On October 15-16, the Odesa Regional Center for Ukrainian Culture hosted creative workshops aimed at preserving and promoting the traditional crafts of our region.

The event's goal was to raise awareness of the intangible cultural heritage of Odesa, showcasing that folk culture is not just a relic of the past, but a vibrant part of the present.

Participants had the opportunity to engage hands-on with authentic crafts:

• Pottery — creating clay jugs on a potter's wheel;
• Clay modeling — crafting traditional whistles;
• Steppe Southern painting — decorating fabric with acrylic paints.

The workshops were led by experienced artisans — carriers of intangible cultural heritage, laureates of the regional award named after Rostyslav Paletsky. Their passion for their craft united hundreds of visitors — from schoolchildren to students and teachers.

Even the planned two hours of creativity stretched into three, as clay, paints, and inspiration kept everyone engaged.

The event was organized with the support of the Odesa Regional Development Agency in collaboration with the Swiss-Ukrainian project “Cohesion and Regional Development of Ukraine” (UCORD), which is implemented with the backing of Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) by NIRAS Sweden AB.

Traditions are our link between generations and an inspiration to create the present while preserving Ukrainian roots.