The Ministry of Culture has changed the criteria for funding in the cultural sector: online and corporate projects will not be eligible
This is set out in Order No. 711 of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine dated 30 June 2026, registered with the Ministry of Justice on 1 July 2026.
The Ministry of Culture has published a revised version of the criteria for organisations that are of significant importance to the national economy in the cultural and information sectors.
This refers to organisations that are eligible to apply for this status. This status is one of the elements of the procedure for the subsequent retention of staff during mobilisation and martial law.
The key change for cultural organisations is that the criteria now clearly set out quantitative requirements for projects. An organisation must not merely operate in the cultural sector, but must demonstrate actual activities in Ukraine or abroad.
Which projects will be eligible
Under the new criteria, organisations in the cultural sector must have implemented at least two nationwide cultural and artistic projects, or projects abroad, within the 12 months prior to submitting their application. ‘Nationwide’ means covering at least 10 regions of Ukraine.
Such projects must be aimed at promoting Ukraine’s national cultural and creative output.
In addition, the organisation must have carried out at least three cultural and artistic projects for serving military personnel and war veterans.
Who is excluded by the new rules
The document explicitly states that cultural and artistic projects held exclusively online do not meet these criteria.
Nor will private, commercial or corporate entertainment events be counted if they are held without free admission or solely through ticket sales.
In other words, a corporate party, a closed commercial event or an online event will not, in themselves, help an organisation to demonstrate its importance to the sector.
What other requirements apply to cultural organisations?
The organisation must be registered in Ukraine and have been operating for at least three years. Its main activity must fall within the list of creative industries approved by the government.
Separate criteria apply to national cultural institutions, organisations under the Ministry of Culture and the State Film Agency, museums, libraries, press archives, cinemas, film producers, distributors, publishers and other participants in the cultural sector.
What will change for cinemas and film screenings
A specific requirement has been laid down for organisations in the film sector: during the preceding calendar year, they must have held at least 500 film screenings in at least 10 regions of Ukraine.
At the same time, at least 20 per cent of these screenings must be non-commercial — for military personnel, war veterans, internally displaced persons and other categories.
Specific rules for film producers
Separate conditions have also been set for companies operating under KVED codes in the production, editing, distribution and screening of films.
They must be entered in the State Register of Film Producers, Distributors and Exhibitors, have been operating for at least three years and meet one of the requirements. For example, they must have produced at least one national feature-length film or four national short films.
Another option is to ensure the distribution of at least six national feature-length films in Ukraine or abroad. Foreign cultural and artistic events featuring screenings of Ukrainian films with an English audio track or subtitles in the language of the host country also count towards this requirement.
What about publishers?
Publishing houses have also been assigned specific criteria. Over the past 12 months, they must have carried out at least two projects involving the production of books, excluding textbooks.
Such projects must relate to national creative output, its representation, promotion or distribution. Geographical coverage is also important: at least 8 regions of Ukraine or 2 foreign countries.
Furthermore, the publishing house must have been registered in Ukraine no later than 1 January 2022, have the primary KVED code 58.11 ‘Book publishing’ and be listed in the State Register of Publishers, Manufacturers and Distributors of Publishing Products.
Why this is important
The new criteria effectively narrow the range of organisations that can demonstrate their significance to the cultural sector. The Ministry of Culture emphasises not formal status or one-off events, but proven activity, the scale of projects, work for the military and veterans, and the promotion of Ukrainian cultural products.
At the same time, it is important to note that obtaining the status of a ‘significant organisation’ does not automatically mean that all employees will be exempt from military service. This is merely one step in a procedure governed by the rules for exempting those liable for military service during periods of mobilisation and martial law.
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