Start
December 2026
Duration
3 months
Cost
Free
Format
Offline + online
11 modules
2 participants from one institution
Who is this program for?
For teams of museums, nature and heritage reserves, cultural centers, memorial complexes, and other cultural institutions in Ukraine of all forms of ownership that want to develop their projects and improve partnerships with business and donors.
An idea for the institution's development
Have a project idea you want to implement. During the program you will refine it and prepare a budget and a proposal for partners.
A team of two participants
A director or manager, plus specialists who jointly handle management, finance, and marketing or communications
Readiness to work together
Support from leadership, the team's participation in the training, and willingness to apply the solutions you develop in your institution are all important
Partnerships that strengthen Ukrainian culture
The program will help your team find common goals with partners and attract resources to develop your cultural project. You will work on your own project, from the idea and partnership proposal to the budget and implementation plan, with support from instructors and mentors.
What your team will get after the program
1. An institutional development project
You will align the project with your institution's strategy and launch a pilot with defined results, deadlines, and responsible people
2. A partnership proposal and presentation
You will articulate the project's value for business and donors, identify potential partners and terms of cooperation, and practice negotiations and presenting the project
3. A budget and funding plan
You will calculate the budget for the pilot and the full project, plan cash flow and funding sources, and work through financial risks and legal conditions of implementation
4. A marketing plan and performance indicators
You will define audiences, communication channels, a calendar, and a promotion budget. You will also prepare indicators for evaluating project results and reporting to partners
What the program includes
5
offline modules
6
online sessions
2
project presentations: interim and final
6+ months
of mentoring meetings after the program
Instructors and experts
The learning process
(01)
MODULEStrategic institutional position and partnership frameworks
Define how the project supports your institution's mission. Formulate principles of cooperation and boundaries that help preserve autonomy and cultural values.
(02)
MODULEReputational compliance and safe partnerships
Learn to vet potential partners, recognize conflicts of interest, and assess risks.
(03)
MODULEDevelopment strategy and project portfolio management
Define your institution's development priorities and where your project fits among them. Choose a pilot, the first stage of implementation, where the concept can be tested.
(04)
MODULEPartnerships with business and practical fundraising
Understand the interests of business and donors. Prepare a partnership proposal, build a contact plan, and practice negotiations and responses to objections.
(05)
MODULECultural project and presenting its public value
Articulate what problem the project solves and what changes it will bring. Prepare a presentation and practice presenting the idea convincingly and answering difficult questions.
(06)
MODULEMarketing for cultural institutions
Research audience needs, clarify the value of your cultural product, and choose promotion channels. Create a marketing plan with a calendar, budget, and indicators.
(07)
MODULEFinancial logic and sustainability of cultural projects
Calculate the budget for the pilot and full project, plan income and expenses. Work through different funding sources and a funding-shortfall scenario.
(08)
MODULELegal and accounting aspects of partnerships
Review forms of support and requirements for agreements, accounting, and reporting, taking your institution's status into account. Identify the documents and approvals needed for the project.
(09)
MODULEImpact indicators and reporting to partners
Define the project's cultural, educational, and social results and how to measure them. Prepare a data collection and reporting plan for partners.
(10)
MODULETeam, leadership, and change management
Distribute roles and responsibility for implementing the project. Work on resistance to change, team workload, and continuity of work in crisis conditions.
(11)
MODULESustainability, international partnerships, and scaling
Look at international experience and opportunities for cooperation between institutions. Prepare a plan for developing the project and partnerships for the 6–12 months after the program.
Our partners
The program is implemented on the initiative of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, in partnership with KSE Business School, KSE Foundation, UNESCO, PUMB, MHP, Raiffeisen Bank Ukraine, and OTP Bank. The project is run by the Recovery Support Office under the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.
How to join
01.
Submit a team application
Tell us about your institution, your team, and your project idea. Explain what you want to develop through the program and attach the required documents.
02.
Application evaluation
A jury will assess the idea's public value, financial logic, the team's capacity and motivation, and the potential for partnerships.
