Final Pitching of Projects Under the 'Thousand Spring' Program to Take Place in August as a Festival – Koval'ska

The final pitching of projects being implemented under the cultural product support program 'Thousand Spring' is set to take place in August this year. This announcement was made by Olena Koval'ska, the Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, during a press conference held on Friday in Kyiv. According to her, the aim of the program is not only to create Ukrainian content but also to unite artists, facilitate networking, and promote cultural collaboration.

"When we started this program, we really wanted it to be not just a tool for creating Ukrainian content but also a platform for bringing together Ukrainian artists. The President laid down this idea, and therefore we decided that the final pitching would take place in the format of a grand celebration. A little later in the program, we will share how exactly this will look," Koval'ska emphasized, highlighting the significance of the event for the cultural community.

The final stage of the pitching, according to Koval'ska, will be conducted in a festival format, where participants will have the opportunity to physically present their projects. This will be an important event for all those who aspire to realize their ideas in the fields of culture and art.

It is worth noting that earlier, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine announced the start of applications for the competition, which runs from April 3 to May 28. This competition will take place in three stages. The first stage, which will last from May 29 to June 5, will involve checking the submitted documents and materials for compliance with the requirements of the regulations, conducted by competition commissions in various areas.

The second stage, which will take place from June 10 to July 21, will involve expert evaluation of the projects based on the submitted documents and materials. The third stage, scheduled for August, will include public presentations of the projects, expert reviews, and evaluations by competition commissions. It is important to note that in the third stage, competition commissions may involve foreign specialists who will have an advisory vote.

As previously reported, on April 3, the Ministry of Culture launched the submission of competition applications as part of the initiative to create Ukrainian cultural products, which was previously known as '1000 Hours of Ukrainian Content' and has now been renamed 'Thousand Spring'. This program aims to support and develop Ukrainian culture through the creation of quality content.

In the state budget for 2026, the Ministry of Culture has allocated 4 billion UAH for the implementation of the 'Thousand Spring' program. According to the Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture of Ukraine, Tetiana Berezhna, in 2026, a maximum of 80% of this amount, which will total 3.2 billion UAH, will be allocated to the program.

Berezhna also noted that the ministry intends to propose allocating funds for the 'Thousand Spring' program in the state budget for 2027, indicating the longevity and importance of this initiative for the Ukrainian cultural sector.

The property rights to the cultural products created under the 'Thousand Spring' program will belong to the State Film Agency and the state enterprise 'Center for the Protection of the Information Space'. Winners of the competitions will sign licensing agreements, ensuring proper protection of rights to the created content.