Kherson State University

Second-year master’s students of Kherson State University, majoring in Cultural Studies — Serhii Hutsalo, Olha Kurachova, and Olena Movchan — took part in the 1st International Student Scientific and Practical Conference “Art Education: Theory, Methods, Practice”, held on October 30–31, 2025, in Berdiansk–Zaporizhzhia.

Under the guidance of Honored Worker of Culture of Ukraine, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, and Professor of the Department of Culture and Arts of the Faculty of Ukrainian and Foreign Philology, Journalism, and Arts — Lidiia Lymarenko, the master’s students presented their research creatively and professionally.

The discussion panels of the conference brought together renowned scholars, experienced practitioners, and talented students from various regions of Ukraine, Poland, Canada, and China.

🕊️ The results of the event demonstrated that knowledge, scientific insights, and practical achievements in the field of art education during wartime play a crucial role in addressing social and humanitarian challenges — contributing to resistance, victory, de-occupation, and the rebuilding of Ukraine.

We wish our students continued success in their professional and academic endeavors, inspiration, and a bright future under the peaceful sky of Ukraine! 💙💛

On October 10, in Kyiv, the International Art Competition “Ukrainian Dyvotsvit” took place, bringing together bright performers and creative talents from all over Ukraine. 🇺🇦✨ Students of Kherson State University, majoring in 025 “Musical Art”, demonstrated exceptional skill and artistry, winning four FIRST places! 🏆🎤🎻 We sincerely congratulate our talented students and their mentors on this brilliant achievement! 💛 Wishing you continued creative inspiration, new accomplishments, and unforgettable performances! 🌺

On September 24, 2025, the International Art Competition “Golden Stars” took place, bringing together talented participants from around the world.

✨ Students of Kherson State University proudly represented our university and achieved outstanding results:
🏆 Valeriia Prysiazhniuk — Grand Prix Winner
🥇 Alevtyna Prysiazhniuk — 1st Place

We sincerely congratulate our talented students on their brilliant success! 💛
Wishing you continued creative inspiration, bright achievements, and new victories ahead! 🌺

On October 15, 2025, the First International Round Table “Tanzplan Ukraine” took place online (via Zoom / UA–EN with consecutive interpretation). The event was organized by the Charitable Foundation “Impulse Transformation Platform” with the support of Bureau Ritter (Germany). 🎯 The goal of the event was to unite representatives of key higher education institutions in the field of choreography in Ukraine to jointly discuss the development of dance art, identify current challenges, available resources, and opportunities for collaboration. Participants received expert support from the initiators and driving force of Tanzplan Deutschland – Bureau Ritter, who shared their experience in building a sustainable system of dance support in Germany. Special attention was given to the specifics of the Ukrainian dance sector, its potential, and its sensitive aspects. During the meeting, participants: 🔹 learned about international experiences with similar initiatives; 🔹 discussed the main challenges facing the Ukrainian dance community; 🔹 identified key directions and next steps for developing dance as an art form in Ukraine and for promoting dance culture nationally and internationally. The plenary session was moderated by: 🗣️ Dr. Viktor Ruban (Ukraine), 🗣️ Madeline Ritter and Isa Kohler (Germany). Kherson State University was represented at the event by Head of the Department of Culture and Arts, Associate Professor Nataliia Tereshenko.

Students of the 024 “Choreography” program at Kherson State University, together with the Head of the Department of Culture and Arts, Nataliia Tereshchenko, are taking part in the Internal Academic Mobility Program “Choreographer’s Mastery.” 📅 From October 13 to 17, the in-person study week of this educational program is taking place at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. This is a wonderful opportunity for participants to exchange experiences, broaden their professional horizons, improve their skills, and draw inspiration from the artistic atmosphere of Lviv! 🌟

On October 6, as part of the Open Academic Mobility Educational Program “Choreographer’s Mastery”, an open lecture was held by an associate professor of the Department of Culture and Arts of Kherson State University.

During the meeting, the lecturer introduced the participants to the history of Kherson State University, as well as the origins and development of choreographic art at the university.

📚 The participants had the opportunity to learn about the formation of choreographic education, its traditions, and its role in shaping the modern artistic environment.

First-year students of the “Fine Arts and Restoration” program took part in the International Multigenre Online Festival “CREATIVE FANTASIES OF AUTUMN”, held online on September 30 – October 1, 2025. 👏 We sincerely congratulate our talented students on this wonderful creative beginning! Wishing you endless inspiration, new ideas, bright projects, and future victories in the world of art! 💫

📌 At the seminar “CONTEMPORARY VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL PRACTICES” (in the format of a forum-training), professionals shared their expertise, experience, practical advice, and recommendations:

🎤 Oleksii Ponomariov – Honored Art Worker of Ukraine, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Culture and Arts of Kherson State University, Music Director of the Mykola Kulish Kherson Regional Academic Music and Drama Theater.

🎧 Serhii Hutsalo – Sound Engineer at the Mykola Kulish Kherson Regional Academic Music and Drama Theater, student of the “Cultural Studies” program at Kherson State University.