03.
Confirm participation
If your team is selected, confirm your readiness to study and complete the necessary paperwork. Before the start you will receive a calendar and organizational instructions.
How the first cohort went
Teams from cultural institutions worked on their own projects, analyzed practical cases, and prepared for cooperation with business and donors.
Participant testimonials
Frequently asked questions
What materials are needed to apply?
See all the documents you need to prepare for a successful application at the link on the page.
Who can apply?
Management teams of cultural institutions from across Ukraine can apply: museums, reserves, cultural and arts complexes, memorial and other institutions of all forms of ownership that work with cultural heritage.
Can I participate individually, or must I apply as a team?
Participation is by team. At least two representatives of the same institution who are ready to complete the full training cycle together can apply.
How will the online and offline sessions work?
The program consists of 11 modules (6 offline and 4 online).
Offline modules take place in Kyiv on Saturdays and Sundays. Participants cover travel, accommodation, and all related costs themselves, including the trip to the final project presentation.
Online modules take place on Zoom on weekday evenings. You need a device and internet access. You will receive details on which modules take place in which format after the selection committee confirms your participation.How will the final project presentation work?
At the final presentation, your team will present the institutional development or partnership project it worked on during the program. You will explain its goal, its link to the institution's position, the format of cooperation with partners, financial terms, reputational constraints, and expected impact.
The presentation is a pitch, a short talk before experts and instructors. Afterward you will answer questions and receive feedback. This helps test the project's readiness for implementation and prepares you for negotiations with business and presentations to potential partners. The full regulations are available at the link on the page.What does mentoring support involve?
Each team will have consultations with mentors throughout the program. In these meetings you will work on your project: refining the idea, the approach to partnerships and funding, reviewing risks, and preparing materials for the final presentation.
Consultations take place between training modules. Their aim is to help prepare the project for implementation and presentation to partners. Mentoring support is also planned after the training ends.Do I need a ready idea or project to participate?
Yes, an idea for a project or a direction of institutional development is required to apply. It can still be at an early stage.
The selection will assess how the idea relates to the institution's strategy, how realistic it is, what cultural or social benefit it can bring, and how it can be developed during the training.How will teams be selected?
Selection is based on applications. The assessment covers the readiness of the institution and team to work on the project, motivation to learn, a responsible attitude to ethical issues, openness to partnerships, and the project's potential benefit.
What criteria will applications be assessed on?
Applications are assessed on 5 main criteria:
- Idea and social impact: how clearly the organization's goals are defined and what benefit its work brings to society.
- Financial viability: how well-founded the financial plans are and whether the organization can sustain its activities in the future.
- Team capacity: how roles are distributed and whether the team has the skills and resources to carry out its plans.
- Motivation and readiness to develop: how interested the team is in the program and how ready it is to learn and implement change.
- Partnership potential: whether the organization has the opportunities and ideas to establish and develop cooperation with partners.Can I apply without partnership experience?
Yes. You can apply even if your partnership experience is limited or you have none yet. Openness to cooperation and willingness to learn to build partnerships professionally, with possible risks in mind, are what matter.
Is it mandatory to complete the full training cycle?
Yes. The whole team must be ready to complete the full program cycle: online modules, offline sessions, consultations, and the final project presentation. If a team is not ready to take part in all these stages, it may be rejected during selection.
What are the conditions for successfully completing the program?
Under the program rules, all participants must attend at least 75% of the sessions and receive a final score of 60 points or higher for their project defense. The jury evaluates according to the regulations on a 100-point scale. A certificate of successful completion is awarded only if these criteria are met.
How much does the training cost?
The training is free thanks to the support of donor partners. The program is implemented on the initiative of the Recovery Support Office under the Ministry of Culture, in partnership with KSE Business School, UNESCO, PUMB, MHP, Raiffeisen Bank Ukraine, and OTP Bank.
Program manager
in project management
8+ years
Olha Chyzhykovska
Project Manager, KSE Business School