The Bukovel Sustainable Development Office recently visited the Kosiv State Institute of Decorative Arts as part of the “Culture Unites” initiative.
At the Institute, students learn not only the craft but also a profound appreciation for their cultural heritage. Here, young artists master traditional Hutsul crafts, such as woodworking, weaving, artistic ceramics, and metalwork. More importantly, they discover how tradition can inspire innovative artistic forms.
The institute is more than an educational space – it is a living workshop where every ceramic bowl, woven towel, and carved figure carries the soul of Hutsul culture. The workshops are filled with the scents of wood, clay, and textiles, preserving centuries-old techniques while integrating modern digital methods and interdisciplinary design.
Kosiv is renowned worldwide for its unique painted ceramics, recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2019. The institute actively nurtures this tradition, training students to recreate ancestral patterns while adding their own bold interpretations.
The institute’s museum is a cultural treasure, showcasing student and diploma works that reflect the spirit of the Carpathians and the evolution of folk art.
Here in Hutsulshchyna, students learn that craft is not merely a link to the past – it is the foundation for local design, sustainable business, and cultural tourism.
A highlight of the visit was the solo exhibition of graduate Mariana Kos, whose original works exemplify the fusion of tradition and contemporary art. For many alumni, the institute remains the place where they first experienced the depth and richness of authentic Hutsul crafts.
"Kosiv Institute is more than an educational institution; it is a cultural phenomenon, a living laboratory of Hutsul art, demonstrating that Ukrainian tradition can be modern, bold, and captivating to the world," said Bohdan Krasavtsev, Head of the Bukovel Sustainable Development Office.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Director Halyna Yurchyshyn and the faculty for their hospitality and insightful tour of the place.
"Kosiv Institute transforms Hutsul traditions into contemporary art and shapes young people into the true creators of our cultural future," concludes Iryna Furdela, ecologist at the Bukovel Sustainable Development Office.