Talents for Ukraine by the KSE Foundation recognizes people who, through their professional work, preserve, develop, and promote cultural heritage. This week we introduce a historical reenactor and specialist in traditional boatbuilding, a cultural practitioner and curator of international museum projects, as well as a choreographer and researcher of inclusive dance.
Oleh Petrenko is a historical reenactor and specialist in traditional boatbuilding from Rivne, co-founder of the historical reconstruction park «Ostvytsia». He reconstructs boats, structures, and daily life of the early Middle Ages and studies clinker boatbuilding techniques from the 9th–12th centuries. Oleh led the reconstruction of a Varangian drakkar and the Slavic boat Lada. He also organizes educational events and promotes experimental archaeology, bridging science, craftsmanship, and Ukraine’s cultural heritage.
“Intellect is the sharpest tool for achieving results,” Oleh emphasizes.
Olha Apenko is a cultural practitioner and curator who, during the full-scale war, served as the coordinator of a project for the exhibition, preservation, and scholarly study of 6th–7th century Sinai icons from the collection of the Khanenko Museum at the Louvre (Paris). She was part of the team that built international cooperation, ensured complex logistics, legal support, and scholarly preparation for the project, through which unique monuments of early Christianity received protection and global visibility. She also initiated the exchange of professional publications and strengthened the presence of Ukrainian art in European research libraries.
“Studying the art of the Old Masters, with all its mysteries, is not only a profession but also a source of meaning, joy, and deep personal grounding,” Olha notes.
Mariia Bakalo is a choreographer and researcher of contemporary dance and inclusive practices. She develops dance as an accessible practice for people with diverse bodies and experiences, directing performances with people with disabilities and collaborating with leading theaters in Europe and the USA. She leads inclusive dance projects, runs educational programs, and investigates the connections between embodiment, social practices, and performative art. Her work combines research, creativity, and cultural heritage, creating new ways of engaging with the body and society.
“It is important to me to consciously put effort into changing the world,” Mariia comments.
More about the Talents For Ukraine winners
