President Approves New Members for Ukraine’s National Taras Shevchenko Prize Committee
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has officially approved a revamped committee for the National Taras Shevchenko Prize, as outlined in decree No. 586/2026. A key change is the introduction of a brand-new category called 'Architectural Art.' This addition means architects and designers can now receive recognition specifically for their work, whereas previously they had to compete under the broader 'Visual Arts' or 'Design' categories.
Who’s on the New Committee
The newly formed committee brings together a diverse group of creative professionals. Its members include:
- Yevhen Nyshchuk – actor, serving as committee chair;
- Viacheslav Balbek – architect and designer;
- Ksenia Vasylenko (Sonya Koshkina) – journalist and TV host;
- Olha Viyeru – project manager;
- Andriy Donchyk – film and television director;
- Alla Zahaykevych – composer;
- Viktor Zotov – architect;
- Anatoliy Kryvolap – painter;
- Andriy Lyubka – poet, essayist, and translator;
- Yevgen Maloletka – photographer;
- Olesya Mudrak-Kovaliv (Lesya Mudrak) – writer and translator;
- Bohdana Pivnenko – violinist;
- Oleksandr Sanin – film director and actor;
- Rostyslav Semkiv – literary scholar;
- Serhiy Trymbach – film critic and scholar;
- Dmytro Chystiak – writer and literary scholar;
- Yevhen Shevchenko – art historian;
- Hanna Sherman – theater scholar;
- Lyubov Yakymchuk – writer and screenwriter.
This update to the committee and the addition of the new category reflect a broader effort to advance and spotlight Ukrainian culture, especially in architecture. The changes open up fresh opportunities for recognizing achievements in architectural art, a field that previously lacked its own dedicated award category.
Launching the 'Architectural Art' category within the National Taras Shevchenko Prize underscores the significance of architecture as a vital part of the country’s cultural heritage.
This decision could drive growth in architectural education and professional practice across Ukraine, while also drawing attention to modern architectural accomplishments. With a refreshed committee and an expanded set of categories, the prize is set to become more inclusive and better reflect the full range of creative disciplines in Ukrainian art.