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Due to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian Creative Stories (where Ukrainian Design: The Very Best Of is a part of it) will be held in a new format this year. The project is organized by the All-Ukrainian Advertising Coalition VRK and SAR Marketing Communication Association. The goal is to widely present Ukrainian agencies to the international community and to create a fund to support Ukraine's advertising agencies.

Today there is a war in Ukraine. Ukraine is heroically defending itself. Of course, each of Ukrainians personally and Ukrainian businesses support heroes, those who defend Ukraine with weapons in their hands from the aggressor's troops. Many people today need support and financial help.

It is also important not to lose yourself, thinking about the future after Ukrainian victory. Therefore, the Ukrainian President and Government call on businesses, where it is possible, to continue to work and fulfill their obligations to employees. "Paying people's salaries – even if the company does not work now – that is to protect Ukraine," said the President.

With the start of the war, the work of the Ukrainian advertising market almost stopped. Agencies were instantly left without means of subsistence. At the same time, many employees of the agencies are at the forefront, directly in the combat zones with weapons, are engaged in volunteer activities, or on the barricades of informational war, which is no less important part of Ukrainian struggle.   

Unfortunately, the reserves of Ukrainian agencies are not infinite, many companies are already on the verge of disappearance and dismissal of their employees.

The biggest associations in the advertising and communications market in Ukraine and Poland, All-Ukrainian Advertising Coalition VRK and SAR Marketing Communication Association, have joined their efforts to support the Ukrainian advertising industry. They have initiated a new format of Ukrainian Creative Stories that allows them to attract the attention of international advertising communities to support Ukraine.

Projects goals:

·     Demonstrate the creative potential of Ukrainian advertising agencies, people working in the advertising industry, both from a professional point of view and indomitable strength of spirit, because even in a long brutal war Ukrainians do not give up and accept all challenges.

·      Attract financial support for the Ukrainian advertising industry from advertising communities around the world.

The project will be presented by a shortened contest program, namely the Positive Change block within the framework of the 23rd Kyiv International Advertising Festival. The Positive Change block, where projects are awarded for the creativity of socially significant communications, will consist of the traditional categories, as well as a special category #StandWithUkraine.

Ukrainian Design: The Very Best Of contest is suspended and postponed to 2023. 

The important part of UCS will be a united presentation of all Ukrainian agencies to the international advertising community that will be presented to the world together with the contest winners’ announcement.

Participation for Ukrainian works is free of charge and for international agencies is for a fee. A fund to support the Ukrainian advertising industry will be formed based on payment for participation in the contest program by international agencies. The fund may also receive financial support from advertising associations, media, festivals, etc., which can express solidarity with Ukrainian colleagues.

In peacetime, to APPLY for the Kyiv International Advertising Festival meant to compete and win. And now, when the war rages, it means to SUPPORT Ukraine's creative industry.

The entry submission will last until May 20 on the website creative-stories.com.ua 

Join the festival. Let's support the Ukrainian advertising industry together!