A working meeting dedicated to implementation of the project “Dreams of the Heroes of Ukraine: Art That Preserves the Future” took place at SumDU. The initiative aims to preserve the memory of Ukraine’s defenders through their dreams, life values, and personal stories, as embodied in works of visual art.

Discussion participants were Vasyl KARPUSHA (SumDU rector), Yurii HLADENKO (director of the Department of Culture, Tourism, and Religion of the Sumy Regional Military Administration), Oleh TULIAKOV (director of the SumDU Center for Veteran Development). There were artists from the Sumy Regional Branch of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine, representatives of the veteran community, families of Heroes of Ukraine, psychologists, and project partners. The event was moderated by Andriana KOSTENKO (vice rector of SumDU), who oversees the university’s humanities policy.

In his welcoming remarks, Vasyl KARPUSHA emphasized importance of the project, initiated by the Sumy Regional Military Administration, and stressed that the university’s participation in it is a vital component of social mission.

“It is a great honor for us to be part of this project. The university is not only a place of education but also a space for shaping values. It is young people who will shape Ukraine’s future, so it is extremely important that the philosophy of respect, gratitude, and remembrance for our Heroes becomes an integral part of their worldview. This project is unique because, through art, it offers an opportunity to share the dreams, aspirations, and the bright side of life of the people who have become Heroes of Ukraine. “For the university, this is not just an interesting initiative – it is our duty: to preserve the memory of fallen defenders, support veterans and their families, and educate young people through examples of true service to the nation,” the rector noted.

During the presentation of the project concept, Yurii HLADENKO emphasized that its main idea is to create works of art that reveal personalities of the Heroes of Ukraine through their dreams, aspirations, and values. He also recognized SumDU as a reliable partner in implementing socially significant initiatives and thanked the university’s staff for their consistent work in the field of national and patriotic education of young people.

Andriana KOSTENKO emphasized that the project will help strengthen mutual understanding between military personnel and civilians and help preserve a living memory of the Heroes of Ukraine for future generations.

“The project aims to portray the Heroes first and foremost as people who dreamed, loved, made plans, and believed in the future. We do not want to preserve their memory solely through sorrow. Through art, we want to tell the story of their dreams, lives, and values,” she noted.

According to Ihor VASYLEVSKYI (honored artist of Ukraine), creating these paintings will require artists to delve deeply into the history of each Hero and engage in sincere communication with their families.

“An artist must create an image of a person through their dreams, aspirations, and love of life. To do this, it’s important to meet with the family, hear their memories, and understand what the Hero lived for. Only then can a true painting be born,” the artist believes.

During the meeting, participants also discussed the format of collaboration with the families of Ukraine’s Heroes, the involvement of veterans, psychological support for the project, creative interaction among artists, and preparations for the upcoming exhibition. Each painting will tell a unique story, complemented by the memories of loved ones, photographs, and other materials that will help reveal the Hero’s personality more deeply.

The next project stage involves meetings between artists and families of Ukraine’s Heroes, veterans, and comrades-in-arms. These encounters will form the basis for the future artworks. The project will culminate in the exhibition “Dreams of Ukraine’s Heroes: Art That Preserves the Future,” scheduled to open in October 2026.