Cossack heritage in historical memory and modern cultural space: artistic and creative project by students of group m24mm

On October 1, 2026, at the Department of Theory and Methodology of Teaching Artistic Disciplines of BSPU, a curatorial hour was held to mark the Day of Ukrainian Cossacks and the Day of Defenders of Ukraine. The event was dedicated to reflecting on the Cossack heritage in history, culture, and the contemporary life of Ukraine.

The concept of the project was based on the desire to trace not only the history of the Ukrainian Cossacks, but also the continuity of cultural memory—from the Cossack era through the experience of Ukrainian emigration to the modern experience of defending Ukraine. That is why three student projects became interconnected components of a single artistic and pedagogical narrative.

The first project, “History of the Cossacks Through the Lens of Music and Art,” prepared by Diana Komochkina, opened the historical and cultural dimension of the topic. The student explored the artistic images of the Cossacks and their reflection in Ukrainian music, songwriting, fine arts, and other forms of cultural representation. Particular attention was paid to how the image of a Cossack was formed in art as the personification of freedom, dignity, courage, love for the native land, and readiness to defend it.

In this project, art appeared not merely as an illustration of historical events, but as an important mechanism for preserving and emotionally comprehending historical memory, through which the past continues to be present in the cultural experience of future generations.

A logical continuation was the project by Olena Kaliberda, “Cossack Heritage in Ukrainian Emigration: From Preservation of Memory to Cultural Diplomacy.” The focus was on crucial questions: How was the memory of the Cossack past preserved when Ukrainians found themselves far beyond their Homeland? What role did historical memory, music, art, education, and civic organizations play in preserving Ukrainian identity? How is this heritage being transformed today, when Ukrainians abroad not only preserve their own culture, but also actively present it to the world?

Within the framework of the project, Ukrainian cultural and educational initiatives abroad, the activities of artistic ensembles, youth organizations, and communities, as well as modern forms of cultural diplomacy, volunteering, and charitable activities were reviewed.

The third project, “Between Campaign and Waiting: From Cossack to Modern Defender of Ukraine,” became a kind of climax of the entire artistic and educational composition. The authors of the project, Olena Kachur and Mykola Kachur, drew attention not only to the heroic image of a warrior, but primarily to the human dimension of defending the Homeland. Behind the historical images of the Cossack and the modern defender stands a human being—with their choices, responsibilities, feelings, family, and the expectation and hope of returning home.

That is why the title “Between Campaign and Waiting” acquires a special meaning. It allows us to view history not only through military events, but also through the fates of those who leave to protect the Motherland, and those who remain behind to wait.

The implementation of the project utilized multimedia presentations, artistic materials, musical examples, and spoken word performances, which contributed to creating a holistic, emotionally rich cultural and educational space.

A special artistic conclusion to each part of the project was marked by Ukrainian songs: “Oi U Luzi Chervona Kalyna” (Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow) performed by Mykola Zuiev (violin) and “Hei, Sokoly” (Hey, Falcons) performed by a vocal ensemble directed by Olena Kaliberda (Kaunas, Lithuania).

For the Master’s students of group m24MM, this project was not only a way to commemorate an important date for Ukrainians, but also a valuable experience in combining research, project-based, artistic, performance, and communicative activities. Its implementation demonstrated the wide possibilities of artistic and creative project design in the professional training of future music teachers.

The project by the students of group m24MM proved: historical memory becomes alive when it is not merely studied, but experienced, creatively comprehended, and passed on to future generations.

Group Curator T. B. Stratan-Artyshkkova