At NEMO’s European Museum Conference 2025, Yurii Horpynych will join the panel “Deep dive: Rethinking care in trauma-informed museums” on Monday, 27 October.
Presentation abstract:
From memory to recovery: The role of the war museum in supporting war-affected communities
The National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War has undergone a profound institutional transformation during Russia’s full-scale invasion. Confronting the consequences of war in real time has become a strategic priority. In 2024, the Museum initiated a cultural rehabilitation program for veterans, Defence Forces personnel, and their families, with art therapy as its principal methodology. This approach integrates creative expression into psychosocial recovery, fostering resilience and social reintegration. The strategy, despite operational challenges, resulted in the establishment of a Cultural Rehabilitation and Accessibility Unit. Exhibitions’ tours remain a core instrument for targeted engagement; their themes are carefully aligned with the evolving psychological and cultural needs of war-affected audiences.
