"Svitanok" in Ukrainian means dawn, commence. Created during the war, there is hope in the title that the darkness of this time will end soon. But also, there is an ambition that the international collaborations started during the festival will continue to rise.

The first edition happened in Norway. Every next one will be in different cities and countries, bringing progressive Ukrainian culture and connecting with local cultural institutions and artists. We started with only a music program; it will be broadened to other art forms in the future. But at least one performance will always be created for the festival, where Ukrainian and local artists will be commissioned to improvise or prepare a project in advance. With such a programming approach, we strive to promote Ukrainian culture and create a sustainable connection between artists of the two countries and those venues and organizations who partner with us.

We hope the festival will help discover a progressive Ukrainian culture, new names, and aesthetics, not marginalized to folklore. That our voice will become louder and the story clear for foreigners. And for those, who happen to be temporarily displaced, it will provide temporary relief by giving a message from home and hope that the darkest time is before the dawn.