Music Beyond the Stage: When Artists Take On New Roles

Music does not disappear in times of war — its purpose expands. In this live interview, an international journalist speaks with Ukrainian artists and cultural professionals whose roles have fundamentally changed: from journalist to combat soldier, from musician to member of Cultural Forces, from artist to music therapist supporting survivors of war trauma.

Together, they explore how culture becomes a tool for resilience, communication and international advocacy when society is under attack. What motivates someone to exchange a familiar career for military service? Can culture remain neutral in wartime? And what responsibility does the international cultural community have — not only to support Ukrainian artists, but to defend the values that make cultural exchange possible?

This session is presented by Music Export Ukraine and the Ukrainian Institute. Participation in the programme is made possible thanks to the support of the Ukrainisches Institut in Deutschland, as part of the NUMO mobility scheme.