Oksana
Syhareva

ArtHub “Samokat” is a Kharkiv platform for creative education, with classrooms, a lecture hall, a studio, a workshop, and a gallery corridor. Academy of Visual Arts Kharkiv is a project on alternative education in the field of arts. The Academy of Visual Arts Kharkiv was founded four years ago, and the Samokat ArtHub space has existed for only 1.5 years. The opening of the Samokat was supported in 2018 by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation. In there, classes are held by beginners with initiatives that can not yet afford their own places. We repaired the old Soviet building for six months. And haven’t even fully started to operate after that.” The team perceived the situation with the closure of the space as an opportunity rather than an obstacle. “We viewed this time as an opportunity to work on strategic objectives and find new ways for the Samokat. We did not go for online education. You can’t teach a film director or cameraman through a screen. It takes a lot of practice.” Further plans and opportunities to continue its existence depends on the state’s decisions. We will be very sorry to close the space. We are still awaiting a response from the landlord – the state – regarding the abolition or easing of rent. And if there are no privileges, then, apparently, we will have to leave it.