October Palace

The October Palace (Ukrainian: Жовтневий палац, romanized: Zhovtnevy palats) is a performing arts center in Kyiv, Ukraine. It is officially known as the International Center of Culture and Arts (Ukrainian: Міжнародний центр культури і мистецтв, romanized: Mizhnarodny tsentr kul'tury i mystetstv) of the Trade Union Federation of Ukraine, while October Palace is used for its brevity.

International Center of Culture and Arts
October Palace
View on the October Palace from the Instytutska street
Former namesInstitute for Noble Maidens
Addressvul. Instytutska, 1
Kyiv
Ukraine
OwnerFederation of Trade Unions of Ukraine
Construction
ArchitectVikentiy Beretti
Website
www.icca.kiev.ua

History

The building was built between 1838 and 1842 upon the design of architect Vikentiy Beretti as the Russian "Institute for Noble Maidens" (Russian: Институт благородных девиц, romanized: Institut Blagorodnykh Devits), hence the street where it was located was called Instytutska Street. After the revolution, the building was used by the government, including housing for Kyiv's Cheka (later known as the KGB).

Almost completely destroyed in the Second World War, the building was renovated between 1952 and 1959, and named the October Palace of Culture, used primarily as a concert stage. The street was also renamed October Revolution Street.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, it was renamed to its present-day name. Today, it continues to be used as a concert hall. A movie theater wing was recently added. Even now, the Centre remains a real centre of Ukraine's spiritual capital. The library's unique holding amounting to more than 70,000 items. Various events featuring famous writers, composers, diplomats, politicians, members of parliament and other public figures contribute to the spiritual renaissance of Ukraine, inspire people and endow them with ardent creativity. The well-lit and spacious rooms of the Centre's foyer are always capable of hosting exhibitions spectacularly, emphasising their strong points; the Centre hosts various exhibitions: those of painting, photography, consumer goods, technology and so on. The Centre's capabilities range from intimate family celebrations or somewhat larger anniversary celebrations to large international conferences, symposiums, seminars and congresses.[1]

The building is also the main training centre for prominent rhythmic gymnastics training center, the Deriugins School.[2]

During the 2013-2014 Euromaidan protest in Kyiv the October Palace became occupied by protesters.[2] According to Deriugins School pupil Ganna Rizatdinova, after Euromaidan her school discovered that some of their equipment "like a TV set and a kettle, balls and clubs" had disappeared; "it was a strange kind of robbery. We don't know who did it."[2]

In 2018 the British rock band Bring Me The Horizon shoot their music video for the song "Mantra" here.[3]

NKVD execution prison

During the years 1920-30 in the building about 120,000 people were killed (shot down or by other means). Among them - famous Soviet Ukrainian artists, painters, writers, politicians, professors, teachers, scientists, priests and so on.

Ensembles
  • National orchestra of folks instruments
  • Jazz orchestra "Muzychna laboratoria" (Music laboratory)
  • National ensemble of folk dance "Horlytsia"
  • National opera studios
  • National ensemble of classic ballet "Prosvit"
  • Children ensemble of classic ballet "Etyud"
  • Children ensemble of folk songs "Spivanochka"

References
  1. "International Centre for Culture and Arts".
  2. Anna RIZATDINOVA on the annexation of Crimea, challenges for the country and role of sport, Den (24 June 2014)
  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbLrohHjAf0&t=498s
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