NBU and Ukrainian House Present Unique Exhibition ‘The Hryvnia. More than Money’

The National Bank of Ukraine and the Ukrainian House National Center have launched a unique exhibition project “The Hryvnia. More than Money,” which is dedicated to Ukraine’s national currency. 

The exhibition was presented by the organizers – NBU Governor Andriy Pyshnyy and Director of Ukrainian House National Center Olha Viieru.

“Our exhibition will be an incentive to learn more about the hryvnia,” said Pyshnyy. “We’re delighted by the incredible demand from the public to study the true history and culture of Ukraine. We have created this tour exhibition primarily to encourage people to become even more interested in the hryvnia. Because even in the vast space of the Ukrainian House it is impossible to cover the entire available array of facts, testimonies, and materials. Therefore, we believe that the exhibition will be an impetus for everyone to start their own search. After all, the hryvnia is our legacy. It is an attribute of statehood, a voice of historical epochs, and a witness to the formation and development of Ukraine. It is a work of art, and a high-tech secure product. The hryvnia is what unites Ukrainians. It is us, it is our cultural code, and it carries it. The hryvnia is inseparable from the Ukrainian nation, from our history, and it actually tells this history. We tell about the hryvnia through figures, events, personalities, through entire epochs and times. We tell about it in the language of art and the language of the younger generation. After all, each generation has the right to say something of its own about the hryvnia. We hope that this exhibition will interest people with history, design and art, and draw attention to other aspects of sovereignty. We also hope that it will encourage us to return and protect our own in every step, in every decision.”

“From the very beginning, the idea of the hryvnia project inspired us with the scale and potential we saw in it,” said Viieru. “That is why we came up with such an apt name, because the hryvnia is really more than money for us – it is our history, culture, and identity. It is a great creative and organizational challenge to expose all the strata and aspects, to collect unique artifacts and evidence, to show the connectedness and continuity of the tradition from Ukraine-Rus to the present, and the people who made the hryvnia, those who sought and established our statehood, because the hryvnia is about the state, the Ukraine we dreamed of, which was created over generations by the best of us – politicians, philosophers, and artists. Side by side with the NBU, we have come this way, realizing the great task we have to do – to open up this vastness of spirit, history and meanings to the visitors of the exhibition.”

The hryvnia reflects the stages of formation of the Ukrainian nation, political processes, outstanding cultural achievements, and the relentless pursuit of freedom. Like other state symbols, the hryvnia is an important element of historical memory and identity. 

“The hryvnia is really more than money. It is the energy of the state,” said Ruslan Stefanchuk, speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, at the opening of the exhibition. “The exhibition shows how the hryvnia has evolved: from metal samples and banknotes created by the genius Heorhii Narbut, to modern banknotes that reflect the aesthetics of independent Ukraine. The hryvnia is not only a symbol of identity, but also a part of history that permeates all eras of Ukrainian statehood. It shows when Ukraine was Ukrainian, and when it was under foreign control. We have another historic challenge – to untie the hryvnia from the shameful kopeck. This is a symbolic and important step. I believe that this idea will be implemented, including in the Ukrainian parliament.”

Reflecting the spirit of its era, the design of each hryvnia bears the imprint of Ukrainians’ struggle for the existence of their own independent country. Thus, the hryvnia in the exhibition appears alongside paintings, graphics, and sculpture, resonating with artists’ works and maintaining an ongoing cultural dialogue between generations.

“The national currency, the hryvnia, has become a pillar of our resilience at a time when an economy based on the ruble is paying for the war against us,” said Mykola Tochytskyi, the Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine. “The old compromise with the communists about kopecks should finally be removed from the archives. It should be replaced by the decision to introduce the hryvnia and the shah, which was already ready but postponed. It is actually in line with our national tradition, history, and the spirit of the times. As with all stages of de-communization, the rejection of the kopeck will meet with resistance, misunderstanding, and criticism, but in the end, this idea of reclaiming what is ours will win out.”

“Ukraine’s money is a story about who we are, how we fought for our independence, and where we are going,” said Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Olena Kovalska. “After all, today’s hryvnia is indeed one of the main symbols of our independence. It depicts a pantheon of heroes, including three writers, one of whom was also an artist, and another a philosopher. And two more of the heroes were scientists. This distinguishes us from other countries, which mostly have presidents or dictators on their banknotes, or towers and monuments to the vanished past, or animals... We are a nation that loves people. We are a nation that values writers, philosophers, artists, and scientists. This is what today’s exhibition is about. Thank you for this wonderful excursion into the history of our country, which is especially important in the difficult times in which we live today.” 

