On the 7^th of October the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is hosting the 2016 MFA Open Air.

Having succeeded with the last year event, when hundreds of people gathered within the atrium (behind the colonnade) of the MFA building in order to give support to the illegally imprisoned Ukrainians in Russia, this year Open Air we dedicate again to the topical subject – veterans physical rehabilitation and psychosocial adaptation.

The event "ME, VETERAN" is to be held as a documentary performance with the accompaniment of the Special Guard of Honour Orchestra of the Regiment of the President of Ukraine.

What does indicate your strength more – a possession of weapons or a decision to lay it down? Who are the Ukrainian veterans? The audience will hear the real stories firsthand as the characters in the show are the real Ukrainian veterans of the Anti-Terrorist Operation returning to civilian life. This documentary performance is a kind of a study aiming at the deeper understanding of the modern image of the Ukrainian veteran. 

This event is a co-production of the MFA Cultural Diplomacy Division together with the partner organizations. The “Pobratymy” (Brotherhood) NGO, in partnership with the Social multimedia project THE VICTORS – a joint initiative of TSN (Television Service of News, 1+1 TV Channel) and VIVA! Magazine, Curator – Solomiya Vitvitska (the 1+1 TV Channel host). 

Ivona Kostyna, The “Pobratymy” (Brotherhood) NGO – idea of the project. Creative team: Natalia Vorozhbyt, screenwriter and playwright, founder of "Theatre of Internally displaced persons"; Daria Koltsova, artist; Yefym Baytler – sound director; Kostiantyn Kliatskin – film director of the «BABYLON'13» project and the "Crimea, How was it happening" documentary. 

"Implementing this project, we aim at attracting more attention to the importance of the initiatives that support the rehabilitation and adaptation of our soldiers. We also want to use this event to extend appreciation to our foreign friends and partners – the representatives of diplomatic missions in Ukraine – for their support and assistance in the treatment of our heroes abroad”, – said Pavlo Klimkin, the Minister For Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

So we invite you all to come to the MFA of Ukraine on Friday, October 7, at 18.00. Together we will witness on the stage the experimental documentary performance, which will let us understand what it means to be a contemporary Ukrainian veteran. 

Please note that the number of seats is limited, but it is also possible to watch the show from the standing space. We also highly recommend to dress warmly, because the estimated duration of the event – 1,5 hours.  

The project is an important event of the MFA activities in the public diplomacy sphere. It is the next step in the development of the Ministry not only as a political but also a cultural space open to collaboration with artists, art institutions and dialogue with the public.

Event partners: the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, Zinteco Design & Engeneering, Oschadbank, StratcomUA, 1+1, Armiya.FM.

Event's hashtags: #МЗСOpenAir2016 #MeVeteran #Переможці #Побратими #Незламні #MFAOpenAir2016