Our Goal is to ensure that the export of Ukrainian art and cultural products enters the TOP-20 categories of Ukraine’s national exports within the creative industries. This will be achieved through the formation and operation of a sustainable institutional and market-based cultural export system that ensures measurability, regularity, and competitiveness of Ukrainian art’s international presence, as well as its official inclusion in state statistics.
Our Mission is to build an institutional and market infrastructure in Ukraine that enables Ukrainian art and cultural products to become a measurable, competitive, and sustainable sector of national exports and the value-added economy.
The Art Export Cluster (AEC) works on the systematic integration of art into international markets, value chains, and cultural diplomacy mechanisms, transforming it from fragmented cultural activity into a full-fledged export industry.
AEC develops a network of partnerships with cultural, educational, business, and international institutions that share the values of cooperation, cultural export, and the development of Ukrainian art.
We are a team of professionals united by a shared goal: to develop Ukrainian art and open international opportunities for it.
An exhibition is not only an opportunity to showcase your artwork, but also an effective tool for professional growth, personal branding, and career promotion. A professionally organized exhibition project helps an artist attract the attention of galleries, collectors, curators, media representatives, and cultural institutions. It expands their professional network, boosts visibility, and opens up new opportunities for collaboration and art sales.
Learn moreThe Art Export Cluster (AEC) views an exhibition as a strategic tool for developing an artist’s career, promoting Ukrainian art, and building a professional reputation. We help transform an exhibition project into an effective communication mechanism with the audience, cultural institutions, potential partners, and art lovers both in Ukraine and abroad.
We provide turnkey art exhibition organization—from concept development and venue selection to event execution, audience engagement, and media coverage.
Basic exhibition organization includes:
Additional services may include:
To organize an exhibition, the artist typically needs to provide:
Contact us — we will provide a free consultation on your inquiry.
An ATA Carnet is an international customs document used for the temporary export and import of artwork, exhibition displays, professional equipment, and other goods for exhibitions, fairs, cultural events, and presentations abroad.
Learn moreUsing an ATA Carnet allows for the temporary export of artwork without paying customs duties, posting cash bonds, or filing additional customs documents at border crossings. A Carnet also enables the transport of goods across multiple member countries of the international ATA system using a single document.
Without an ATA Carnet, the international transport of artwork may require separate customs clearance in every single country, the payment of duties or cash deposits, and carries additional risks of delays during customs control.
This service is designed for artists, galleries, curators, and organizers of international exhibitions planning to participate in exhibition projects, art fairs, cultural events, or presentations outside Ukraine.
Contact us — we will provide a free consultation on your inquiry.
Protect your creative identity, unique style, and commercial rights. Registering a trademark is a reliable way to safeguard your intellectual property both in Ukraine and internationally.
Learn moreRegistering a trademark grants you the exclusive right to use the mark within Ukraine (and, if needed, in other countries). It provides robust legal protection against copying, plagiarism, and unfair competition.
International registration is highly recommended if you:
Contact us – we will conduct a free initial trademark search and help you choose the best protection strategy for your brand!
Contact us — we will provide a free consultation on your inquiry.
When creating a piece of art, the author invests talent, time, experience, and a piece of their own identity into it. That is why it is essential to ensure proper confirmation of your rights before any need to defend them arises.
Learn moreCopyright registration allows you to officially record authorship and obtain documentary proof of ownership. A certificate of state registration of copyright can be used as additional evidence when resolving disputes regarding authorship, unauthorized use of works, or confirming rights in professional activities.
Copyright registration helps an artist to:
What can be registered as an object of copyright?
AEC specialists will help determine the feasibility of registration, prepare the necessary materials, and provide full guidance throughout the procedure—from consultation and document preparation to obtaining the certificate of state registration of copyright.
Protection of creativity does not begin when a dispute arises, but at the moment the author proactively secures the confirmation of their rights.
Contact us — we will provide a free consultation on your inquiry.
Many artists mistakenly believe that selling a painting, photograph, or other artwork automatically transfers all rights to it. In reality, ownership of the physical original and copyright economic rights are completely different legal categories.
Learn moreSelling a painting, sculpture, photograph, or any other artwork means transferring ownership of that specific physical object. Meanwhile, the copyright economic rights to the work remain with the author, unless expressly provided otherwise by a contract.
