View source for Amateur theatre during war (Donbas, Ukraine)

House of Culture (Novhorodske / New York)



The House of Culture in New York/Novhorodske (formerly known as Novhorodske and historically as New York) was a cultural institution located in the urban-type settlement of New York, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. Like many such venues built during the Soviet era, the House of Culture served as a central hub for community life, combining functions of a theatre, cinema, concert hall, and club for amateur artistic collectives.


Houses of Culture (budynok kultury) were widespread across the Soviet Union in the mid-20th century, constructed as part of state policies aimed at fostering “cultured leisure” and promoting socialist values. They often hosted music ensembles, theatre groups, dance collectives, and film screenings, while also providing spaces for lectures, educational activities, and political meetings.

Following Ukraine’s independence in 1991, many Houses of Culture faced underfunding and gradual decline. In Donetsk Oblast, particularly in frontline towns like Novhorodske (renamed back to New York in 2021 to restore its historical name), the institution’s role was reshaped by economic hardship and the impacts of the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine.


Despite challenges, the House of Culture in New York remained an important marker of local identity. Cultural practitioners, local activists, and international collaborators have utilised the space for community initiatives, exhibitions, and theatre projects that explore themes of memory, resilience, and the war experience.