Over the
last six months, quite a few “innovations” occurred in the arts and education that
caused widespread protests of students and negative reaction from artists,
academics and university professors. The Humanitarian Council under the
President of Ukraine seems similar to a Guinea pig – it’s neither about Guinea, nor
about pigs. It is known for ignoring public opinion completely and being
totally apathetic about all current policy issues in the arts and education. Thus,
neither the “reforms” by Education Minister Dmytro Tabachnyk nor the language
bill turned out interesting for the Council members.  

Cheerleaders

According to
the Regulation on Humanitarian Council, its Chairman Viktor Yanukovych appoints
members of the Council, while Anna Herman, the Secretary, submits proposals to
change members. Among others, the Council includes Ivan Drach, Petro Tolochko,
Olena Franchuk, Bohdan Stupka, Mykhailo Reznikovych, Dmytro Stus and Larysa
Skoryk. Hence the question: what kind of a society are we looking at when its
“professional patriots” – as soon as they get instructions from the Government
– rush to work out an expected consensuses with people often referred to as
ukrainophobes which they really are?

Yet, a popular
PR mechanism of involving a “third party”, that is well-known personalities, to
gain more respect, has been put to use and is working. From now on, decisions
made by the President will be “blessed” by well-known Ukrainian intelligentsia.
The main thing is for the process to look like it reflects public opinion and involves
respected people, even if it looks dubious. The “support of intelligentsia” where
Hanna Herman forced anyone her eye caught will hardly help the Council solve at
least one important issue in terms of the arts or education.

The process

In an interview
with Dmytro Stus, Research Associate at the Literature Institute, he mentioned
that he happily accepted the offer to join the Council as he had some ideas for
it which might turn out useful. We asked Mr. Stus to tell us about these ideas.
“I’m not going to waste my time on it. All things already implemented are on
the web-site, – Mr. Stus said. – And the rest – what we haven’t done yet – you
will get to see once we have some of it done.”

Meanwhile,
“all things” presented on the official web-site of the Public Humanitarian
Council include only the concept of public broadcasting and numerous
instructions with future unknown.  

“The Council
took active part in celebrating independence, – Mykhailo Reznikovych, Director General
and Creative Director at Lesia Ukrayinka Russian Drama Theater, said – and the
opening of Taras Shevchenko Museum
in Kaniv, a very advanced one, in my opinion.” Indeed, why not feel proud:
Larysa Skoryk, a good friend of Hanna Herman and a member of the Council, was
appointed the main architect for the Museum restoration just like a friend
would be – without any competition. Ms. Skoryk offered a pretty unique vision of
the restoration which eventually turned out virtually no different from a trivial
renovation.

“We are working
on complex project focused on public radio, – Dmytro Stus told us – a
commemoration night for Ivan Kozlovskiy, designing a web-portal, and a few
other projects. But it’s been just work so far – no accomplishments to brag
about.”

However,
Public Humanitarian Council is only an advisory body and Mr. Stus made sure he reminded
us of that, so it has virtually no power to really affect the government’s
policy.

 Arts and education mystery meat

By contrast
to its clear political role, the process of adding any sense in terms of the
arts or education to the operation of the Presidential Council looks obscure
both to the public, and to the Council members. Existence of the Council proves
that its real task is to meet just to approve decisions that have already been pre-approved
by their administration.

“I don’t really understand the mechanism of operation (of the Council – auth.), — a member who preferred to stay anonymous told us. – If necessary, the members call each other and
discuss things. Later, materials are submitted to the Head of the Working Group
who prepares them for a meeting. So far, no documents have been filed before the
whole group meets and makes an official decision.”

According to
the Council Regulation, the key manner in which the Council works includes
meetings held when necessary, but at least once a quarter. The Secretary
convenes the meetings as instructed by the Chairman.

“Talk to the
Council administration,” Ivan Drach, ex-poet and experienced civil servant,
answered about the Council’s activity. According to Mr. Drach, Hanna Herman and
Viktor Yanukovych are in charge of compiling the agenda. Therefore, it’s
obvious who determines the urgency of issues and decides whether they are submitted
for consideration or not. Also, it’s clear why the Council ignored the language
bill and Tabachnyk’s education reforms. Washing your hands of at the right time
or staying away from any controversial issues always seems the best way out.

The Council
established for political purposes takes part in forming policy in terms of the
arts and education, while its expert members are essentially expected to just play
along with the administration. So, current policy in the arts and education is like
mystery meat: it’s better not to know how it’s made and where it comes from.

Council initiatives

Despite the
largely show-case role of the Council, Ivan Drach sees “an opportunity to get
involved in some acute problems, such as the eviction of museums from the
Lavra” in his membership. “I talked to Larysa Skoryk, Borys Oliynyk and
Mykhailo Reznikovych. We all agreed to insist on leaving the museums at Lavra
rather than letting it turn into a church purely, – he said. – Also, we talked
to Leonid Novokhadko, Deputy Chair of Kyiv Administration, and now he supports
us, too. I hope we’ll succeed in leaving the museum at Lavra.”

Yet, there is
no resolution about it so far. “The Council has not yet met to discuss this, –
Ivan Drach explained us – this is the position that people I’ve mentioned share.”

Meanwhile, the
projects already implemented show how the Council administration listens to the
initiatives of its members. When this article was written, there were none of
those.
A good occasion to demonstrate the essence of the Council was the promulgation of
the draft Law on the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine by Valeriy Bebyk, Head of the Council Working
Group on Social Communications and Deputy Dean of Ukrayina University.
 

“This Concept
on public broadcasting is completely our initiative, – Valeriy Bebyk commented on
the implementation of ideas offered by the Council members. – It was drafted by
members of the Public Humanitarian Council with some experts involved. The
administration did not affect it whatsoever.”

Independent
experts criticized the bill for its lack of mechanisms to keep public
broadcasting independent from the State and political forces including Party of
the Regions. Yet, the fact that the Council disclosed this document without getting
it approved by the Council administration upset the officers. In her comment to
Telekrytyka, Hanna Herman claimed that “Mr. Bebyk took it completely upon
himself to initiate the bill”, and so she had “a tough conversation” with him
on the phone. Also, Ms. Herman explained journalists that “a bill cannot be
published before it is discussed and approved by the Council, and before the
President looks at it because it’s the President’s initiative.” So, as Ms.
Herman put it, Ukrainian public doesn’t need to know what the Public
Humanitarian Council discusses before its officers allow it to find that out.

Thus, in over
six months the true concept of the Council has become clear. The best
illustration for the role of the Council is a protocol formula: members listen to
the Chair and the Secretary and “take into account” whatever they say. While
some individual initiatives of the members have an obscure future and the
attempts to involve public in the discussion are facing opposition from the
administration. Everything is predictable, everything is command.