The event was organized by the Department of Culture of Kherson City Council and became a valuable platform for exchanging knowledge and exploring modern trends in vocal and instrumental art.

✨ Many thanks to our colleagues for their professionalism, inspiration, and willingness to share their experience!

Students of the Choreography program at Kherson State University have once again proven their talent and mastery!

At the IV INTERNATIONAL ART COMPETITION “VIRTUOS” they achieved:
🥇 4 — First Places
🥈 2 — Second Places

👏 Congratulations to our students and their mentors on these outstanding results! You are the pride of the Department of Culture and Arts and a shining example of creative inspiration, hard work, and love for choreography.

💙 Together, we create victories!

🎓 The admission campaign is in full swing, but we’re still celebrating the creative achievements of the academic year!

On July 16, 2025, students of the Choreography program (Specialty 024) at Kherson State University took part in the International Art Competition "In the Spotlight".

They presented 11 choreographic pieces in various categories — and the results are impressive:
🏆 4 Grand Prix awards
🥇 7 First Place awards

Congratulations to our talented students and dedicated instructors!
We are proud of every performance, every victory, and every step on stage! 💃🕺

Congratulations to Acting Head of the Department of Cultural Studies, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor Lidiia Lymarenko on successfully completing the online express course “Fundamentals of Testology and Test Item Development”! ✅

From April to May 2025, she completed a professional development program for teaching and research staff focused on the design and expert review of tasks for the Unified Professional Entrance Exam.

🧠 The acquired knowledge covers:
▪️ the structure and formats of test items
▪️ requirements for multiple-choice tests
▪️ Bloom’s taxonomy of educational objectives
▪️ principles of test validity and review procedures
▪️ practical skills in creating and evaluating test materials

🎯 1 ECTS credit / 30 hours of intensive training — a significant step toward enhancing professional excellence!

We are proud and inspired! 💙

🎓 Department of Fine Arts and Design, Kherson State University

This year’s defense of qualification works turned into a true celebration of creativity, innovation, and professional growth of our students!

🖌️ The diversity of genres and themes is truly impressive:
– Lyrical and decorative still life
– Digital landscapes
– Graphic series based on Edgar Allan Poe’s works
– Character concepts
– Corporate identity design
– Papier-mâché sculptural compositions
– And for the first time – plasticine stop motion animation!

💻 The students demonstrated mastery of both classical and modern techniques – from ink and watercolor to Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, and Krita. Their works harmoniously combine academic foundations with personal expression, stylization with respect for tradition, plasticity of form with expressive color palettes.

🔍 Especially noteworthy are projects that explore contemporary visual challenges – war and emigration, brand identity, mythological imagery, and cultural interpretation of literary classics.

💬 Sincere thanks to the academic advisors for their guidance and support, and to the students – for the inspiration and depth of their artistic visions.

🔹 Ahead lie new achievements, but today we are simply proud of you! 💙

🎨 Today, the Educational and Scientific Institute of Arts at Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University hosted the opening of an exhibition showcasing creative academic works by students of the Faculty of Culture and Arts at Kherson State University. 🖌 The exhibition featured artworks created by students during the on-site learning week, presented in various painting and graphic techniques. Among the works were: ▪️ landscapes from different parts of Ukraine — including Ivano-Frankivsk region and the students’ native Kherson region ▪️ human figure sketches ▪️ portraits ▪️ creative decorative compositions 🤝 The organization of the exhibition marks another important step in the ongoing partnership between higher education institutions in the fields of culture and the arts. During the opening event, Volodymyr Fedorak, Director of the Institute of Arts at PNU, Nataliia Tereshchenko, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Culture and Arts at KSU, and faculty members from both universities discussed plans for implementing joint projects in the 2025–2026 academic year. 🎭 Collaborative creativity unites, inspires, and shapes a new cultural perspective!

5 червня 2025 року Викладачі кафедри хореографічного мистецтва Херсонського державного університету завітали з дружнім візитом до колег-хореографів Карпатського національного університету імені В. Стефаника 🤝✨

💃 В рамках зустрічі хореографи ХДУ мали змогу відвідати заліково-екзаменаційні заходи, ознайомитися з освітнім процесом і творчими здобутками студентів КНУ.

🗣 Відбулося тепле професійне спілкування, обмін досвідом та ідеями для подальшої співпраці між освітніми закладами.

Разом творимо майбутнє хореографічного мистецтва!

5 червня 2025 року Робота з майстерні над творчими роботами. Майстер клас від викладачки образотворчого мистецтва і дизайну Гриценко Юлії на тему "Пейзаж в техніці акрилового живопису" для здобувачів 4 курсу.

On June 5, the audience witnessed a choreographic performance titled "In the Rays of the Heart: To Burn or to Warm [.,]".
This artistic piece was the result of collaboration between lecturers and students of the Department of Choreographic Art at Kherson State University, presented during the on-site learning week.

🌳 The performance took place in the Taras Shevchenko City Park, adding a sense of openness and emotional resonance to the atmosphere.

💭 The choreography carries a profound philosophical message — exploring the fragile boundary between the destructive and life-giving power of emotions.
Can the fire of the heart warm, or will it burn? The audience is invited to decide — where would they place the punctuation mark?

