San Francisco, CA – October 14th, 2022 – Global Heritage Fund announced today its partnership with Celemeta, an open-metaverse world that allows individuals and decentralized governance organizations to jointly manage and build a virtual and constantly evolving world, in a joint effort in support of Ukraine’s cultural heritage. The partnership announcement comes ahead of the organizations’ first drop of Pysanka NFTs (traditional Ukrainian eggs).
Through the Pysanka NFTs for Ukraine auction, proceeds will be used to provide stipends to Ukraine’s cultural workers who continue, without salaries, to protect Ukrainian cultural heritage and art. The drop is scheduled to take place today, October 14th, 2022, Ukrainian Day of the Defender, at 12pm EST.
The collaboration serves as an important opportunity for preservation efforts in Ukraine to reach new audiences. Combining cultural heritage with the ancient traditions of the Ukrainian pysanka—and with the growing popularity of NFTs and the metaverse—this partnership offers donors an innovative way to make a meaningful impact from anywhere in the world. This joint initiative has the potential to increase the capacity of Global Heritage Fund’s current work on the ground achieved through its Heritage Solidarity Fellowship for Ukraine with Europa Nostra.
“We are very excited about our collaboration with Celemeta and are equally inspired by the NFT community, which has already done so much to help those working to preserve Ukraine’s history,” said Nada Hosking, Global Heritage Fund Executive Director. “The effort that is needed to restore the damage that has been done in Ukraine is immense. The victims of this war need our help. Through this partnership, not only will buyers of these NFTs make a difference monetarily, but they will be active participants in learning about and disseminating Ukrainian heritage and traditions.”
Listed on the NFT marketplace OpenSea, the first drop of Pysanka NFTs for Ukraine will feature over 200 unique, generative 3D minted NFTs living on the Ethereum blockchain, out of over 3,500 that have been minted by artists at Archasia Meta Design. As of October 10, 2022, more 200 than cultural sites have been reported as damaged or destroyed in Ukraine since the onset of the war on February 24.
Earlier this month, Global Heritage Fund announced its partnership with University College London and Planet Labs, through which a digital geospatial inventory is being created using satellite imagery of destroyed Ukrainian heritage sites.
Donations can also be made today to support those who have lost their livelihoods working in Ukraine’s cultural sector by visiting The Giving Block and Global Heritage Fund’s donation page.
Visit https://art.globalheritage.io/ to learn more about the organizations working together to support Ukraine and to stay up to date on upcoming drops, including a rare collection from Mitzi Perdue.
ABOUT GLOBAL HERITAGE FUND
Founded in 2002 with the premise that cultural heritage protection can catalyze responsible social and economic development, Global Heritage Fund has worked in 20 countries supporting over 30 projects through creative collaborations and grassroots partnerships. Global Heritage Fund achieves its mission by developing programs that connect communities to expertise and funding, build resilience among stakeholders, create opportunity for local populations, foster innovation and creativity, and support sustainable travel. These efforts enhance local communities while preserving invaluable links to our shared human history.
Learn more at globalheritagefund.org.
For more information, please contact:
US enquiries
Matthew Strebe
Global Heritage Fund
mstrebe@globalheritagefund.org
+1 (510) 499-3819
UK enquiries
Olivia Jarrell
Global Heritage Fund