Skip to content
Call Us Today! 212-533-4646 | MON-FRI 12PM - 4PM (EST)
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE
Search for:
About Us
UNWLA 100
Publications
FAQ
Annual Report 2023
Annual Report 2022
Annual Report 2021
Initiatives
Advocate
Educate
Cultivate
Care
News
Newsletters
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Join UNWLA
Become a Member
Volunteer With Us
Donate to UNWLA
Members Portal
Calendar
Shop to Support Ukraine
Search for:
Print
Print Page
Download
Download Page
Download Right Page
Open
1
2-3
4-5
6-7
8-9
10-11
12-13
14-15
16-17
18-19
20-21
22-23
24-25
26-27
28-29
30-31
32-33
34-35
36-37
38-39
40
16 OUR LIFE • March-April 2025 of the Museum’s Board of Trustees from 1979 to 1990, realized this and posed the question, “Are we, as a community, capable of building a muse- um at the highest professional level in accordance with all the requirements of a modern museum?” He and the Board believed that it was possible, and under his leadership, a nation-wide campaign was launched to raise funds to relocate the Museum to a modern facility with all the necessary museum re- quirements. A Fundraising Committee was formed, with additional branches established in sever - al cities, supported by branches of the UNWLA. Museum Membership and Special Events Commit - tees were also established to help raise funds. All the committees were run on a voluntary basis. The Ukrainian community responded generously and enthusiastically. In 1985 a meatpacking warehouse on 6th Street in the East Village (an area of Manhattan where many Ukrainians had settled) was purchased for $1.25 million. The building was across the street from the St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church’s school, which included classes from kindergarten to high school. A mortgage was taken in the amount of $850,000. Already by 1991, on the day people in Ukraine voted for a free, independent Ukraine, The Ukrainian Museum celebrated making the fi- nal mortgage payment with a traditional “mort - gage-burning” event. By 1996, over $2 million was raised, and the process of developing plans for the new building began. Initial plans called for renovat - ing the warehouse building, but the state of the foundation dictated that it was wiser to demolish the old structure and build a new one on the site. A Building Committee was formed, a program of building requirements was developed, outlining the specific areas and spaces that the museum would need, and, after a search, George Sawicki of the firm Greenfield Sawicki Tarella Architects was chosen as architect. In 2000 the Museum received an enormously generous gift from Eugene and Daymel Shklar in the amount of $3.5 million, plus a $1 million match- ing gift to help the Museum raise an additional mil - lion dollars. The $1 million was designated as an Endowment Fund. Their generosity enabled the Museum to begin construction of its new building. A $500,000 donation from the Self Reliance New York Federal Credit Union, along with donations from credit unions in other Ukrainian communities as well as generous gifts from numerous individu - als, enabled the Museum to meet Eugene and Day - mel Shklar’s $1 million matching gift. Immense effort had gone into the new building project, which was completed under the tenure and leadership of Board president Olha Hnateyko, who had guided the Museum with great dedica- tion for 10 years, as had Dr. Cymbalisty before her. Both had contributed immensely to its success, as had the Board presidents — Titus Hewryk, Osyp Danko, and Ivan Luchechko — and all the Board members who had served during that period, in - cluding members of the various Board committees, and the staff and numerous volunteers who had worked tirelessly to achieve the goal of building a beautiful home for the presentation of Ukraine’s rich cultural heritage. Construction of the new Mu- seum building was completed at a cost of over $9 million, paid for completely, free and clear, through the generous donations of the Ukrainian communi - ty. The success of the project spurred on the Muse- um’s further growth, resulting from the hard work of the dedicated staff and curators, and the lead- ership of the Board presidents that followed: Prof. Maria Shust is Director Emerita of The Ukrainian Museum. She was the Museum’s director for almost 46 years, from 1976 until 2022. Maria was born in Germany to Ukrainian parents who had fled Ukraine during World War II, when russia invaded western Ukraine. They immigrated to the U.S. in 1956. She re - ceived her Masters degree in Art Education from Southern Connecticut State College in New Haven and taught art for three years in high school, then went on to receive a Masters in Fine Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. After completing her studies, she took the position of director of The Ukrainian Museum when the Museum opened in 1976. As an artist, she creates works in ceramics, sculpture, and graphics. Maria designed many of the Museum’s publications and exhibitions.
Page load link
Go to Top
1 
2-3 
4-5 
6-7 
8-9 
10-11 
12-13 
14-15 
16-17 
18-19 
20-21 
22-23 
24-25 
26-27 
28-29 
30-31 
32-33 
34-35 
36-37 
38-39 
40 
