MYKOLA BABAK FOUNDATION

The Mykola Babak Foundation is launching a large-scale cultural and historical project “Hryhoriy Shevchenko. Digital Photo Archive of the Early 20th Century”. The initiative is being implemented with grant support from the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation (UCF) within the framework of the Cultural Heritage competition program (LOT 2. Cross-sectoral projects for the preservation of cultural heritage).

The project will run from June to October 2026 and aims to preserve, research and update the unique visual heritage of Hryhoriy Shevchenko, an outstanding Ukrainian photographer whose works are invaluable evidence of the era, life and faces of Ukraine at the beginning of the 20th century.

The project’s mission is to return authentic photographic evidence of Ukrainian identity to the broad scientific and public space using modern digital tools.

Preservation of cultural heritage during today’s challenges is a matter of national security and cultural diplomacy. Thanks to the implementation of the grant with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, fragile photographs from the early 20th century will receive a new, protected digital life. This will allow us to record the continuity of Ukrainian cultural traditions and open new horizons for researchers of our history.

Follow the updates and progress of the project on our website and official pages on social networks!

On the Google Arts & Culture platform, our foundation’s account is now available a new online exhibition dedicated to the figure of Hryhoriy Shevchenko, one of the most distinctive Ukrainian photographers of the early 20th century.
Hryhoriy Shevchenko left us a unique visual chronicle of the Ukrainian village: from bustling markets and windmills to authentic wedding ceremonies and archetypal images of rural beauties. His photographs are a rare combination of documentary accuracy and a deep artistic vision of an era that has irrevocably disappeared.
What you will learn at the exhibition:
• How the photographer managed to capture the everyday life of Kerelivka and its surroundings.
• Unique shots of “Shevchenkiana” and agricultural work.
• The tragic story of the master’s life, which was cut short during World War II.
This project was made possible thanks to the sincere support of our partners. The exhibition was prepared within the framework of a grant from the Canada-Ukraine Foundation and Aid for Artists. We sincerely thank you for the opportunity to preserve and promote Ukrainian cultural heritage at the global level!
We invite you to view the exhibition in Ukrainian and English.
Let’s tell the world about Ukrainian culture together!

The project “Naive is Free”, implemented by the Mykola Babak Charitable Foundation in partnership with the Ukrainian House, was shortlisted for the Bohdan Hawrylyshyn Family Foundation Responsibility Award in the “National Partnership Project” nomination!
This year, 165 projects from all over Ukraine were submitted to the competition. Each of them is an example of responsibility to the country in extremely difficult times. We sincerely congratulate the winners – initiatives aimed at supporting the Defense Forces of Ukraine. Today, this is our joint priority No. 1. Helping the front is the foundation on which our future rests.
The implementation of such a large-scale project as “Naive is Free” would be impossible without reliable partners. We express our deep gratitude to the team of the National Center “Ukrainian House” and personally its director Olga Vieru for the fruitful partnership, professionalism, and faith in the power of Ukrainian naivety. Your support has been key in making this project heard throughout the country.
Thank you to the Bohdan Hawrylyshyn Family Foundation for recognizing our work and for your continued support of Ukrainian civil society organizations!