Culture
The history of Kherson is unique and multisided. In the city there are 18 exhibits of culture and architecture of the state importance, 57 exhibits of local importance and 180 ones in form of sculpture monuments, steles, bas-reliefs, headstones, small architectural forms, etc.
The traditions of art patronage have renewed in the city that means the return of people to spiritual values. The historical part of the city is renewing too: the public garden, named after the city-founder G.O.Potemkin, and the monument, dedicated to him, were reconstructed, the renewal of the train station and the square in front of it was completed, and the reconstruction of Svjato-Uspenskiy Cathedral is in process now. The cooperation with international charity funds and public organizations was established.
The activity of cultural institutions, professional art groups in general is enough for satisfying of spiritual needs of Kherson citizens. In the sphere of cultural institutions of the city the following are presented:
- 4 regional libraries (scientific one named after O.Gonchar, juvenile one named after b.Lavrenjov, child- and medical one);
- 34 mass city libraries, united in one centralized library system with the book fund of 686,3 thousand, and the fund of periodicals of more than 16 items;
- 20 museums (Kherson regional museum of the local history and art museum named after Shovkunenko and 18 museums based at enterprises and educational institution on a voluntary basis);
- Art gallery and exhibition hall;
- 2 theatres (Kherson academic music-drama theatre named after Kulish and regional puppet theatre);
- Regional philharmonic society;
- 7 institutions of club type for 1017 seats;
- 3 concert halls;
- 5 cinemas for 2280 seats;
- 2 colleges (of music and of culture);
- 4 music schools;
- 2 design-lyceums and child art school.
It has become traditional for the city to organize annually International theatrical festival “Melpomene of Tavriya”, the City Day, festivals of minorities, a festival of songs about Kherson and celebrations of state holidays.
The most outstanding ones are traditional youth holidays: the Day of Youth, Students’ Day; contests: “the best city female-journalist”, “Eralash”, “Miss University”; festivals: “Didzebaba”, “Kherson gluttons’ rows”, “KVK”, graffiti contest “Skala”, etc.
In providing of cultural politics of the city the important role is made by arrangements, led to preservation and development of nets of culture-art institutions, their creative and stuff potential, strengthening of financial-equipment base, increase of the level of service to different layers of population, development and popularization of spiritual and cultural possessions.