For instance, the buyer of a painting may become its owner, but they do not automatically receive the right to print reproductions, use the image of the work in advertising, manufacture merchandise, or transfer such rights to third parties. That is why the terms of use and copyright must be properly regulated by an agreement.
Your artwork can work for you even after it is sold. If a company wants to use your painting, illustration, photograph, or design to produce clothing, souvenirs, printed matter, advertising, or digital products, you can grant the right for such use and receive compensation on agreed terms. A copyright agreement helps properly formalize these arrangements and protect the author’s interests.
Copyright agreements protect the artist’s interests when collaborating with galleries, clients, publishers, brands, exhibition organizers, and other partners. They define who, how, where, and under what conditions can use the work, as well as establish the procedure for paying author royalties.
Copyright agreements are especially relevant if you:
Depending on the situation, we prepare and manage:
As a result, you:
AEC specialists will help you choose the optimal collaboration model, prepare the necessary documents, and provide full legal support tailored to the specific nature of your creative project.
Your creativity can generate income not only from the sale of originals, but also from licensing the rights to use them. Take care of the proper formalization of these rights to maintain control over your works and receive fair compensation for their use.
Contact us — we will provide a free consultation on your inquiry.
Have you created a unique piece of jewelry, a vase, a candlestick, an art object, an interior item, custom merchandise, or any other designer product? If so, you should think about protecting it from copying, not just creating it.
Learn moreRegistration of an industrial design allows you to obtain exclusive rights to the appearance of the product and prohibit others from using or reproducing your design without permission. This is particularly crucial if you plan serial production, collaborations with manufacturers, entering international markets, or selling custom merchandise.
While copyright protects the creative work itself, industrial design protects the appearance of the product—its shape, contours, ornamentation, texture, materials, color combinations, and other elements that form the unique visual identity of the product.
Industrial design is especially relevant if you:
Your design can generate income beyond the sale of finished products. You can grant manufacturers the right to use your design, conclude license agreements, receive royalties for production utilizing your design solutions, and develop your own creative brand. Reliable legal protection significantly increases the value of such an asset.
What can be registered as an industrial design?
As a result, you receive:
We help to:
AEC specialists will help you choose the optimal design protection strategy and determine when it is appropriate to use industrial design, copyright, or a combination of both legal protection mechanisms.
A unique design is not just a result of creativity, it is a valuable asset. Take care of its protection before others start copying it.
Contact us — we will provide a free consultation on your inquiry.
The Art Export Cluster organizes and supports exhibitions, presentations, residencies, art meetings, and international cultural programs.
LVIV, UKRAINE
14 STRIYSKIY PARK STREET
( 19.12.2025-20.01.2026 )
In partnership with the Lviv Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Art Export Cluster presented the art exhibition “One Journey – Many Perspectives”, a project that brought together around 50 works by contemporary Ukrainian artists from different regions of Ukraine.
The exhibition is structured as a multidimensional artistic space combining various techniques and stylistic approaches – from architectural and landscape painting to figurative, symbolic, and expressive compositions. The presented works reflect on historical experience, cultural memory, and contemporary transformations, offering viewers multiple perspectives on a shared reality.
The exhibition title reflects its core idea – the unity of the artistic journey amid a diversity of perspectives. Each artist works with personal experience, artistic language, and internal narrative, while the collective exhibition forms a cohesive statement about contemporary Ukrainian culture.
The project aims to demonstrate the maturity and multidimensionality of Ukrainian art, its openness to dialogue, and its ability to be interpreted within an international cultural context. The exhibition emphasizes not only the diversity of forms and themes but also the potential of Ukrainian artists to participate in global artistic processes.
Exhibition curator Volodymyr Shcherban noted that the project was conceived as a space of interaction – between artists, artworks, and viewers – where each work becomes part of a shared semantic field, and the exhibition itself serves as a platform for dialogue between different experiences and worldviews.
Artist Timur Takirov highlighted the importance of exhibition projects as an environment for artists’ professional development, allowing them to reflect on their own creative practice through interaction with other authors and audiences.
During the opening, welcoming remarks were delivered by Vladyslav Khvostenko, founder of the Art Export Cluster. He emphasized that AEC was created as an institutional platform for the systematic support of contemporary Ukrainian art, the development of its visibility, and the creation of conditions for artistic projects to enter international markets. According to him, the exhibition “One Journey – Many Perspectives” exemplifies how artistic initiatives can combine cultural value with a long-term strategy for the development of creative industries.
