On Friday, June 2nd, Meridian International Center held its third-annual cultural diplomacy conference CultureFix, which united leading artists and cultural leaders around the issue of culture’s role in building community, respect and peaceful world. 

The conference was opened by The Honorable Lee Satterfield, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, who underscored the United States’ unwavering commitment to protect Ukraine and its people against the russian aggression. 

The Embassy team led by Oksana Markarova attended Meridian’s third annual Culturefix Awards Ceremony, which was part of Meridian’s daylong celebration of cultural diplomacy. 

First Secretary Kateryna Smagliy joined Dr. Richard Kurin (Smithsonian Distinguished Scholar and Ambassador-At-Large), Mrs. Irina Bokova (Former Director General, UNESCO), and Mrs. Deborah Lehr (CEO and Managing Partner of Edelman Global Advisory)for the podium discussion addressing the issue of russia’s destruction and looting of Ukraine’s museums and cultural institutions in an attempt to wipe out Ukraine’s and Crimean Tatar's cultural identity. 

Ukrainian ballerina Svitlana Onipko received Meridian’s Cultural Diplomacy Award together with artist Hank Willis Thomas, opera diva Denyce Graves, and photographer Felipe Jácome.

The ceremony was opened by Ambassador Stuart Holliday, CEO of Meridian International Center, emceed by CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins and featured special performances from Billy Gilman, Madison Hilligoss, Symone Harcum, and a Ukrainian pianist Myroslav Mykhailenko!