The project was implemented by the charitable organisation “Ukraine. Reborn from the Ashes” Foundation. The spatial mentor and designer behind the centre’s physical transformation is Ulyana Dzhuryak, an architect and urban planner. The programme mentor is Iryna Brunda, a cultural manager and director of the Chortkiv Public Library.

The space was created as part of Community reBuilding – a project to develop community-building centres run by Cedos and UMAEF.

On opening day, the venue was packed with people keen to see this new space for creativity and development. Both adults and children were able to join in the festivities and try their hand at the workshops. An interactive team-building session with quests and games was organised for the children to teach them how to work as a team. Tech enthusiasts created their own LED lamps with motion sensors, whilst creative types had the chance to practise quick sketches from life. Visitors were also treated to musical performances, dance routines and Holi colours.

Art Tech Hub became a place where art met technology, and people met people. The space brought the hromada together. In the first few months, around ten events took place, seven of which were organised by communities with no previous experience of running events here. This demonstrated that there is a huge demand for informal education and face-to-face interaction within our hromada. Art Tech Hub is an open environment for development, networking and new ideas.

Andriy Solovyov, member of the Art Tech Hub team

About the “Art Tech Hub” community centre

The Art Tech Hub comprises several zones: 

  • The Learning Zone, where lectures, seminars, film screenings and games evenings are held. It also features a gaming area with a PlayStation.
  • The Technology Zone, equipped with 3D printers and soldering stations for learning 3D modelling and prototyping.
  • A hall, where more informal gatherings or cultural events can take place.
  • An exhibition area — a permanent venue and two mobile displays where local artists present their work.

The space is located on the ground floor of the City Centre for Cultural and Artistic Initiatives, which also houses a music lab, an amateur theatre and a social project growing microgreens. The Art Tech Hub has enough space for several events to take place simultaneously. This allows it to operate with maximum flexibility and focus on the needs of the community.

To create a community hub, the premises underwent a major refurbishment: the old plaster was removed, and the windows and doors were replaced. The space is now fully accessible to people with reduced mobility. The project team built an inclusive toilet from scratch and created a threshold-free entrance with ramps, ensuring access to every area.

As part of the Community reBuilding project, the team organised a community work day during which around 20 trees were planted around the centre. At the same time, the project concept was presented to the community and the vision for the future of the space was discussed. In addition, the Art Tech Hub hosted a chess tournament, a masterclass in bag design and sewing, a City Day celebration, and “The Women’s Time” event.

I highly recommend keeping an eye on how the Art Tech Hub in Slavuta develops. It is a wonderful example of how a community has chosen to unite around art, culture and technology. The team has recognised its potential and has skilfully chosen a scale appropriate for their town. Local leaders are inspiring and rallying like-minded people around them. This is a project about setting high standards and having the courage to achieve them.

Ulyana Dzhurlyak, architect and urban planner. Spatial mentor for the Slavuta hromada.