The Art Export Cluster considers this exhibition part of a broader program to support artists, form art collections, and develop international cultural partnerships. The exhibition is implemented in partnership with the Lviv Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is open to visitors in its exhibition space.
“Sacred Grandeur. Architecture of Faith” – Art as a Space of Strength, Memory, and the Future
The exhibition project of the Art Export Cluster (AEC) – “Sacred Grandeur. Architecture of Faith” – is currently on display at the Lviv House of Officers.
This is more than an exhibition. It is an artistic dialogue about spiritual heritage, cultural identity, and inner resilience.
The exhibition features works by 17 Ukrainian artists from different regions of Ukraine – from Crimea to Lviv. Each artist brings a unique perspective, rhythm, and personal experience, shaped by individual pain and hope. Together, these voices form a unified space of contemporary Ukrainian art – strong, open, and alive.
The artworks depict architectural structures of various religious traditions: Orthodox churches, Catholic cathedrals, wooden churches, and other sacred sites, interpreted through diverse artistic styles. These are not merely representations of buildings – they are symbols of memory, faith, continuity, and Ukraine’s multi-confessional cultural tradition.
The exhibition brings together different techniques and styles, yet at the center of each work is the human being and their inner journey.
Vladyslav Khvostenko, Head of the Art Export Cluster, emphasized the strategic mission of AEC:
“We set ourselves an ambitious goal – to ensure that Ukrainian art enters the top-20 categories of Ukraine’s exports. Culture must be not only a symbol, but also an economic force of the state.”
The Art Export Cluster is building a systemic art export ecosystem. We unite artists, galleries, and cultural institutions, provide legal and organizational support for art exports, establish international partnerships, and develop institutional and market infrastructure for the commercialization of cultural products.
We invite artists, galleries, educational institutions, businesses, patrons, and international partners to collaborate. If you share the vision of the systemic development of Ukrainian art – join the Cluster or initiate a partnership.
Lviv
( 08.04.2026 – 20.05.2026 )
From April 8 to May 20, 2026, Lviv hosted the art exhibition “The Way of the Cross.” The exhibition was organized by the Art Export Cluster (AEC).
In his welcoming remarks, Vladyslav Khvostenko, Chairman of the Art Export Cluster, emphasized:
“AEC is about more than just exhibitions. It is an opportunity for Ukrainian art to become a fully-fledged export product and a part of the global cultural dialogue, sharing our creativity, resilience, and identity with the world.”
The opening of the exhibition took place during the symbolic period of Great Lent. The batik artworks by Oksana Lobas-Zaiats and Roman Zaiats deeply explore the themes of faith, trials, suffering, and spiritual strength.
The curator and project coordinator is Svitlana Korolevych.
The opening ceremony also featured a presentation of a signature collection of embroidered clothing by Oksana Lobas-Zaiats, which masterfully blends contemporary fashion with Ukrainian traditions.
Opening Attendees:
Event Moderator: Mykhailo Vereskun
Venue: Lviv Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 14 Stryiskyi Park
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Partners:
In May 2026, the Sense Hub Lviv space hosted “The Kharkiv Code” exhibition, organized by the “Art Export Cluster” Public Union. The project brought together the works of four artists whose creativity was shaped by the traditions of the Kharkiv school of painting: Daria Khrysanfova, Lesia Kaminna, Yuriy Kuznetsov, and Ksenia Logvynenko.
The exhibition served as a cultural bridge between Kharkiv and Lviv, offering the Lviv audience an opportunity to engage with the contemporary artistic vision of one of Ukraine’s most prominent art hubs.
The exposition showcased a wide array of creative approaches and themes. In Daria Khrysanfova’s works, floral motifs transform into symbols of inner strength and resilience. Lesia Kaminna’s paintings explore the interplay of light, color, and space, creating a distinctive atmosphere of harmony and motion. Yuriy Kuznetsov delves into psychological portraiture and urban landscapes, capturing human character and the rhythm of Kharkiv through his painterly language. Ksenia Logvynenko works with nature motifs, conveying the lyrical state and inner dynamics of nature through color and texture.
Throughout the month, the exhibition remained open to all visitors at Sense Hub Lviv, becoming a meeting point for art, dialogue, and cultural exchange. The exposition drew the attention of cultural community representatives, entrepreneurs, students, and connoisseurs of contemporary Ukrainian art.
