The director of Mykolaiv Zoo about funding for cultural institutions

There are no funds in Mykolaiv’s budget to pay the salaries of cultural institutions from September onwards. Illustrative photo: NikVesti

Volodymyr Topchyi, director of Mykolaiv Zoo, has stated that the Mykolaiv budget currently lacks funds to pay the salaries of staff at cultural institutions from 1 September. He emphasised that the issue of funding needs to be resolved immediately.

This was reported by NikVesti following a meeting of the Mykolaiv City Council’s standing committee on economic and investment policy on Thursday, 9 July.

«What are we going to do about cultural institutions from 1 September? There’s absolutely nothing allocated for salaries. Are we going to do something about this now, or will it be left until later? Because from 1 September, there’s no money for salaries. I spoke to the Department of Culture yesterday, but they don’t know what to do either. We need to start thinking now about what we’re going to do with cultural institutions. There’s absolutely no money for salaries there,» said Volodymyr Topchyi.

Screenshot from the broadcast

In response, Fedir Panchenko, chair of the Planning and Budget Committee of Mykolaiv City Council, asked whether the zoo director was proposing to invite Yurii Liubarov, head of the Department of Culture and Cultural Heritage Protection, to the discussion.

«Are you suggesting that we invite Yurii Liubarov, the head of the Department of Culture, to discuss this issue now, or what?» asked Fedir Panchenko.

«No. I am suggesting that this issue should not be forgotten or left unaddressed,» replied Volodymyr Topchyi.

«I see. Are you addressing this to anyone here? Then the Finance Department. Okay,» remarked Fedir Panchenko.

«We need to start thinking right now about where to get the money from. I don’t know, but cultural institutions are being left without funding,» concluded Volodymyr Topchyi.

It should be noted that tuition fees at art schools in Mykolaiv will increase from 1 September. They will depend on the course of study. Concessions have been provided for children of military personnel.

It should be recalled that in February 2025, Larysa Stoliarova, the headteacher of Mykolaiv Children’s Music School №5, stated that the school was cutting teaching hours as well as teachers’ allowances.

For his part, Yurii Liubarov, Head of Culture at Mykolaiv City Council, explained in a comment to NikVesti that, due to the city’s budget shortfall, the work plans of all cultural institutions — including libraries, palaces of culture, cultural centres and art schools — are being adjusted.