EDITORIAL

Our Ukrainian Museum

Almost imperceptibly, at least to those beyond the immediate neighborhood in the East Village of New York City, the new home of The Ukrainian Museum has risen. (The last photographs readers saw in this paper was of the topping out ceremony last December that marked the completion of the building's infrastructure.) Yes, it's true. The long-awaited Ukrainian Museum building on East Sixth Street - a $7.6 million project - is nearing completion. In fact, as we write these lines, workers are busy in the edifice's interior, installing sheet rock, preparing exhibit spaces, etc. Construction is scheduled to be completed by the autumn.

The Ukrainian Museum, which has been serving the public of the New York metropolitan area, and beyond, for more than 25 years, will soon be poised to not only serve an even larger museum-going public but also to show them more in terms of exhibits, artifacts and cultural events.

Significantly, Joseph Berger wrote in The New York Times on July 4 that "New York City makes it possible to see much of the world without ever leaving the city." His article, titled "Ethnic Museums Abounding in Manhattan," focused on the city's ethnic museums - collections of varying dimension and caliber - of which he said there are at least 25. Of The Ukrainian Museum he wrote: "Next year, The Ukrainian Museum will be moving into a sleek-three-story home that will allow it to display the full range of its thousands of paintings, ceramics, festive attire and historical photographs. But for now it is confined to a single room in a building in the East Village that houses other Ukrainian organizations..."

That this miraculous transformation of The Ukrainian Museum from a small local collection to a first-class modern home for exhibits and other events is taking place is due to the support of countless donors - individuals, groups, corporations - who believe in the museum's mission of presenting the rich Ukrainian heritage to the world in one of its greatest cities.

And that mission needs our support even today, as construction nears completion. The new Ukrainian Museum building still has to be appropriately equipped with communications and security systems, cases and shelving for the display and storage of artifacts, furniture, computers, and so on. Not to be forgotten are the perennial costs of preparing and showcasing the fine exhibits for which The Ukrainian Museum has become known. These amenities and necessities, too, are essential to any museum's success.

As noted in a letter to supporters of The Museum written by Olha Hnateyko, president of the board of trustees, "there are still formidable tasks ahead of us." However, Ms. Hnateyko underscored that "The new building will be an elegant structure, most suitable for its purpose: a showcase of the treasures of our cultural legacy." And the knowledge of The Ukrainian Museum's potential should serve as a catalyst for the Ukrainian community and others to continue their generous support for this unique institution in our midst.

Indeed, The Ukrainian Museum in its new home is sure to be an even more powerful ambassador of the Ukrainian nation to the world.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, July 13, 2003, No. 28, Vol. LXXI

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