Cultural Workers Studio began as an emergency initiative by Viktoria Lyakh, Inga Zimprich, and Sönke Hallman in February 2022. Following an initial Open Letter stating opposition to russia’s full-scale invasion that year, the project saw meetings on Saturday afternoons beginning February 26 (“Cultural Workers’ Cafes”) to welcome cultural workers arriving from Ukraine, at Flutgraben e.V., as an informal opportunity to build community together.
The project evolved into a shared studio, rehearsal, exhibition space, and accommodation for and led by cultural workers from Ukraine. The project attempts to offer support and community for people from Ukraine to continue their cultural practices, listen to and meet their needs. The project is horizontal, consensus-based, and solidarity/dialogue-driven, attempting access to convivial resources, opening a space for possible collaborations, access to living needs including work, and emergency support.