The project “Arts Access for All: Cultural Compass Program” aimed to help displaced Ukrainian families, including children, integrate into Slovenian society through immersive cultural experiences tailored specifically for them. The main idea was to facilitate social inclusion by introducing Ukrainian refugees to Slovenia’s rich cultural scene through a series of guided tours in Ljubljana.

These tours were co-led by a Ukrainian refugee living in Slovenia and a local cultural expert. Each tour highlighted a different aspect of Slovenian culture, including museums, theaters, creative community hubs, and public spaces. Interactive activities and hands-on workshops were designed to encourage participation and creative expression. The objective was to foster social connections, cultural understanding, and mental well-being among Ukrainian families displaced by war.

 

The project addressed the challenge faced by displaced Ukrainians in integrating into a new cultural context, which could lead to isolation and poor mental health. By providing guided introductions to Ljubljana’s arts and culture scene, the project helped overcome barriers such as language, lack of awareness of local offerings, and financial limitations (many cultural events were free for refugees, but they were mostly unaware of this). Shared immersive cultural experiences helped refugees, both children and adults, feel connected to the community and more confident in their new environment.

Additionally, a brochure about culturally family-friendly hotspots was created in Ukrainian to enable independent exploration of cultural sites in Slovenia for Ukrainian refugees across the country. By directly engaging Ukrainian families with diverse aspects of Slovenian culture, the project aimed to ease integration processes and strengthen community ties.

You can access the borochure for a free download via THIS link.

Kulturnij Kompas web

The purpose of the project was to integrate displaced Ukrainian families and children into Slovenian society through strategic cultural immersion. By exposing Ukrainian refugees to various facets of Ljubljana’s cultural scene, the project aimed to help their transition into the local community.

Expected outcomes of this arts-driven integration initiative included:

  • Smoother integration of Ukrainian refugees into Slovenia’s social fabric by acquainting them with cultural spaces, institutions, events, and activities in the city. The tours showcased the range of cultural offerings in Ljubljana to help newly arrived families navigate and feel connected to the local arts and culture ecosystem.
  • Strengthened sense of community between Slovenian citizens and Ukrainian refugees through interactions around shared cultural experiences. The tours brought together refugees and local cultural experts, fostering dialogue and mutual understanding.
  • Improved mental health and well-being among displaced Ukrainian families by providing positive creative outlets for expression. Interactive workshops nurtured creativity and boosted morale.
  • Deeper understanding of Slovenian culture and heritage, overcoming integration barriers related to language, awareness, and accessibility. Tours provided focused introductions to core cultural venues and art forms.
  • Increased intergenerational exchange between Ukrainian parents and children as they learned about Slovenian culture together through the curated family-friendly tours. Activities suitable for different age groups facilitated joint engagement.
  • Sustained participation in Ljubljana’s arts and culture scene as Ukrainian families gained awareness, understood etiquette, and felt welcomed into these spaces through the guided tours. The experience built their confidence to continue engaging independently.
  • Ongoing strengthening of ties between the Ukrainian diaspora and the wider Slovenian community by laying the groundwork for lasting cultural exchange. The tours sparked connections that can mature into long-term integration.

By blending learning, creativity, and cultural insight, the project aimed to ease the transition for Ukrainian families trying to integrate into Slovenian society following displacement. Strategic arts-based support during this vulnerable period could make a significant difference in integration outcomes.

 

The project was implemented in collaboration between APIS Institute and Zavod Rokavička, an institute to promote Ukrainian culture.

This project is supported by “Culture Helps / Культура допомагає” – a project implemented by Insha Osvita (UA) and zusa (DE), and co-funded by the European Union under a dedicated call for proposals to support Ukrainian displaced people and the Ukrainian Cultural and Creative Sectors.