From October 26 to 28, the annual NEMO – Network of European Museum Organisations Conference took place in Horsens, Denmark, dedicated to the theme of care, well-being, and resilience in the museum environment. The event brought together 328 museum professionals from 37 countries to discuss how cultural institutions can support society in times of crisis.
The Museum of War represented Ukraine in the international community of museum professionals. As part of the session “How can museums support healing, safety, and resilience for audiences and staff?”, Yurii Horpynych, Deputy Director General of the Museum, and Maryna Bohush, exhibition designer, shared their experience of working with the trauma of war and spoke about the Museum’s role as a space of support for affected communities.
Their presentation, “From Memory to Recovery: The Role of the Museum of War in Supporting Communities Affected by War,” introduced the Museum as an institution that has undergone profound transformation amid russia’s full-scale invasion. Among the Museum’s key strategic shifts was the launch in 2024 of a cultural rehabilitation program for veterans, servicemembers, and their families. At its core is art therapy as a method of psychosocial recovery—an approach that integrates creativity into processes of reintegration and community resilience. An important milestone in the Museum’s transformation was the creation of a Cultural Rehabilitation and Accessibility Sector within its structure.
Alongside the Museum’s representatives, the session also featured Jolien Posthumus (Netherlands) – art therapy and mental health consultant, trauma-informed therapist. The session was moderated by Paulina Florjanowicz(Poland) – representative of the Polish National Institute for Museums and member of NEMO.
During the discussion, participants explored how museums can respond to personal, collective, and institutional trauma through mindful engagement, artistic practices, community care, and the creation of inclusive environments.
For the Museum of War, participation in the NEMO Conference became an important opportunity to build international dialogue with European colleagues and to open new directions for the Museum’s development as a center of cultural rehabilitation, dialogue, and resilience in Ukraine.
The Museum sincerely thanks Julia Pagel – Secretary General of NEMO – and the entire NEMO team, Karsten Merrald Sørensen – Director of Museum Horsens – and the museum’s staff, Petra Havu – Chair of the Finnish Museums Association, Sylvia Willkomm – Board Member of the German Museums Association, Peter Sørensen – Mayor of Horsens and Organisationen Danske Museer for their support, attention to Ukraine, and for organizing the event in cooperation with Region Midtjylland and Europæisk Kulturregion.
