The autumn of 2026 in Tbilisi, Georgia, was marked by a series of significant events connected to Kharkiv and the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts.

In late September, Hanna KURINNA — Dean of the Faculty of Audiovisual Arts and Media Technologies, Associate Professor, and PhD in Art History — paid a friendly working visit to the Apollon Kutateladze Tbilisi State Academy of Arts (Georgia).

During a meeting with the leadership of the Tbilisi Academy, a Memorandum of Cooperation was officially signed, reaffirming the long-standing friendship between the two higher education institutions and establishing a framework for planning and implementing joint artistic and research projects.

The signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts (Ukraine) and the Apollon Kutateladze Tbilisi State Academy of Arts (Georgia).

Through ongoing creative cooperation between KSADA’s Faculty of Audiovisual Arts and Media Technologies and the Faculty of Media Arts at TSAA (headed by Dean Nana IASHVILI), a series of joint initiatives have already taken place. These include the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Audiovisual Art and Media Technologies: Modern Trends and Development Prospects” (2025, 2026, KSADA) and a joint international grant project for professional development among audiovisual educators (2026).

Furthermore, KSADA’s Faculty of Audiovisual Arts and Media Technologies is scheduled to participate in the International Media Art Week 2027 in Tbilisi, dedicated to the theme “Collective Memory and Identity in Contemporary Media Art and Digital Media”.

The administration of the Apollon Kutateladze Tbilisi State Academy of Arts together with Hanna KURINNA, Dean of the Faculty of Audiovisual Art and Media Technologies, and the organisers of the Art&Travel Festival.

It is also important that Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts and Apollon Kutateladze Tbilisi State Academy of Arts share their support for the internationally recognised film festival project ART&TRAVEL FESTIVAL, which took place in Tbilisi at the end of September and became another significant event of the autumn.

As part of the project, students and lecturers from Georgia and Ukraine had the opportunity to attend a masterclass by Polish artist and Academy Award (Oscar) winner Zbigniew ŻMUDZKI, with both online and in-person participation.

Zbigniew ŻMUDZKI engaging in an online session with KSADA students.

This unique “cultural bridge”, organised with the participation and support of Hanna KURINNA (who served as a guest of honour and speaker at the festival), cemented the friendship between the two Academies and gave it a new “international dimension”. A continuation of the masterclass, featuring screenings of Zbigniew ŻMUDZKI’s iconic animated films, is scheduled to take place at KSADA in October to mark International Animation Day.

Lecturers and students of the Apollon Kutateladze Tbilisi State Academy of Arts at a meeting with Zbigniew ŻMUDZKI.

The ART&TRAVEL FESTIVAL also recognised Ukrainian creators among its winners and leading participants, with video works by KSADA lecturers and students receiving awards and distinctions. It is particularly gratifying that the award for “Best Photography” was presented to Hennadii UDOVYCHENKO, a lecturer at the Department of Photography and Visual Practices, by Yuri MECHITOV — a student of the outstanding filmmaker Sergei PARAJANOV, photographer, and lecturer at the Apollon Kutateladze Tbilisi State Academy of Arts.

Hanna KURINNA, Dean of the Faculty of Audiovisual Arts and Media Technologies, is holding the award presented to Hennadii UDOVYCHENKO by Yuri MECHITOV.

In addition, students of KSADA’s Faculty of Audiovisual Arts and Media Technologies – Lidiia VOKALCHUK and Serhii PASICHNYK – received individual certificates of distinction as festival participants. Congratulations to all the winners and participants!

The awards for the Ukrainian participants make their way to Ukraine and their home city of Kharkiv.

…At this time of year, red pomegranates usually ripen in Tbilisi. These fruits remind us that every seed planted has the potential to grow into a strong tree that will, again and again, bear fruit for the world. In the same way, the seeds of friendship and cooperation, sown through joint efforts, inevitably grow into fruitful educational projects.

September in Tbilisi teaches us to recognise the “fruits” of our efforts, appreciate the results, and continue cultivating new ideas for meaningful cooperation…

A moment following the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between KSADA and TSAA.