Participant Profile

Ilya Zabolotnyi

Ukraine
Kyiv

Ilya Zabolotnyi is a cultural programmer, art historian, curator, and expert in cultural diplomacy. He has worked for various organizations including PinchukArtCentre, Mystetskyi Arsenal and the British Council Arts team in Ukraine, with a core specialization in visual arts. Ilya’s curatorial approach is holistic, interdisciplinary, and cross-sectional. His main projects include the first Kyiv International Biennale of Contemporary Art ARSENALE (2012), the Ukrainian Pavilion at Venice Biennale Arte (2013), the Grayson Perry exhibition in Izolyatsia, Kyiv (2017), the SWAP:UK/Ukraine residency program for artists and curators (2016-2020), and the UK/Ukraine Season of Culture (2022).

Since the full scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Ilya’s main focus shifted to his work as the co-founder and CEO of the Ukrainian Emergency Art Fund. The Fund provides emergency stipends and financial aid to Ukrainian cultural workers and artists who have been impacted by the war, ensuring long-term sustainability and development of the Ukrainian cultural sector during/after the war via network of specialĀ  curated programs and partnerships.

MOCA NGO website and Facebook
Ukrainian Emergency Art Fund website and Instagram
Ilya Zabolotnyi Facebook and Instagram