Culture in a time of war

On Wednesday at The Grosvenor Arms and on Thursday at Gillingham Town Hall we debated this discussion topic with artists, gallery owners, Ukrainian guests, hosts and the people of Shaftesbury and Gillingham.

We were grateful to have the company of Shaftesbury Town Mayor, Virginia Edwyn Jones and to be hosted by Cllr Barry von Clemens, Mayor of Gillingham.

The evenings attracted over 50 people and were chaired superbly by by Amber Harrison of Folde Dorset and Fanny Charles editor of Fine Times Recorder.

Amber Harrison, co-owner of Folde, Dorset and a judge on The Wainwright Prize, chaired the discussion in The Grosvenor Arms Assembly Room.

These two experienced chairs held Katya and Ivan in a space, safe enough to talk openly and honestly about their experience of leading a troupe of artists displaced from their country. They spoke movingly about endeavouring to continue to bring the joy of dance and their cultural heritage to people across the world, whilst meeting the emotional and physical needs of their young dancers.

The discussions that followed, engaged us in ideas about the place of culture in community and the way that the heritage of an artist can colour our perceptions of their work.

We considered the place of food, and in particular beetroot, in our shared experience and thought about how shared experiences, enriched by our different pasts, adds value to our lives.

We were angry at the aggression of Russia but felt that anger cannot cancel the cultural works that came from a geographic region that had a different political past.

We heard how culture had connected people through choirs and helped people find a home far from home. We shed tears together over the way that people have welcomed each other and gained from that experience.

We noticed that no one felt that culture was a one way transaction, culture was the development of shared meaning between people living at the same time and borrowing from their different histories..

We recognised that it is in the interest of an aggressor to claim culture or dismiss it, as gestures of control and authoritarianism. We wanted to refute that and saw culture as our common experience used to create an egalitarian and principled world.

The connections between people that have helped Kyiv City Ballet continue and share their message of joy and peace were demonstrated by Fanny sharing a message from Kirill Karabits, Chief Conductor of the. Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, who had this message for Kyiv City Ballet.

“On behalf of all the musicians at the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, I would like to warmly welcome the Kyiv City Ballet to Dorset, a beautiful and culturally unique part of the UK. Many sincere thanks to the Shaftesbury Refugee Group and all the generous individuals who lend their helping hand to the wonderful Kyiv City Ballet and helped to organise their visit to the UK during these overwhelming and extremely difficult times. The lives of all Ukrainians have been turned upside down since Russia’s brutal full scale invasion of Ukraine and it is especially valuable for us to know that we are not alone.

Working with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra since 2008 we have regularly championed Ukrainian music here in Dorset, all over the UK and the world through our live performances and recordings thanks to the wonderful and curious audiences and supporters in Dorset. I wish all the members of the Kyiv City Ballet strength and hope to be able to meet them in person soon.”

And we smiled, laughed and joked together, because that experience binds us as people in a common humanity.

These events had a very special feel to them, and a warmth, kindness and a genuine concern that we do not lose sight of what makes us human in this inhuman situation. That would not have been possible without the care and support that Amber and Fanny gave us, and for this we are deeply grateful.