The DRUK cultural and community center, located in the historic building of an old printing house on Honcharivskyi Boulevard, was initially conceived at the end of 2021, three months before the full-scale invasion. Back then, in early 2022, we managed to begin research on the building and host one event, after which the Center’s development came to a halt because of the war.
Later, in the summer of 2023, we returned to work, as we could not help but invest in shaping the Ukrainian cultural environment in a border city, one subject to outside cultural influences. This has been and remains our city, and it has been and remains a way of opposing a totalitarian regime and the culture it spawns. To better understand who we are and how DRUK is integrating into the city’s cultural life, we have compiled three interviews in which the curators of our artistic areas talk about their projects, creative collaborations, and upcoming events.
During these discussions on various platforms, they explained what is happening with the building’s restoration, what kind of collaboration with artists they envision, and how residents come to join this space. All these conversations represent only part of our conceptual goal to launch new initiatives in Kharkiv while giving creative people the opportunity to realize their boldest projects here.
The first residents of the DRUK cultural and community center were the Kharkiv-based “Tvorche Nezhyt” Gallery, represented by Magran Tata, Yaroslav Outsayder, and Mariia Kvitma. From the outset, they planned to find a place suitable for exhibitions, performances, and other creative actions, and when they learned about the idea of creating a major cultural hub within the walls of the historic DRUK printing house, they immediately became interested. For a long time, “Tvorche Nezhyt” Gallery had been looking for a new space with the right atmosphere, and the revived building on Honcharivskyi Boulevard turned out to be the perfect venue for such endeavors.
In a conversation on the online radio station “Nakypilo,” representatives of “Tvorche Nezhyt” noted that they are very inspired by the chance to develop their artistic space in the city center, especially now, during wartime, when there is a pressing need for new opportunities to hold exhibitions and gatherings. Kharkiv has frequently come under attack, so some art venues have ceased operations or cannot function at full capacity. At this juncture, DRUK is becoming a symbol of revived cultural initiative, which helps artists, musicians, and all interested visitors transform the old printing house into a modern artistic hub.
The second major part of the “Nakypilo” interviews focused on the “Ocheret” Theater, which chose DRUK for its theatrical events and the construction of its own theater space. According to DRUK’s theater program director, executive director Anastasiia Nesmiian, and the theater’s director Oleksandr Shanidze, “Ocheret” operates as a laboratory, recruiting actors of different ages and experience levels—from 18 to 50+. They explained how, in the first year of working within the DRUK space, they managed to prepare several performances and the play “Arabesky,” based on stories by Mykola Khvylovyi.
Representatives of the theater noted that DRUK gives them opportunities to host creative meetings in an environment that regularly features visual exhibitions and theatrical performances. This results in a fascinating blend of stage and gallery practices, offering audiences original aesthetic experiences. “Ocheret,” in turn, brings extra dynamism to DRUK, since it actively interacts with viewers, proposing unconventional event formats and showing that Kharkiv still has a great demand for new modes of cultural engagement.
The third interview took place on the Boroshno News YouTube channel, where the guest was Magran Tata—DRUK’s curator of artistic projects, who oversees the “Tvorche Nezhyt” Gallery. Originally from Syria, he has twice confronted the consequences of bombing attacks by an aggressor nation: first in Aleppo, and later in Kharkiv. The interview explored his personal experience—how the wars in both cities have influenced him, why he continues to pursue art, and how he perceives Ukraine from the perspective of a person with foreign roots.
In the episode’s title, “We’re Chatting with Magran Tata: Art from Aleppo to Kharkiv!”, the show’s hosts highlighted the conversation’s central theme, centered on finding common ground between two cultures and on creativity as a form of reflection. For us, this dialogue is yet another chance to showcase how cross-cultural processes unfold in Kharkiv today and to acquaint you with the worldview of our art curator.
Hence, our residents—“Tvorche Nezhyt,” “Ocheret,” and art curator Magran Tata—shared their projects with radio listeners and online audiences in the context of the DRUK creative community. All of them emphasized that the space developing inside the historic printing house is not just a venue for exhibitions but also a center of civic activity, welcoming both art and social discussions.
Kharkiv continues to live a vibrant artistic life. This entails not just exhibitions or performances but also debates and parties—everything that helps both residents and guests of the city feel that culture remains a driving force even in these challenging times for Kharkiv.
