In 2025–2026, the British Council continues to support creative hubs, as well as professional and sectoral associations, as strategic institutions for the development of Ukraine's creative economy.

Under this initiative, eight organisations from various regions across the country have received grant support of up to £10,000 each for institutional development projects.

The selected initiatives span a wide range of sectors: from photography, design, and music to urbanism and the circular economy. The project formats are equally diverse, including research, media platforms, inclusive spaces, educational programmes, and digital solutions for creative entrepreneurship.

Meet the grant competition winners and their projects:

Project: Visual Media Against Fakes: Developing UAPP’s Media 

UAPP is an independent media institution that unites over 150 documentary filmmakers and photographers, working at the intersection of media, education, and cultural diplomacy. With this grant, the organisation will strengthen its role as an independent visual media outlet. The project includes developing the UkrainianPhotographers.com online platform, coordinating photographers in the regions, creating an open war documentation archive, producing a series of interviews with documentary filmmakers, and preparing analytical materials on visual manipulation and fakes.

Project: Urban Stories (Strengthening the Urban Community)

The organisation operates at the intersection of urbanism, culture, and civic engagement, supporting the professionals who are shaping the recovery and reconstruction of Ukrainian cities. The Urban Stories project combines research with multimedia storytelling. The team will conduct analytical mapping of Ukraine’s urban ecosystem, creating a database of key actors, host a facilitation session at the Lviv Urban Forum 2026, and launch a series of ten multimedia stories about local initiatives tackling urban development challenges.

Project: Sound Archives: Research, Media Platform, and Infrastructure for Women in Ukrainian Electronic Music

Since 2019, the Institute of Sound has been developing contemporary sound culture and sound art with a focus on gender equality. Within this grant, the organisation is implementing a project that encompasses research into the position of women in the music industry, the creation of an interactive database of female artists, and the launch of "Mandrivne" online radio. The support also facilitates international exchange with UK partners and educational activities to increase the visibility of women in experimental music.

Project: Bakota Hub: From Local Initiative to Sustainable Hub

NGO Territory develops creative communities in regions outside major cities. This grant will bolster the institutional capacity of Bakota Hub: launching a website featuring a residency catalogue and an English version, developing a new visual identity, and mapping the local ecosystem. Additionally, the hub will purchase energy-efficient equipment to ensure the space’s resilience and the stable delivery of events under any conditions.

Project: Strengthening Nafta Theatre: A Platform for Kharkiv’s Theatre Youth 

Nafta is an independent theatre from Kharkiv that combines contemporary performance with the development of the youth community in a frontline city. The grant will help the team refresh their brand and visual identity, establish a communication system, and migrate their website to a platform that meets accessibility requirements. Special attention will be given to inclusive practices and the procurement of safety equipment for their rehearsal space and office.

Project: Pictoric Shop

The Pictoric community promotes Ukrainian illustration as a vital part of the creative economy both at home and abroad. Through this project, the organisation will create the "Pictoric Shop" online platform via pictoric.com.ua to sell illustrations, product design, and textiles. The support covers UX/UI design with secure payment integration, pilot testing, content curation, and promotion to help Ukrainian artists monetise their creative work.

Project: FAB LAB Kropyvnytskyi: A Coworking Space for Skills and Opportunities

This creative hub in Kropyvnytskyi develops practical skills in garment modelling and upcycling. Thanks to the grant, the organisation will establish a sewing coworking space equipped with professional machinery. This will allow graduates and beginners to test their collections without needing personal investment in expensive equipment. The project includes flexible residency formats, mentoring, and the development of partnerships with local brands and employment services.

Project: Plastic Fantastic

The "Eco City" urban initiative implements circular economy principles in Chernihiv. This project focuses on developing the "Plastic Fantastic" workshop into a sustainable social enterprise. The grant will support a design residency, the creation of new product prototypes from recycled plastic, trademark registration, and a launch on international marketplaces, including Etsy. This will strengthen the organisation's economic sustainability by blending ecology with design.

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