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.
2024 Programs
Courses & Workshops
Ukrainian Christmas Baking & Traditions
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. Instructors: Lubow Wolynetz & Anna Kolomiyets
Saturday 14 December 10.00 am – 1.00 pm
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
Sunday 15 December 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm
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
Saturday, 16 November 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Gerdany
This is a six-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
Please register through Eventbrite.
Saturdays 10.00 am – 12.30 pm
28 September | 12, 19, 26 October | 2, 9 November
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
Please register through Eventbrite.
Saturdays 1.00 – 3.30 pm
28 September | 12, 19, 26 October | 2, 9, 23 November | 7 December
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, and 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. Be on your way to speaking Ukrainian in just six weeks with this course, which meets once a week for 90 minutes.
Open to participants 16+ years of age. Instructor: Andriy Zhyvachivskyi
Please register through Eventbrite.
Sundays 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm
29 September | 6, 13, 20, 27 October | 3 November
NEW! Advanced Conversational Ukrainian
Do you speak Ukrainian but find yourself searching for the right words and phrases, and making grammatical mistakes? Would you like to improve your skills and fluency? Be on your way to speaking like a native in just six weeks with this course, which meets once a week for 90 minutes.
Open to participants 16+ years of age. Instructor: Andriy Zhyvachivskyi
Please register through Eventbrite.
Sundays 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm
29 September | 6, 13, 20, 27 October | 3 November
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
2024 dates
Pysanka (Ukrainian Easter Egg) Decorating
During this workshop, participants will 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 13+ years of age. Instructors: Lesia Lebed and Tania Snihur
Saturday 9 March
11.00 am – 1.00 pm or 2.00 – 4.00 pm
Sunday 10 March 11.00 am – 1.00 pm
Saturday 16 March
11.00 am – 1.00 pm or 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Sunday 17 March
11.00 am – 1.00 pm or 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Ukrainian Traditional Easter Baking
During this workshop, participants will bake traditional Easter breads and learn about Ukrainian Easter traditions. Open to participants 16+ years of age. Instructor: Lubow Wolynetz
Saturday 23 March
10.00 am – 1.00 pm
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
2024 dates 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 11 May
Registration and pre-payment are required for all courses and workshops.
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 grades K-12, fee $7 per student, 70 minutes.
PYSANKA: UKRAINIAN EASTER EGGS School Program
Learn about the meaning and symbolism of the pysanka, a traditional component of spring and Easter festivities. Study the methods used to make these unique and joyful symbols of spring. Create your won pysanka using the ancient wax-resist method, and decorate it with magical patterns.
Tour and Workshop for grades K-12, fee $10 per student, 90 minutes.
For more information or to make a reservation for one of our school programs, 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. General admission to the Museum galleries is included in the ticket price.
Pysanka: Ukrainian Easter Eggs
Discover the meaning and symbolism of the pysanka, the Ukrainian Easter Egg. Learn the ancient wax-resist method to create these magical looking symbols of spring!
Price:
$7 General Admission (per family member)
$5 Member Admission (per family member)
Dates:
Sunday 3 March
Time:
2.30 – 4.00 pm
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.
Price:
$7 General Admission (per family member)
$5 Member Admission (per family member)
Dates:
Sunday 7 April
Time:
2.30 – 4.00 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. The fee for an hour-long tour is $5 per student. To reserve a tour, please contact the Education Department at 212 228 0110, ext. 305, or kalyna.boychuk@ukrainianmuseum.org.
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.
