The worldwide amber community is a broad circle of amber enthusiasts and specialists working towards the development of the amber industry in their countries and around the globe. For all of them, the general situation in the industry of a given country, as well as individual companies, is of significant importance. Therefore, the main event of 2012 should be considered the commencement of industrial amber extraction in Ukraine. In June 2012, a Ukrainian enterprise Solar Craft Centre extraction of amber raw material from the Volodymyrets-Vostok deposit (Rivne Oblast). This was an important event for the members of the Ukrainian Amber World association, amber miners and all of Ukraine.
Almost a year later, on 8 April 2013, another amber mining season was inaugurated with the ceremonial opening of a new museum in Kyiv. Amber Road, which is located in St. Sophia Cathedral (a monument of architecture listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1990). Specimens of amber from the deposit in Volodymyrets Vostochnyy were transferred to this facility. The opening of the museum described above was announced for the 4th Amber Route Cities Forum in Gdańsk (2012) and the international conference Past – Present and Future: cooperation along the historical Amber Route in Vilnius, Lithuania (2012). Both projects are excellent forums for international cultural exchange and help to strengthen cooperation on amber tourism routes that connect European countries.
The year 2013 was rich in many important cultural events organised by the association Ukrainian Amber World. In April 2013, we launched a unique project Amber mosaics in Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, which we promoted at, among others, the ITB fair in Berlin (2013). For the first time in the world, through the use of amber, we recreated mosaics with Byzantine motifs preserved in the mosaics and frescoes located in the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, Saint Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral, and Saint Cyril's Church in Kyiv. The mosaic panel presented as part of the exhibition Amber mosaics in St Sophia's Cathedral, Kyiv They were created by artists from Ukraine and Italy using amber and a classical technique. The grand opening of the exhibition took place on 8 April 2013 and generated great interest among residents and the press. Among the distinguished guests was Marko Santi, president and artistic director of the Ravenna Mosaicists Group [Gruppo Mosaicisti Ravenna]. This is a conservation workshop operating in that city within the Basilica of San Vitale, known for its Byzantine mosaics (5th–6th century).
We have ambitious plans for the development of the Amber World of Ukraine association. We want to establish cooperation with international collectors of unique amber, which is legally extracted in the Rivne region and is certified by the state gemological service of Ukraine. We are studying new directions for the innovative use of amber in interior design, as well as in medical and health projects. It is worth noting that Ukraine, which declared itself an „amber state” later than others, has great potential, and most importantly, it already has concrete achievements. Currently, Ukraine has two deposits: Klesiv and Volodymyrets East, where amber is legally mined. Amber Museums operate in Kyiv and Rivne. So far, we have organised three international scientific and practical conferences. Amber Road, We organise many artistic amber jewellery exhibitions, work on interior design projects, and research the use of amber in medical and health projects. Therefore, we can only lament that Ukraine is not yet on the map of the Amber Road European route.
We already have the Ukrainian amber route. Now is the time to connect our routes. The foundations for this are in place. We will all benefit from this. Create your amber world with us! – this is the association's motto and slogan Amber Ukraine. In our opinion, this slogan deserves to become the slogan of the European Amber Route!
Source: Amber News Review 2013 World Amber Council