As part of the on-site learning week at the Faculty of Culture and Arts of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, the Choreographic Intensive continues! 💃✨

🗓 On June 4, 2025, a Contemporary Dance class was held, led by lecturer Tetiana Shyryna.

🔸 The students actively practiced in the House Dance style — a technique that requires freedom, musicality, energy, and improvisation. The atmosphere was filled with rhythm, drive, and creativity! 🔊🔥

The intensive brings not only knowledge but also inspiration for new dance achievements!

As part of the on-campus learning week, students of the 025 Music Art program (first/bachelor level of higher education) showcased their conducting mastery under the guidance of Associate Professors T.L. Kornysheva and N.O. Hunko.

Each performer-interpreter demonstrated a distinct artistic approach to the interpretation of the composer’s text. The conducting language was expressed through fluid gestures and musical elements reflecting metrical-rhythmic and dynamic characteristics.

Special attention was given to the challenges of future professional activity, which require the development of specific creative and conducting competencies essential for a conductor’s career.

During the on-campus learning week, students of the Department of Fine Arts and Design completed a variety of academic and creative assignments. Among them were graphic sketches from life, capturing the figures of dancers during choreography classes, and architectural sketches of Shevchenko Street near the main building of Kherson State University.

Additionally, they worked productively in open-air sessions (plein air painting), creating expressive artworks inspired by the natural beauty of Taras Shevchenko City Park.

🗣️ On June 4, the Faculty of Culture and Arts hosted a workshop titled "The Communicative Nature of Art" — an event that brought together not only students and faculty, but also guests and colleagues from Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University.

💬 Among the participants was Nadiia Kukuruza, Head of the Department of Performing Arts and Choreography at KNU, who joined the discussion with students specializing in Performing Arts.

🔥 The workshop was held in a lively, interactive format with an engaging discussion on the role of art as a universal language — one that transcends borders and unites people, cultures, and eras.

💡 Participants shared their personal experiences, reflections, and ideas on the communicative potential of artistic practices, the challenges of our time, and the pursuit of meaningful dialogue with audiences.

As part of the in-person learning week, the "Choreographic Intensive" continues at Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University for students of the Faculty of Culture and Arts.

📅 On June 3, a class on the discipline "Ukrainian Folk Dance" was held by Associate Professor Valentyn Vasiak. During the session, students deepened their knowledge and refined their performance techniques of traditional Ukrainian dances.

✨ Special attention was given to the choreographic vocabulary of Southern Ukraine, known for its expressive nature, rhythmic variety, and distinctive plasticity of movement.

🩰 These classes contribute to the professional development of future choreographers, enrich their creative experience, and promote the heritage of Ukrainian folk art.

🎤 On June 3, 2025, a heartfelt class concert titled "In Music and Word — the Highest Feelings" 🎶📖 was held as a powerful expression of talent and emotion. Students of 025 Musical Art and 034 Cultural Studies, together with Oleksii Ponomariov — Senior Lecturer of the Department of Musical Art and Honored Artist of Ukraine — presented an inspiring artistic program where music, words, and sincere emotions blended into one harmonious performance. ✨ The concert became a vibrant culmination of creative effort, showcasing students’ professional growth, stage culture, and passion for art. 💐 Special thanks go to the instructors who, although unable to be present in Ivano-Frankivsk, greatly contributed to the preparation of the students: 🔹 Lidiia Lymarenko 🔹 Nataliia Hunko 🔹 Alina Chekhunina Your work lives in every performance, every note, and every round of applause! 🙏 Heartfelt gratitude to Natalia Tereshenko, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Culture and Arts, for her support, organization, and the creation of an inspiring atmosphere that unites students and teachers in shared creativity.

🎼 As part of the on-campus learning week, students of the Faculty of Culture and Arts attended a presentation dedicated to the life and works of Astor Piazzolla — the legendary composer who transformed the face of modern tango.

🎶 The presentation was conducted by:
🔹 Myron Cherepanin — Doctor of Arts, Professor at the Department of Ukrainian Music Studies and Folk Instrumental Art, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv;
🔹 Maryna Bulda — PhD in Art Studies, Associate Professor of the same department.

💬 The meeting turned into a true artistic dialogue, blending in-depth knowledge, musical analysis, and a heartfelt admiration for Astor Piazzolla’s creativity.

🏛️ On June 3, students and lecturers of the Faculty of Culture and Arts visited the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Museum of Local Lore.

🔍 This educational visit took place as part of the on-campus learning week and offered a great opportunity to delve deeper into the history, culture, and artistic heritage of Prykarpattia.

🎨 The excursion not only broadened horizons but also inspired new creative ideas and projects.

📅 June 2, 2025 💃 As part of the on-campus learning week, students of the Choreography (Specialty 024) program took part in an intensive classical dance workshop. 🔹 The class was led by Alla Rekhlitska, Head of the Department of Choreographic Art and Associate Professor — a highly qualified educator and true inspiration for future dance professionals. 🩰 Participants had the opportunity to refine their classical dance technique, work on fluidity, expressiveness, and stage presence. 📸 Thank you all for your active participation and the incredible energy during the session!