Dates: May 24–25, 2025
Organizer: Public organization “Main Stage”

The festival “Resistance. Crimea” took place from May 23 to 25, 2025, in the city of Zhytomyr. The main venues included the S. Richter Zhytomyr Regional Philharmonic, the “Vezha” art space, the I. Franko cinema, and other public spaces throughout the city.

The aim of the project was to create an intercultural space that brings together art, literature, historical memory, and civic awareness in order to promote Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar cultures, counteract the cultural isolation of the Crimean issue, and support the decolonization narrative in society.

The festival also fulfilled an important educational role — it introduced participants to the Crimean Tatar language, art, history, and contemporary voices from Crimea. Through a platform of dialogue and collaboration, the project not only united regionally diverse audiences but also inspired the community toward further cultural interaction.

The festival program included:

• • An open discussion: “Crimea in Voice. Dialogues of Resilience”

  • Readings with authors: Kateryna Kalytko, Svitlana Taratorina, Viktoriya Krasnopir, Valeriya Khmelivska, Yuliya Rudyshyna, and Valeriya Pampukha

  • The event: “Crimean Fig”

  • Two workshops for children and teenagers in the format “Crimean Courtyard”

  • A book fair, exhibitions, and film screenings

  • A concert of Crimean Tatar music performed by Emiliya Bodurova

  • Open mic format

The climax of the festival

The highlight was the awarding of the winners of the essay contest “Letters to a Free Crimea,” held as part of a grand artistic performance featuring the "Oreya" choral chapel, the Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, the “Strumochok” choral studio, and the “Butterfly” dance school.

From April 15 to May 15, essay submissions were accepted. Over 50 works were submitted by children and teenagers from different parts of the Zhytomyr region. The entries were evaluated by a jury consisting of writers, journalists, and public figures.

Literary Residency

From May 24 to 25, the “Vezha” art space hosted a literary residency for essay contest winners and creative youth from Zhytomyr region. The residency program included:

• • Workshops with writers

  • Practical writing sessions

  • Discussions on themes of cultural memory, de-occupation, and identity

The residency played a key role in forming a young literary community in the region.

Thus, the “Resistance. Crimea” festival became not only an artistic event but also an effective means of cultural communication, promoting reading, uniting the community, and highlighting important issues of national unity.