On 29 May 2026, Sumy State University hosted the international student discussion “Art, Music and Freedom: How Young People Express Democratic Values”, organized within the framework of the Erasmus+ ENLACED project.
The event brought together students and academic staff from Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Georgia, who engaged in an open intercultural dialogue on the role of art, music, and visual culture in promoting and shaping democratic values among young people.
The discussion was moderated by Olha Zhulavska, Associate Professor of the Department of Germanic Philology, and Svitlana Tarasenko, Associate Professor of the Department of International Economic Relations at Sumy State University.
During the meeting, participants explored how young people use music, street art, digital creativity, social media, and other cultural practices to express values such as freedom, human dignity, equality, solidarity, inclusion, and civic engagement. Students shared examples from their own countries, analyzed artistic works, and discussed issues related to freedom of expression, artistic responsibility, and the role of culture in a democratic society.
Particular attention was paid to comparing cultural approaches adopted in different countries to address socially significant issues through art. Participants were introduced to examples of murals, musical works, and socially engaged artistic initiatives from Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Georgia.
