Heritage Open Days 2026: A Week of Ukrainian Culture, Memory and Community in Milton Keynes
Ukraine Appeal proudly concluded an extraordinary week of events for Heritage Open Days 2026, bringing Ukrainian culture, craft, memory and community spirit to audiences across Milton Keynes. Over 100 participants joined Ukraine Appeal’s programme and experienced Ukrainian heritage first‑hand — through art, craft, food, storytelling, wellbeing and performance. Throughout the week, visitors took part in workshops, exhibitions, theatre and heritage activities that showcased the richness, resilience and beauty of Ukrainian traditions.
A Vibrant Combination: Art, Food and Community Energy
Not surprisingly, our programme highlighted two events that quickly became favourites: the Petrykivka painting workshop with artist Agneta Shashkova, and the Ukrainian varenyky cooking session with Iryna Kirianenko from Sweet Dreams online pastries shop — both overbooked and filled with creativity, warmth and the best emotions. Participants discovered the beauty of Petrykivka, a UNESCO‑recognised folk art rooted in nature, identity and resilience, and learned traditional cooking techniques and recipes passed down through generations.
Immersive Exhibitions: Home, Identity and Heritage
Throughout the week, visitors explored three powerful exhibitions that highlighted Ukrainian cultural memory and women’s creative labour:
Threads of Home, Memory and Heritage — An intimate installation recreating the feeling of stepping inside a traditional Ukrainian home. Handmade textiles, embroidered rushnyky (decorative and ritual cloth), family objects and atmospheric soundscapes invited visitors to experience the emotional presence of home and the invisible work of women who preserved heritage across generations.
Vyshyvanka: The Code of Identity — A textile exhibition created by Ukrainian women and children displaced by war. Each embroidered tapestry represented a region of Ukraine, telling stories of belonging, resilience and cultural memory through colour, symbolism and traditional patterns.
Art Is Advantage by Yuliya Kharchenko — A multidisciplinary exhibition encouraging visitors to reflect on everyday objects, personal values and the healing power of creativity. Yuliya’s work inspired others to explore their talents and rise from trauma through self‑expression.
“Gifted2Heal”, oil on canvas, 20cm x 50cm, 2026 Heritage Open Days / Exhibition “Art Is Advantage”
Artist: Yuliya Kharchenko Instagram: @yulika.way
Concept & Artist Statement:
“Breathe in pain with gratitude. You know how to heal yourself – it is within your body from birth.” – Yuliya Kharchenko
For me, it is a journey of emotional alchemy. Through the powerful motif of a broken, bleeding pomegranate balanced by the resilient glow of golden (yellow) colour and ribbons of grace, I remind us that fragmentation is often the first step toward true alignment. Featuring a dreaming figure in patient motion and a central symbol of indestructible hope, this piece is a visual sanctuary for anyone learning to accept the unchangeable, honour their scars, and patiently rise into their own unique power.
Hands‑On Heritage: Ukrainian Craft Traditions
Prypynda - a traditional-inspired Ukrainian macramé garment adornment.
Two craft workshops captured the hearts of participants:
Making Prypynda — A heritage macramé workshop with Dana Heorhichuk where visitors learned knotting techniques and created traditional‑inspired garment adornments, discovering the cultural role of textile craft in Ukrainian domestic life.
Stressed at Work? Blame the Clay! — A pottery taster session at KeKo Club offering a calming, mindful break from daily pressures. Participants explored clay as a grounding, creative medium and learned traditional ceramic techniques.
Both workshops were fully booked and created warm, welcoming spaces where people could slow down, work with their hands and reconnect with themselves and each other.
Wellbeing Through Creativity: Reconnect to You
A special session introduced participants to the wellbeing journal Reconnect to You, developed as part of the creative recovery programme Telling My Story. Guided by Ukrainian psychologist Iryna Maracine, visitors explored reflective writing, drawing and storytelling as tools for confidence, connection and hope. The workshop celebrated personal stories as part of shared heritage and offered a gentle space for emotional reconnection.
A Joyful Finale: “Let’s Just Do It…”
The week concluded with the comedy performance Let’s Just Do It…, created and performed by Ukraine Appeal volunteers. The play explored the chaos, humour and invisible labour of volunteering — the moments that hold communities together behind the scenes. Written and directed by Yaroslava Demutska, with the creative concept by Viktoriya Shtanko, the performance was a heartfelt tribute to the resilience, teamwork and emotional strength of volunteers.
Ukraine Appeal’s volunteers after performance “Let’s Just Do It…”
Ukrainian Traditions at Hærvest Festival
Ukraine Appeal also took part in Hærvest, a community celebration at Bradwell Windmill. We presented Ukrainian agricultural traditions, sharing stories of wheat, harvest rituals and seasonal customs with festival visitors.
A Week to Remember
Heritage Open Days 2026 became a celebration of everything that makes our community strong: creativity, memory, identity, resilience and togetherness. It was a week where people discovered new skills, shared stories, tasted familiar flavours and felt the warmth of Ukrainian culture.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us, supported us and helped create this unforgettable programme. New events are already being planned — and we look forward to welcoming you again.
Follow our events page to see what’s coming next.
