Shkola – “school” in Ukrainian – encompasses all the learning programs at The Ukrainian Museum. Learning here comes in a variety of forms, including arts and crafts workshops and courses, guided exhibition tours, programs designed for children and students, family workshops, and events. The Ukrainian Museum’s learning programs offer participants of all ages engaging ways to connect with Ukrainian culture and the excitement of discovery.
2023 – 2024 Programs
Courses & Workshops
Gerdany
This is a four-class course in the art of making gerdany, intricate bead-strung necklaces. Traditionally worn with folk costumes, today these necklaces are increasingly worn for adornment. Participants will explore techniques and characteristics of various regions of Ukraine and make their own gerdany. Open to participants 16+ years of age. Instructor: Olha Lesko
10.00 am – 12.30 pm
2024 dates TBA
Price $75
Members 10% discount
Embroidery
This eight-class course teaches beginners the rudiments of embroidery while expanding the skills of those proficient in the craft. Participants will explore the history and evolution of styles, techniques, colors, threads, and fabrics traditionally used in embroidery in various regions of Ukraine. Open to participants 16+ years of age. Instructor: Lubow Wolynetz
1.00 – 3.30 pm
2024 dates TBA
Price $130
Members 10% discount
NEW! Conversational Ukrainian for Beginners
Would you like to know how to introduce yourself in Ukrainian, talk about your hobbies or your job, ask for directions, order food, communicate with a friend or with family? Or just learn Ukrainian for fun? Learn important words and phrases in an interactive way, along with rudimentary grammar, and be on your way to speaking Ukrainian in just five weeks with this course, which meets once a week for 90 minutes. Open to participants 16+ years of age.
3.30 pm – 5.00 pm
2024 dates TBA
Price $190
Members 10% discount
NEW! Lialka-Motanka (Motanka Doll)
The lialka-motanka, or motanka doll, is a symbol of family bonds and a guardian of the family. A motanka is an amulet that serves as protection from harm. The word motanka comes from the Ukrainian verb motaty, which means “to wind,” because this traditional doll is made only by winding, wrapping, and tying various materials — it is never sewn or pierced with a needle. Learn more about these intriguing guardian-dolls and create one for someone special in time for the holidays! Open to participants 16+ years of age. Instructor: Larissa Raphael
2.00 pm – 4.00 pm
2024 dates TBA
Price $40
Members 10% discount
Ukrainian Traditional Christmas Baking
This is a workshop with hands-on participation in the baking of traditional Ukrainian Christmas breads. During the class, participants will learn about the customs, traditions, and rituals practiced during this joyous holiday. Open to participants 16+ years of age. Instructor: Lubow Wolynetz
10.00 am – 1.00 pm
Saturday 2 December
Price $30
Members 10% discount
Ukrainian Christmas Tree Ornaments
Use colored beads, gold- and silver-hued walnut shells, and other materials to make a magical-looking traditional Ukrainian Christmas tree “spider” ornament, and learn about the Ukrainian legend behind this tradition. A very special activity to get you into the holiday spirit. This workshop is open to adults and children 7+ years of age. Instructors: Verkhovynky Plast Kurin
11.00 am – 1.00 pm
Saturday 9 December
Pysanka (Ukrainian Easter Egg) Decorating
Adults and children 12+ years of age will have the opportunity to learn the art of making pysanky – Ukrainian Easter eggs. Dyes, beeswax, and a stylus are used to decorate the eggs with traditional Ukrainian designs. Open to participants 16+ years of age. Instructors: Lesia Lebed and Tania Snihur
11.00 am – 1.00 pm or
2.00 – 4.00 pm
Saturdays & Sundays TBA
Ukrainian Easter Traditions
During this workshop, participants will learn about Ukrainian Easter traditions as well as partake in the actual baking of traditional Easter breads. Open to participants 16+ years of age. Instructor: Lubow Wolynetz
10.00 am – 1.00 pm
Saturday TBA
Petrykivka Folk Art Painting
This Ukrainian art form originated from an ancient tradition indigenous to the heartland of central Ukraine. Characterized by brightly colored floral elements and ornately styled motifs taken from nature, Petrykivka painting was used to decorate interior and exterior adobe whitewashed walls, hearths, furniture, and wooden items. Learn the techniques used to transform ordinary images into a fancifully ornate and authentic-looking Petrykivka folk art painting. Open to participants 16+ years of age. Instructors: Khrystyna Posiko, Anna Zaiachkivska
2.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Saturday TBA
Baking Traditional Wedding Breads
This workshop offers hands-on training in baking and decorating a korovai (traditional Ukrainian wedding bread). Participants will also learn to adorn the colorful wedding tree hiltse. Open to participants 16+ years of age. Instructors: Bohdanna Slyz, Lubow Wolynetz, Larysa Zielyk
10.00 am – 1.00 pm
Saturday TBA
Registration and pre-payment are required for all courses and workshops.
2023 – 2024 Programs for SCHOOLS, Youth, & FAMILIES
Sunflowers of Support School Program
Sunflowers of Support is a program for schools that explores the current Ukrainian refugee crisis. Among the topics covered are the hardships encountered by refugee children fleeing Ukraine, the locations where many of them have ended up, and the help they are receiving. A key and meaningful part of this program has each student crafting a paper mosaic sunflower image – a symbol of Ukraine – and writing a personal message to the refugee children. The completed art projects line the walls of the Museum’s workshop studios, where Ukrainian refugee children and their families living in the NYC area are invited to view the sunflower mosaics made especially for them and read their messages of support while enjoying a craft workshop. For more information or to make a reservation, please contact the Education Department at 212 228 0110, ext. 305, or kalyna.boychuk@ukrainianmuseum.org.
SYMBOLS IN UKRAINIAN FOLK ART School Program
Traditional Ukrainian folk art is replete with symbols that have roots in ancient Ukrainian culture and rituals. This school program teaches students what these symbols represent, why they were important to ancient Ukrainians, and what functions they served beyond adornment. A brief tour of our folk art collection on display will be followed by an art activity in our workshop. For more information or to make a reservation, please contact the Education Department at 212 228 0110, ext. 305, or kalyna.boychuk@ukrainianmuseum.org.
Families at the Museum
Families with children ages 5-12 are invited to the Museum for art-making workshops. All family members attend free with adult/senior Museum admission which includes access to all of our galleries. Registration and prepayment are required. After registering, please provide number of family members attending to our Learning Curator at kalyna.boychuk@ukrainianmuseum.org.
Where the Wild Beasts Are
Join us for some family fun and discover the “wild beasts” that are at the Ukrainian Museum right now! We’ll listen to an excerpt from Maurice Sendak’s popular children’s book, Where the Wild Things Are, and explore the Museum’s galleries together to see paintings of some of the most fantastical and colorful wild things imaginable, created by artist Maria Prymachenko. You will learn about what these creatures meant to this artist and how she “tamed” their wildness. You’ll also paint an image of your own wild beast with inspiration from the works of Maria Prymachenko.
Dates:
Sunday 12 November – Register here
(registration ends 10 November at 3pm)
Time:
2.00 – 3.30 pm
K-12 Guided School Tours
Guided school tours are the best way to engage young Museum visitors and inspire interest in exploring art and different cultures. The Museum welcomes school groups for tours of current exhibitions Wednesdays–Fridays during regular Museum hours. Admission plus flat fee per 25 students for an hour-long tour is $75. To reserve a tour, please contact the Education Department at 212 228 0110, ext. 305, or kalyna.boychuk@ukrainianmuseum.org.
Please check back for updates on our Christmas 2023 workshops.
Programs and exhibitions are supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