For the Art Export Cluster, “The Kharkiv Code” project marks another step toward fulfilling the organization’s mission: supporting Ukrainian artists, fostering interregional cultural cooperation, and promoting Ukrainian art both within Ukraine and abroad.
The Art Export Cluster expresses its gratitude to the Sense Hub Lviv team for their partnership and support of cultural initiatives, as well as to the artists who presented their works to the Lviv audience.
Together, we create new opportunities for Ukrainian art, introducing it to a broader audience and shaping the contemporary cultural landscape of Ukraine.
The Public Union “Art Export Cluster” and the Lviv Officers’ House have joined forces to implement joint cultural, educational, and social initiatives aimed at supporting the Ukrainian military, developing the arts, and preserving national memory.
The Lviv Officers’ House is a vital center for military-patriotic education, cultural and educational activities, and support for the defenders of Ukraine. Its work combines the preservation of historical heritage, the development of the cultural environment, and the creation of a space for interaction between the military, veterans, volunteers, artists, and the public.
Collaboration with the Art Export Cluster opens up new opportunities for projects that will promote Ukrainian art within Ukraine and abroad, support the creative initiatives of service members and veterans, and advance cultural diplomacy.
Within the framework of this partnership, the parties are working on organizing exhibitions, art events, educational programs, lectures, and creative meetings. Special attention is dedicated to the development of military art, the protection of copyrights, support for military artists, and the utilization of art as a tool for rehabilitation, psychological support, and public dialogue.
Today, the creativity of the Ukrainian military is not only an artistic phenomenon but also an important testament to the modern history of Ukraine. Through art, defenders convey their personal experiences, values, and vision of the struggle for freedom, shaping the living cultural memory of our nation.
The partnership between the PU “Art Export Cluster” and the Lviv Officers’ House serves as an example of uniting culture and civic responsibility to strengthen Ukrainian identity, support the military, and worthily represent Ukraine to the world.
For the second consecutive year, the Art Export Cluster (AEC) has served as a partner for the VI Lviv Export Forum — one of Ukraine’s premier events dedicated to international trade, export development, and economic growth.
The Forum brought together representatives from government institutions, businesses, export-oriented companies, international organizations, academia, and the civil sector. The discussions focused on the future of Ukrainian exports, emerging opportunities for entering international markets, and driving a high-value-added economy.
For the Art Export Cluster, participating in the Forum provided a vital platform to present its vision for cultural and creative exports as a highly promising driver of Ukraine’s economic development.
During the event, Vladyslav Khvostenko, Chairman of the Art Export Cluster, presented the findings of a study on the economics of creative industries and the potential of Ukraine’s cultural exports. The study highlighted global trends in the creative economy, the role of intellectual property in generating value-added products, and Ukraine’s opportunities within international cultural exchange and export.
As the National Export Strategy of Ukraine until 2030 is currently being shaped, diversifying exports and fostering sectors driven by knowledge, innovation, and creativity has become more critical than ever.
According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), creative industries generate approximately $2.3 trillion annually, accounting for over 3% of global GDP and more than 6% of global employment. Furthermore, the export volume of creative services now significantly outpaces that of creative goods, signaling the rapidly growing role of intellectual capital in the global economy.
The world is increasingly exporting design, branding, digital content, architectural solutions, copyrights, cultural products, and creative services rather than just physical goods. Consequently, creative industries are now recognized worldwide as key catalysts for economic development.
Ukraine possesses immense potential in this arena. Strong artistic traditions, talented artists, designers, architects, musicians, a rich cultural heritage, and a vibrant creative sector lay a solid foundation for cultural export. However, the country requires further infrastructure development, international networking, and robust support mechanisms to successfully scale cultural products in global markets.
To bridge this gap, the Art Export Cluster is building an ecosystem that unites artists, museums, galleries, educational institutions, businesses, international partners, and experts to accelerate Ukraine’s cultural and creative exports.
Over the past year, the Cluster has successfully brought together dozens of partner organizations, launched collaborative exhibitions, educational programs, and international initiatives, and initiated a structured dialogue on the role of creative industries in shaping the state’s modern export policy.
The Art Export Cluster firmly believes that Ukrainian art and creative industries have the potential to serve not only as vital tools for cultural diplomacy but also as world-class export products.
Our strategic vision is to establish cultural and creative exports as a major pillar of the Ukrainian economy, allowing Ukraine to strengthen its global presence through creativity, culture, innovation, and intellectual capital.
