Cultural and Artistic Lviv

Within centuries Lviv was developing its authentic culture and art which incorporated extensive local traditions and cultural influence of other nations.

As a city with time-honored heritage, Lviv is rich with museums over twenty. National Museum is a true pearl. It was founded on the initiative of the great staded metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyy. The biggest world collection of Ukrainian icon paintings is found among its exhibits. Lviv Art gallery is known far beyond the borders of Ukraine. Walking up and down the picturesque hills of Shevchenkivskyy Hay you will hardly fail to notice the Folk Architecture and Household
Museum a unique open air museum offering the best collection of the samples of Ukrainian wooden architecture.

Artistic pallet of the modern Lviv is rich in talents. Lviv has preserved numerous interesting folk customs, traditions, legends, and crafts. You can find weaving centers here, the centers of embroidery, Ester eggs (pysanka) decoration, blacksmiths craft, ceramics, soft decorative glass, glass beads weaving workshops, centers of artistic metal and leather design etc. With a view to bringing back to life the blacksmith art traditional Ukrainian art, development of the modern Ukrainian art, modern metal and soft glass design, artistic project Blacksmith events is held along with the international festival Castle gates and the International Artistic Glass Symposium.

Todays life of Lviv abounds in various cultural and art events. These are modern art exhibitions, theatrical performances, concerts, different literary events, and traditional celebrations. The city is well-known for gifted artists, theater, musical ensembles. Today there are 9 theaters, philharmonics, Organ music concert hall, palaces of culture, cinema and concert complexes, concert and dancing halls, clubs, and a circus.

Further establishing itself as a city of European culture, Lviv is bearing new artistic pearls. Dramatic art is flourishing.

The history of theater in Lviv covers several centuries. First of them appeared at schools and collegiums Stauropigious, Dominican, and Jesuit. Professional Ukrainian Theater Ruska Besida staged its first performances in March 1864. The first theater building was opened in the first half of 19th century, sponsored by Skarbko. Today it is occupied by the M. Zankovetska National Drama Theater. Late in the 19th century the Academic Opera and Ballet House was built, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Europe. Paganini, Liest, Ravel, Zankovetska, Kurbas, Krushelnytska, Myshuha, Mentsynskyi, Didur, Batistini, Caruso, Delincioni used to perform at Lviv Theater stages. Today the Melpomena worshipers can choose to their liking anything they show interest in from Italian opera to the most challenging experiments of Les Kurbas and Voskresinnya theaters. In the autumn time the whole city turns into a theater capital hosting the International Theater Festival Golden Lion.

Cultural events of various styles and in different directions are held in Lviv. Among the most prominent musical events one should mention the Classical Music Festival of Virtuozy, Modern Music Festival Contrasts, S. Krushelnytska Opera Music Festival, Folklore Festivals In Halytskyy Circle and Horytsvit, Jazz Festival, Patriotic Song Festival Victory Trumpets, Choir Festivals. Mass public events are also held to celebrate national, political and folk holidays, in particular UPR and WUPR declaration anniversaries, Ukraines Independence Day and Constitution Adoption, St. Nicholas Day, City Day, Mothers Day, Tourism Day, T.H. Shevchenkos anniversary, twin cities culture days. During the time of Ukraines independence winter festival Christmas in Lviv has become highly popular among tourists. The festival is accompanied with exhibitions, concerts, competitions, performances, winter celebrations and other events.

Lviv is keeping old literary traditions. Numerous interesting authors work here today. Presentation of a new book or a literary project is always a significant event in Lviv. The S. Krushelnytska State Academic Opera and Ballet House 28 Svobody Avenue, tel. 72-86-72


The M. Zankovetska National Academic Ukrainian Drama Theater, 1 Lesi Ukrayinky Str., tel. 72-05-83

The First Ukrainian Theater for Children and Youth, 11 Hnatyuka Str., tel. 74-00-25

The Theatre Studio The People and the Puppets, 6 Fredra Str., tel. 74-00-25

The Les Kurbas Youth Theater, 3 Lesa Kurbasa Str., 79-86-57

The Lviv Spiritual Theater Voskresinnya, 5 Hryhorenka Str., tel. 74-11-60

The Drama Theater of the Western Operational Headquarters, 36 Horodotska Str., tel. 233-31-91

The Regional Puppet Show Theater, 1 Danyla Halytskoho Sruare, tel. 72-08-32

The Regional Philharmonics, 7 Chaykovskoho Str., tel. 72-10-42

The Organ and Chamber Music Hall, 8 Bandery Str., tel. 39-88-42

The Cinema Cinema Palace (Kinopalats), 22 Teatralna Str., tel. 97-50-50, 97-50-05

The Circus, 83 Horodotska Str., tel. 72-40-48

The Artes Gallery, 49 Brativ Rohatyntsiv Str., tel. 72-99-64

The Hnat Khotkevych City Culture Palace, 1 Kushevycha Str., tel. 52-27-45

The Creative Center of Children and Youth of Halychyna, 29 Vakhnyanyna Str., tel. 75-19-47

The Lviv State Regional Center of Folk Art and Cultural and Educational Work, 3 L. Kurbasa Str., tel. 74-20-68

The Lviv Folk Arts School for Children, 6 Antonenka-Davydovycha Str., tel. 221-11-36

The Lviv Scholars House, 6 Lystopadovoho Chynu Str., tel. 72-68-53

The Lviv City Coordination and Methodic Center Halychyna Youth, 16 V. Symonenka Str., tel. 63-01-07

The Ukrainian Book Center of the Prosvita Society, 34 V. Velykoho Str., tel. 40-21-46