The main idea behind the project is to engage residents of the city and region in the process of exploring the maritime heritage of the Mykolaiv region as part of southern Ukraine and to collaboratively create a unified digital online collection of maritime-themed photographs, graphic works and paintings, old prints and documents, as well as astronomical and maritime artifacts, which are scattered across the collections of eight cultural institutions in Mykolaiv (the Mykolaiv Museum of Shipbuilding and the Fleet, the Mykolaiv Regional Museum of Local History, the Mykolaiv Regional Art Museum, Ochakiv Museum of Marine Painting, the Book Museum of the Mykolaiv Regional Universal Scientific Library, the Museum of the Mykolaiv Astronomical Observatory, the Museum of the Mykolaiv Shipbuilding Plant, and the State Archives of the Mykolaiv Region) and are preserved in family archives.
The maritime theme and life by the water are closely intertwined with the cultural context of Mykolaiv and the region, as part of the Black Sea coast. They are woven into their history, architecture, culinary culture, and local industries, and are reflected in museum collections and local cultural sites. And they are an important element of local identity. Mykolaiv, a port city and the center of shipbuilding in Ukraine, is surrounded by water on three sides. The city is named after Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors. Its slogan, “City on the Wave,” reflects a lasting connection to ancient maritime traditions. Today, this phrase takes on an even deeper meaning—it symbolizes the resilience and heroism of a city that withstood the Russian invasion, and its commitment to recovery through the development of a modern “blue” economy.
Today, residents of the Mykolaiv region have effectively lost the ability to see the sea: part of the coastline, including the Kinburn Spit (a popular destination for artist residencies and recreation), remains occupied by Russian troops, who shell the waters of the Dnipro-Bug Estuary almost daily to prevent the resumption of Ukrainian shipping there. The enemy is bombarding the waters and coastlines of the Ochakiv, Kutsurub, and Halytsyn communities with artillery, mortars, and FPV drones. The neighboring Kobliv and Chornomorsk communities are also suffering; in peacetime, they welcomed tourists, but now they have no access to the sea due to the danger of mines. All of this not only isolates people from the natural environment that shapes local culture but also deals a blow to the local economy, which has always relied on trade and maritime professions.
Another problem is the decline of the maritime industry. Due to the war, six ports in Mykolaiv have been closed, waterway navigation has been suspended, and infrastructure has been destroyed—all of which creates a sense of loss and despair.
In addition, the issue of decolonizing local history remains relevant. Many facts and narratives about the maritime past of southern Ukraine are still presented through an imperial lens, so it is necessary to restore authentic Ukrainian voices through digitized artifacts and family histories of yachtsmen, fishermen, shipbuilders, artists, and scholars who created and drew inspiration from the Black Sea region. A separate challenge is the fragmentation of the heritage: unique collections, documents, and maritime artifacts are stored in various museums, as well as in state and private archives. As a result, they remain largely inaccessible to researchers and the general public.
In addition, we will collect oral histories from people in the Black Sea region who are preserving maritime and estuary traditions amid the war. Through family photo albums and digitized artifacts, we will work with community members to reflect on our shared maritime heritage—the very heritage that others are trying to take away from us. All of these materials will also be uploaded to a digital platform.
As part of the project, items of the region’s maritime heritage will be selected, described, cataloged, and digitized, and the digitized content and materials obtained from family archives will be uploaded to the “Mykolaiv Digital Photo Archive” website to ensure 24/7 free access to the collection.
There are also plans to hold an Ideas Hackathon, featuring themed zones run by the region’s cultural institutions, a lecture series—including three lectures and presentations by experts—and a public opinion research zone. In addition, 10 in-depth interviews with thought leaders on the history and development of the region’s maritime sector will be recorded and published on a digital platform to promote the project.