Ukraine must export more than just raw materials and products. Ukraine must export its creativity, culture, and intellectual capital.
Questions we already have answers to
The Art Export Cluster (AEC) is an association of art ecosystem participants established to develop Ukrainian art, cultural, and creative industries through collaboration, innovation, international partnership, and cultural export.
The Cluster unites artists, galleries, museums, curators, collectors, educational institutions, cultural organizations, businesses, investors, expert bodies, and international partners around shared goals for the development of the art sector. This approach allows participants to combine resources, competencies, experience, and professional networks to achieve results that would be difficult to realize individually.
AEC operates under a cluster development model widely used in European Union countries to boost the competitiveness of specific economic sectors. The cluster approach involves the voluntary alliance of independent ecosystem participants around common goals, projects, and development strategies.
Unlike traditional professional associations, the cluster does not limit itself to representing the interests of its members. Its mission is to generate new cultural, social, and economic value through collaboration, the development of shared services, resource mobilization, innovation implementation, partnership building, and enhancing the competitiveness of the entire sector.
For the arts field, the cluster model allows for the integration of every participant in the value chain—from the artist to the gallery, museum, curator, educational institution, collector, business, and international partner. This very synergy creates the conditions for developing cultural export, executing large-scale projects, attracting investment, increasing the international recognition of Ukrainian art, and integrating it into global cultural and economic processes.
AEC’s activities are focused on expanding international cooperation, implementing exhibition and educational projects, supporting cultural diplomacy, developing the professional competencies of its participants, attracting grant and investment resources, and creating new opportunities to promote Ukrainian art and enter international markets.
We are convinced that Ukrainian art possesses significant cultural, social, and economic potential. That is why AEC is dedicated to shaping a modern and sustainable cultural export ecosystem that will foster the growth of cultural and creative industries, strengthen international ties, expand the global presence of Ukrainian art, and unlock new opportunities for all participants in the art sector.
The Art Export Cluster welcomes stakeholders from across the art ecosystem who are interested in developing Ukrainian art, cultural and creative industries, international cooperation, cultural diplomacy, and cultural export.
Cluster participants may include artists, galleries, museums, curators, collectors, cultural and educational institutions, creative industry representatives, businesses, patrons, investors, foundations, professional associations, expert organizations, as well as companies and institutions providing legal, financial, insurance, logistics, media, marketing, consulting, or other support services to artistic activities.
This list is indicative and not exhaustive. The cluster model builds on the unification of all ecosystem participants who influence the creation, preservation, research, promotion, financing, exhibition, commercialization, or international representation of art and cultural products.
AEC is open to all individuals and organizations that share the Cluster’s values and strive to contribute to the advancement of Ukrainian art as a vital element of Ukraine’s cultural, social, and economic development.
Membership in AEC unlocks access to opportunities, partnerships, resources, and professional support essential for scaling artistic activities both in Ukraine and abroad.
AEC participants gain:
AEC creates an environment where participants can achieve more through collaboration than by acting alone.
AEC offers two tiers of membership, allowing each participant to choose a cooperation format that matches their needs and level of engagement.
A free membership tier providing access to the AEC community, member directory, information on grants, competitions, exhibitions, educational programs, international opportunities, and open Cluster initiatives.
A paid membership tier designed for those who want to fully leverage the power of the cluster ecosystem. It offers expanded access to joint projects, international partnerships, grant initiatives, professional networking, expert support, working groups, promotional programs, and exclusive terms on services from AEC members and partners.
Offering two tiers of membership ensures that the Cluster remains open to a wide audience while simultaneously providing premium opportunities for active ecosystem members seeking deeper integration into AEC’s projects and operations.
All images undergo moderation before being published on Instagram and within AEC catalogs. Please review your files before submitting:
4. Application Review: Once your materials have been verified, an AEC representative will contact you to confirm your membership.
Please note: Submitted materials will be used to compile the AEC member catalog, social media posts, exhibitions, and promotional projects. Joining the AEC is an opportunity to become part of a professional ecosystem that drives international collaboration and scales the cultural export of Ukraine.
Joining the AEC allows you to become part of a professional ecosystem that connects art market professionals, advances international collaboration, cultural diplomacy, and accelerates Ukraine’s cultural export.
Fill out a short application and we will contact you after reviewing your profile.