UJE at the FUNDAMENT Book Festival in Kyiv

With the recent upsurge in reading in Ukraine, the popularity of various book festivals and forums has skyrocketed. These events have become an integral part of the country's cultural life, as they address the current needs of society, promoting the dissemination of Ukrainian and world literature, supporting authors and publishers, and thereby making a significant contribution to the development of national culture.

Participation in such events is a key activity of UJE Ukraine, as it enables the organization to pursue its goals and objectives, in particular, popularizing UJE-supported books. Moreover, it is also an opportunity to learn directly the opinions, interests, and needs of a wide readership — people of different ages and walks of life who attend these large-scale cultural events.

This year, UJE took part in the Foundation Book Festival for the first time. Held on 23–26 October at the Ukrainian House in Kyiv, the event brought together publishers, authors, and readers for the second time in a single space, where literature becomes a map of dialogue, and books are carriers of senses that preserve the heritage and shape the future.

The festival was held within the framework of the Ukrainian House's literary program. In times of profound social transformations, literature becomes not only a way of recording reality but also a tool for understanding it. The festival marked a significant milestone, further elevating the Ukrainian House as a venue for representing Ukrainian culture in all its depth. In the atrium, visitors could browse new releases and books from over 20 publishing houses, primarily specializing in nonfiction.

This year's focus theme of the festival was "Journey," where the book appears primarily as a guide on the path of intellectual journey: through words and imagination, ideas and categories, research and dreams.

During the festival, the UJE team presented UJE-supported publications, including books on Ukrainian-Jewish relations, historical memory, cultural dialogue, and preservation of common heritage. Visitors to the information and book stand familiarized themselves with UJE projects, received informational materials, and spoke with UJE representatives, discussing current issues in cultural and social development.

During the festival, UJE organized and held its own event — the open roundtable discussion "Recent Studies on Ukrainian-Jewish Relations," which generated significant interest among the participants and guests. The debate centred on Ukrainian-Jewish coexistence, historical memory, and the role of books as a means of dialogue between cultures. More information about this event will be available on our website soon.

Vladyslav Hrynevych, Jr. Regional Manager, UJE Ukraine