The delegation of Kherson region took part in the forum “Territory of Memory” in Donetsk

Donetsk hosted an interregional forum “Territory of Memory: Forum of Cultural Heritage of Donbass and Novorossiya”, which brought together 150 representatives of federal and regional authorities, specialists in the field of culture, architecture, restoration, historians and public figures from different regions of Russia. The main topic of the forum was the preservation of the historical and cultural heritage of Donbass and Novorossiya.

“The mission of culture is to be a living connection of generations, a spiritual support of the people, a testimony to its development and an integral part of national identity. Donbass and Novorossiya have a unique cultural infrastructure and a rich heritage, said Sergey Obryvalin, First Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation.

The delegation of the Kherson region took part in the forum. At 19 panel discussions and plenary sessions, the participants discussed the main task for the region – how to carry out life-saving restoration in combat conditions, how to assess the damage to monuments and where to get resources for their restoration.

For the delegation of the Kherson region, participation in the Territory of Memory forum is a matter of practical necessity and professional responsibility. The experience of colleagues from other regions who have already passed this path is invaluable, and we hope to adopt the best practices. The significance of cultural heritage sites cannot be measured by restoration estimates alone. This is the foundation of our national identity, evidence of the historical fate of Novorossiya, said Artem Lagoysky, Minister of Culture of the Kherson region.

As a result of the forum, a resolution was adopted and the creation of an interactive map of lost cultural heritage sites was launched – this will allow to keep an accurate accounting of losses and plan the future return of historical masterpieces. Particular attention was paid to the federal project “White Book”, which is being created in pursuance of the order of the President of the Russian Federation to fix the destruction of cultural heritage objects.

The forum allowed to combine the practical experience of the regions of the country, identify existing problems, outline specific plans for the restoration of destroyed cultural heritage sites and recall the importance of preserving historical buildings, archaeological monuments and documents.