ruslan Ivashenko and others. The exposure, Revika said, has encouraged co-workers to start visiting art galleries.
Oleksiy Vasylenko, the co-owner of Zolotoye Sechenie auction house, said art collections are good for a company’s image. Many modern paintings are relatively affordable in Ukraine.
UkrSibbank BNP Paribas Group is another art patron. Since 2007, it’s helped the Mikhail Bulgakov Museum on Andriyivsky Uzviz Street. The bank sponsored the purchase of some Vienna bentwood chairs and helped it to restore the tradition of monthly musical events on the 13th.
Elvira Dishayeva, chief financial officer at Baker & McKenzie law firm, believes art inspires people and influences emotional health. So she was happy when the company decided to help artists as “they undergo tough times in Ukraine.” In 2012, the company commissioned paintings from five artists in eastern Ukraine. “They came up with about 40 paintings featuring some historical Kyiv’s spots, for example Yaroslaviv Val Street, Kyiv Pechersk Lavra or Andriivskiy Uzviz Street,” Dishayeva said.
The pictures were displayed at the National Philharmonic during the company’s anniversary ceremony.
Kyivstar cellphone service provider also found a way to patronize art. The company this year has exhibited some 80 artworks of 10 Ukrainian artists. Kyivstar team development manager Oleksandr Rizenko believes the displays help to “boost the creative atmosphere in the office.”
Kyivska Rus Bank also hosts an art exhibition. The bank produced a calendar featuring paintings of Ukrainian landscapes made by artists Oksana Zbrutska, Dmytro Dobrovolsky and Oleksandr Breskin.
“Next year we hope to make other calendar, dedicated to arts and crafts,” says bank spokeswoman Kateryna Nenuzhna.
Kyiv Post staff writer Olena Goncharova can be reached at [email protected].
