Ukrainian Artists Society of Australi

Ukrainian Artists Society of Australi

Ukrainian Artists Society of Australia
Logo of the Ukrainian Artists Society of Australia (NSW)
Abbreviation	СУОМА (in Ukrainian)
Formation
Type	NGO
Purpose/focus	promote Ukrainian culture, and especially art
Headquarters	Sydney
Region served	Originally Australia, later only NSW
Official languages	Ukrainian and English
President	Paul Kravchenko

The Ukrainian Artists Society of Australia Ukrainian : Спілка Українських Образотворчих Мистців Австралії) was founded in 1967 and was particularly active from the 1960s to the 1970s. As well as the national body, there were a number of other chapters founded in the other Australian states, however, the NSW chapter of the Society, using the acronym СУОМА (НПВ) — " SUOMA (NSW)", was the only society that continued to be active.

Background

Arriving in Australia migrants after post- Europe World War 2, Ukrainian amateur and professional artists contributed to the culture and development of the Ukrainian Australian community, and together with other artists in the arts fields of opera and ballet, have made a significant contribution to the development of the country. They participated in Ukrainian community cultural organisations like plast, and SUM, but also decorated stages for concerts and theatres, decorated church interiors, designed concert programs, flyers, banners, posters, and logos for various Ukrainian organisations. Some, like Michael Kmit and Leonid Denysenko, were successful as full-time artists.

The first major wave of Ukrainian immigrants to Australia began after World War II, arriving in Australia in 1948. Building a Ukrainian community within a new country was a goal for many ethnic Ukrainians who had been displaced by the war, and who refused to return to a homeland controlled by a repressive Soviet communist regime. The newly formed communities brought together professional and amateur actors, musicians, singers, and visual artists to Australia. Many of them, like Michael Kmit, completed art studies in higher centres of learning in Ukraine or Poland, and some had worked professionally before arriving in Australia. However, in their new chosen homeland they were expected to complete a 2-year work contract in employment chosen by the Australian Government. Many jobs for the immigrant males were physically difficult and were located away from major population centres in isolated villages and farms, and in some cases were demeaning by ignoring the person's profession and skills. In the early years, the women in the camps lived separately from the men; working in hospitals or in private homes as domestic workers.

Under such conditions, art and painting took on a secondary role, however after the fulfilment of these 2-year contracts the Ukrainian diaspora in Australia immediately began to organize social and cultural life. During the initial temporary camp life period, Ukrainians started to stage theatrical plays, concerts and displays of their craft work. By 1950 Denysenko was already being featured in the Australian Women's Weekly as a migrant artist from Ukraine.

The Ukrainian artists, along with others active in the Ukrainian amateur theatre, opera, and choirs, helped in the difficult task of ‘community building’ in the early years of Ukrainian settlement in Australia. Within a year or two, Ukrainians had formed theatrical societies and choirs in various locations. While most artists were employed in non-artistic related industries, some like Leonid Denysenko found work in Australia in the field of art, either teaching drawing in public and private schools, or in private graphic art firms. Michael Kmit, worked as a porterand cleaner of rail carriages in Sydney while he established himself as " one of Australia's best artists".

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