Editor’s Note: To see the full list of events, please check the calendar. To let us know about the upcoming shows, exhibitions, concerts, movie screenings, festivals, and parties, please send an e-mail to [email protected].
French Spring
The 16th French Spring festival kicks off in Kyiv aiming to reflect the contemporary French and Ukrainian art. This year, the festival will be held in nine Ukrainian cities with the grand opening at Kyiv’s Sofiiska Square at 8:30 p.m. on March 30. The latest French Spring festival will feature French movies, music shows, theatrical performances and art exhibitions, and a number of workshops on cooking and craftwork. Apart from that, the festival will give its visitors a chance to try some national French cuisine. The French Spring festival will be held in Kyiv until April 26.
French Spring. March 30 – April 26. Check the detailed program, dates, prices, and locations at www.institutfrancais-ukraine.com
Freel
Ukrainian artist Freel embodies Ukrainian rap music before and after Russia’s war against the country started in 2014. From 2004 he was one of Na Vidminu Vid, a fun and non-serious hip hop project of two friends from Cherkasy, a city of 270,000 residents 200 kilometers southeast of Kyiv. But those were the innocent days, and since then Freel, whose real name is Andriy Shalimov, has lived through two breakups (with his girlfriend and the band) and most importantly, five years of war in his country. Freel put his experiences into music, resulting in an honest and serious rap album by the artist, whose flow has been tested for years. Freel will present what may be the first Ukrainian conscious rap album in Mezzanine club.
Freel. Mezzanine (31 Nyzhnioyurkivska St.) April 6. 8 p.m. Hr 350
‘Puzzle Connection’
An art project based and aimed at dialogue between young Ukrainians occupies the temporary exhibition space at the Kyiv History Museum. Six young artists, some of which have been displaced after the start of Russia’s war in the east of Ukraine in 2014, created artworks as a result of dialogue among themselves on issues important to their peers. Their paintings and installations focus on problems like re-socialization, interactions with own self, relatives and wider society. The project was implemented by the informal Youth Contact Group of young Ukrainians supported by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine.
“Puzzle Connection.” Kyiv History Museum (7 Bohdana Khmelnytskoho St.) March 22 – April 7. 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Free
Choose With Love
Those tired of the political buzz ahead of the March 31 presidential election will have a chance to escape it at the local street food festival Ulichnaya Eda: either before voting on March 30 or after visiting the polls the day after. The regular festival is starting the season with a themed two-day event called “Choose With Love” hinting that people should listen to their hearts choosing both presidential candidates, and food with drinks. This time, Ulichnaya Eda has prepared over 60 street food stands by local producers, a wine terrace and bar spots. The organizers promise to offer all kinds of food from almond croissants to marble steaks. The festival’s entertainment includes music show by Ukrainian singer Sergey Babkin, screenings of Wes Anderson’s films, and a play zone for children.
Choose With Love. Platforma Art Factory (1 Bilomorska St.) March 30-31. 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. One-day entrance – Hr 130