The exhibition project was worked on for several months by experts from the National Bank of Ukraine and the Ukrainian House, who combined their efforts, knowledge, and competencies to carry out extensive research to create a unique educational project, which is important for the development of the country’s cultural space, for uniting Ukrainian society, and for strengthening national identity. 

The project’s partners are Oschadbank, PrivatBank, TASKOMBANK, UKRSIBBANK, and Visa.

“The importance of the hryvnia for the state cannot be overestimated,” said Serhii Naumov, Chair of the Management Board at Oschadbank. “The hryvnia is not just a means of payment, but the foundation of our economic independence and sovereignty, which we are defending today in a fierce war against russia. By supporting this exhibition, Oschadbank contributes to the dissemination of knowledge about one of the most important symbols of Ukrainian statehood, which embodies our national consciousness and pride.”

“The UKRSIBBANK BNP Paribas Group is proud to have supported the exhibition,” said Laurent Dupuch, Chairman of the Management Board of the UKRSIBBANK BNP Paribas Group. “As a bank backed by the international financial group BNP Paribas, and being deeply committed to the sustainable recovery and development of Ukraine, we realize that the hryvnia is more than just a currency. For Ukrainians, it symbolizes the resilience of the nation, and is a symbol of sovereignty and economic identity. The idea of the exhibition is in line with our mission and vision – to promote a stable and future-oriented financial ecosystem that serves both people and businesses. Raising awareness of the historical and cultural significance of the hryvnia strengthens national unity and improves financial literacy, helps boost confidence in the financial system, and bolsters Ukraine’s sovereignty. We believe that such initiatives inspire trust, resilience and a shared vision of a prosperous future.”

“TASKOMBANK is a Ukrainian bank with Ukrainian capital. It was established on this land and it cares about its fate,” said Volodymyr Dubiei, Chairman of the Management Board of TASKOMBANK. “It is this concern and belief in Ukraine that inspire us to support valuable and meaningful projects, just as we have been supporting Ukrainian entrepreneurs for 35 years. This is something close and relatable to us. This exhibition presents the history of the hryvnia from different angles and in different ways: through artworks, historical artifacts and archival materials. And this is yet another chance to make sure that our heritage, of which the hryvnia is a part, is multi-dimensional, not flat, like the one they have been trying to impose on us for years. The Ukrainian hryvnia is a symbol that has passed through the centuries, that was revived with the independent state, and that remains one of the markers of our independence.”

“PrivatBank is proud to be a partner of this important project aimed at preserving and popularizing the cultural heritage of Ukrainians,” said Mikael Björknert, CEO of PrivatBank. “We believe that supporting educational initiatives is key to creating a sustainable economy and strengthening national identity, especially in these challenging times. This exhibition provides a deep understanding of the fact that the hryvnia is an important symbol of independence, cultural uniqueness and economic development. By supporting this event, we not only meet the expectations of our customers regarding the role of PrivatBank in society, but also contribute to the development of the economy, education and financial literacy in Ukraine.”

“Visa in Ukraine has always supported initiatives aimed at developing culture and education,” said Tetiana Chorna, Vice Manager, Visa Country Manager in Ukraine. “This project is a unique opportunity to show the depth of our history and identity. In partnership with the National Bank of Ukraine, we are pleased to be a part of this journey, which helps not only to preserve cultural heritage, but also to develop national pride.”

Each individual exhibit is interesting and unique, and all of them are gathered together in one space for the first time. The first thing visitors to the exhibition see is an unusual solution from the creative team – a single huge canvas stretching across the floor, a spatial and visual art installation that intertwines facts about the hryvnia with social and philosophical issues. The exhibition also showcases the most comprehensive retrospective of the history of Ukrainian money, a kind of timeline of the hryvnia’s life from antiquity to the present. A separate room is dedicated to the process of creating the modern hryvnia – from ideas to printing.  

The exhibition also contains archival materials, artifacts, and works of art by artists of the past and present. It features sketch designs for Ukrainian money by prominent artists, such as Oleksandr Bohomazov, Heorhii Narbut, Vasyl Krychevskyi, Mykhailo Boichuk, Myron Yatsiv, and Vasyl Lopata. 

The exhibition will interest both adults and children. Young visitors will be able to attend various workshops, quests, entertainment and educational events, including financial literacy.

The exhibition will be held from 28 March to 11 May 2025 at the Ukrainian House National Center (Kyiv, 2 Khreshchatyk Street). Admission to the exhibition is by ticket. The exhibition’s opening hours and the schedule of public events are available at the website of the Ukrainian House National Center.