Art in the Atlantic

We provide refuge for Ukranian artist families escaping the war to regroup, heal and continue their artistic practise in one of the most beautiful places in the world: the Azores islands.

Since the war started, we have helped 6 families, including 9 children. We want to do more - please join us!

Get Involved

Our Mission

To promote the values of social justice and protect the spirit, identity and culture of Ukraine.

Our Stories

Anita

My name is Anita Nemet.
I'm an artist, curator and researcher from Ukraine. My life story never had straight lines and the only thing I knew for sure is that my life will be a creative space in any situation.

Full Story
Kateryna

I’m Kateryna Kondratyeva from Ivano-Frankivsk in Ukraine.
Me, my daughter, and our cat came to the Azores because of this program. My husband stayed to defend our country and we miss him very much.

Full Story
Olha

Warm greetings and welcome to my Universe of art!
I am Olha Varnali: an artist from the pearl of the sea — Odesa — and the mother of three wonderful children!

Full Story
Yana

My name is Yana and we are a family of artists.
I am a photographer, and my husband, Vasyl Stefanyshyn, is a painter & teacher at a children's art school. Kateryna, our daughter, is growing up to be an aesthete and an admirer of all things beautiful!

Full Story
Vedana

I am Vedana and Khristyna is my daughter. We are from Ukraine and we came to this beautiful island because of the war in our country.
Back in Ukraine I used to make handmade candles in my small private workshop while my daughter was studying at school and drawing in her spare time. But with the first shelling of our hometown everything changed.

Full Story

What We Do

We are an NGO registered in the Azores, and our members mostly work as volunteers. In collaboration with local partners and the artists, we facilitate access to the following:

Transportation

Travel support from where you are to Ponta Delgada, São Miguel.
Shared Housing

Centrally located, shared with other Ukrainian families.
Food Support Program

Enrollment in the local “banco alimentar” for food supplies
National Schooling System

Enrollment for children at local public schools.
Portuguese Language Classes

For adults, from A1 level onwards.
National Health Care System

Enrollment at the local Health Care Center

Any parent or parents with a child or children are welcome.
This includes single moms or dads, families with two parents or LGBTQ parents.

See Our Gallery

Olha Varnali

Abstractionist

Olha's Art
Yana Stefanyshyn

Photographer

MISSING LINK
Kateryna Kondratyeva

Watercolour Painter

Kateryna's Art

Get Involved

Whether you’re in the Azores or elsewhere in this wide and interconnected planet, you can contribute in 3 ways:

Become a Member

Pay an annual fee, help out with daily tasks or participate in decision-making

Register
Fund a Family

Provide direct support to a family with an amount adjusted to the living costs in Azores.

Fund
Donate for Art

Help our artists get back into action by contributing to the purchase of art materials

Donate

Who Are We

We began this project in March 2022 as a group of restless people who needed to do something to help alleviate the injustice of this war. For that purpose we set up a non-profit organisation called Refugioval Association, whose mission is to help artists in need to get away from chaos and danger and find the peace and stability they need here, in the Azores - where we hoped they would be inspired by stunning nature and the gentle warmth of community to get back on their feet. Since 2022 we have hosted six Ukrainian artist families and grown our community of supporters, while also growing the organization toward a self-sustaining operation led by three Ukrainian women artists and professionals now based in the Azores. Our mission of supporting Ukrainian artists and their families has deepened into a dynamic cultural exchange with local artists, arts organizations, and communities - a world of new relationships, new conversations, new understanding, new possibilities, new ground.