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INTERVIEW O. KUZMOWYCZ The Ukrainian Museum — “A viable and enduring institution” Dr. Bohdan Cymbalisty, president of the Board of Trustees of The U krain ian Museum, spoke to Olha Kuzm o- wych concerning the Ukrainian M u seum. Following is a translation and excerpts of the interview. Question: What motivated you to work so fervently on behalf of the Museum and to continue in your leadership role for such a long time? Answer: Nations, particularly sover eign ones, try to preserve the work of their artists, as well as momentos of their history and culture. They protect these national treasures by making it unlawful to sell such items or to ship them out of the country without some control. Due to our present circumstances, the Ukrain ian cultural heritage is, to a large degree, being lost. Our enemies — our neighbors, are destroying our culture or are claiming it as their own. In the United States, we enjoy free dom and have the means to preserve the works of our artists, which were brought from our homeland, or those created in the diaspora. This, along with the preservation of examples of our rich cultural heritage and his tory, should be our primary task. The Soviet government isolates Ukraine from the world in an attempt to make it merely a province of the Soviet empire. It is our duty to give Ukrainian culture international ex posure. This then was what inspired me initially to work for The Ukrainian Museum. Besides, I have always considered working to achieve long- range goals more rewarding and worthwhile than other endeavors. The Museum promises to be a viable and enduring institution. Q: What were the best and most memorable moments of your work? A: The most gratifying, I’d say was the very success of the Museum: the expansion of its membership, growth of the collections, escalating support not only from the Ukrainian com munity, but also that of American agencies and foundations. It is hear tening to read the positive and fre quently enthusiastic comments from non Ukrainian guests or from the press after visiting the Museum. I am very happy that we were able to get many young individuals to work at the Museum. Most recently, I was very pleased by the formation of the Ukrainian Museum Develop ment Committee, whose membership includes people of various ages and political affiliations. I personally sent out appeals to Ukrainians from di verse backgrounds, so that on this project we all could work together. Q: What kind of future do you see for the Museum in its proposed new site? A: Even in our present locale the American media — press, radio and television — have taken note of our activities. A visit to the Museum is recommended by numerous quide- books to New York City. If we had a larger facility designed by a renown ed architect, housing our folk art collections and the works of famous Ukrainian artists, our Museum could claim a permanent place on the cul tural map of this city. Through the efforts of our staff and their abilities to write and pres ent the programs of the Ukrainian Museum we have received small grants every year from federal, state and city governments and sometimes private foundations. When the UM is larger it will invariably receive more substantial subsidies. Q: Do you think that the Ukrainian community will support the great fundraising plan for the new mu seum, and will it continue to be the concern of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America? A: The founders of the Museum — the UNWLA, has always stressed the extensive nature and purpose of this institution, which has allowed many people outside the organization to cooperate in the work of the Mu seum. Most of the donors and mem bers of The Ukrainian Museum are not members of the UNWLA. This fact does not diminish the accomp lishment of this organization whose National Board and membership continue to support the institution (77 UNWLA Branches are members, 36 are founding members). Branches sponsor various functions to benefit the Museum, while individual UNWLA members support the Museum with their donations. UNWLA’s continued patronage of the Museum is sub stantial and without it we could not grow. Q: In your opinion, which exhibition staged by the Museum enjoyed the greatest success. A: On the basis of its historical and documentary value I consider the “Lost Architecture of Kiev” exhibi tion to be the greatest success. The catalogue which accompanied the exhibition was favorably reviewed by American and English journals. We even know of one university that uses this catalogue as a source book in a course of study. For the American public the “Ukra inian Folk Art” exhibit enjoyed the greatest popularity, first in the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton and then in Monmouth Museum in Lin- croft, NJ. The American press gave these exhibitions great coverage. Q: With your recent move even fur ther form New York City, how will you continue to be .active in the operations and guidance of the Museum? A: In the last 2 years, I have asked the members of the Museum board to choose another individual as pres ident of the Board of Trustees. I believe that changes in the leader ship of an organization are for the ’’НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ", ЖОВТЕНЬ 1986 29
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