The reconstructed entrance of the National Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life of Ukraine has been re-opened

The main entrance to the National Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life of Ukraine has been reconstructed. The original was built in the 1970s and the renovated entrance was designed with the museum’s landscape features and the tourist demands of domestic and international visitors in mind.

“The museum’s central renovated entrance is a portal that transports visitors from the modern, technological, urban world to the Ukraine of the 17th and 20th centuries showcasing the country’s history, architecture, way of life, worldview and traditions. It provides a comfortable and informative experience for visitors, detailing high-quality comprehensive information about the museum, its history, activities and available services (excursions, master classes, educational lectures, holidays, etc.),” says Oksana Poviakel, Director of the National Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life of Ukraine (NMFALU).

The new central entrance is made of wood, metal and concrete. The color scheme combines graphite with natural wood so that it appears a natural part of the museum. The area near the entrance was also improved with an observation deck installed and the fence repaired. The reconstruction of the main entrance to the museum was the first stage of the large-scale state program Magnets of Ukraine. In 2020, the National Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life of Ukraine became one of the four participants in this program, being recognised as symbols of Ukraine alongside being places of cultural diplomacy and Ukrainian self-identification.

“The National Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life of Ukraine is a unique tradition and custom of the Ukrainian people exhibiting our history and cultural heritage. This is what Russia wants to destroy and why it is so important for us to not only preserve and restore everything that identifies us as Ukrainians, but also to showcase it to the world. After all, Ukraine plays an important part of the world’s cultural heritage,” said Oleksandr Tkachenko, Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.

As part of the Magnets of Ukraine initiative, MHP, an international agricultural and food technology company, and the «MHP-Gromadi» Charitable Foundation responded to the request of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine and offered their patronage to the museum to support the program. MHP and its charitable foundation are proud to take responsibility for the development and revival of the NMNAPU.

“It is important for us to support the cultural identity of Ukrainians and their desire to learn their own history. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, this idea has become more important for all of us, because it underlines our strength, unity, and motivation to work for victory. That is why we, as a responsible business, have financially supported this project,” emphasizes Yuriy Kosyuk, founder and chairman of the board of MHP.

The museum contains many historical and tourist attractions that attract not only Ukrainians but also tourists from across the globe. Improving the infrastructure, thus improving the visitor experience, will help attract a wider range of travelers and inform them about a truly independent Ukraine. That is why the partners decided to reconstruct the main entrance to the museum.  Work on its restoration began before the outbreak of full-scale war, with reconstruction continuing even in the face of massive rocket attacks or regular power outages.