Zelensky Announces ‘Tysyachovesna’ Cultural Fund Gathers Over 1,100 Grant Applications

The Ukrainian government has registered 1,151 project proposals for its newly established national cultural development program, “Tysiachovesna” (Thousand Springs). 

President Volodymyr Zelensky outlined the operational scope of the project in an official update published on Telegram. 

Financing domestic cultural products

Zelensky confirmed that “Tysiachovesna” functions as Ukraine’s first full-format state program dedicated specifically to sustaining and expanding the country’s modern cultural landscape. Under the approved budgetary framework, billions of hryvnias will be guaranteed annually to underwrite the development, production, and distribution of diverse Ukrainian-language media and art.

The grant initiative explicitly targets seven core creative industries to maximize its reach:

• Funding for feature-length films and scripted television serials.

• Support for local animation studios and graphic projects.

• Resources for contemporary audio production and recording artists.

• Grants for theatrical productions, live performances, and physical or digital exhibitions.

• Specialized funding dedicated to creating high-quality Ukrainian content tailored for global social media platforms.

A launchpad for debut artists

A key feature of the initial application wave is the prominent participation of emerging creators. Zelensky reported that approximately 17% of the 1,151 proposals processed so far are debut projects, indicating that the initiative is successfully attracting new talent who previously lacked access to centralized state funding. The applications span geographic regions from all corners of Ukraine, reflecting a unified national interest in the program.

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The president clarified that the current statistics represent a preliminary baseline, as the formal review and indexing of submissions are actively ongoing. Consequently, the final volume of participating projects is expected to increase before the state archive closes. The Ministry of Culture and associated review boards plan to present the definitive, finalized results of the inaugural selection process on June 12.

Zelensky framed the strategic expansion of the cultural sector as an essential component of national defense and soft power. He emphasized that the current year serves as the baseline launchpad for the initiative, with state allocations for domestic authors and creative platforms projected to grow progressively each year.

“The development of modern Ukrainian culture, support for our authors and projects, and the creation of a new Ukrainian product is an important part of our strength,” Zelensky noted. “It is especially valuable to see that even in the time of a full-scale war, creative energy in Ukraine does not fade. Thank you to everyone who works to make the Ukrainian voice sound even stronger through creativity.”