Turning a creative passion into a successful business project is the dream of many young artists. How to combine creativity with entrepreneurial skills, find like-minded people, and reach an international level? These were the central questions at the Erasmus+ youth exchange “STARTArt – Stimulating Talent in Arts through Resources and Training for Art entrepreneurship”, which took place from August 13 to 21, 2025, in the picturesque Slovak town of Ružomberok. A participant in this intensive program was Maryna Makukha, a master's student of the “Architecture and Urban Planning” speciality at the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”, who returned with a unique experience, new knowledge, and unforgettable impressions.
The “STARTArt” project, organised by the Slovak organisation IKReON, brought together 38 participants from 7 countries: Slovakia, Austria, Norway, Greece, Ukraine, Italy, and Spain. The main goal of the initiative was to develop entrepreneurial skills among young people aged 18-25, using art as a catalyst for creating economic value. The exchange program was designed to provide participants with the tools to transform their creative ideas into sustainable business projects.
According to Maryna Makukha, this project was one of the best for her, although not the first. She notes that its main distinguishing features were the people and the knowledge.
“During the project, I received a huge amount of knowledge that I had studied for years at the university. The intensity of the classes and tasks was very high; at times, it was difficult and exhausting, but the result was worth it – we presented five art-themed startups. It was an unforgettable experience”, – Maryna shares her impressions.
Throughout the week, participants studied business tools for monetising creativity, generated business ideas, learned about the principles of circular economy and Lean Startup, developed business plans using the Canva model, and practised pitching. The culmination of the educational part was a visit to a startup incubator, where young entrepreneurs had the opportunity to validate their ideas and receive feedback from experts.
However, the people and intercultural communication proved to be no less important than the knowledge. The Ukrainian team, consisting of six proactive girls, represented our culture and traditions at the international level.
“Words cannot describe how close we became with the other participants over these 8 days. It seems we have become a real international, strong, and friendly family. We even had a Ukrainian wedding, but more on that next time. Our story is not over; we continue to communicate, and perhaps soon I will go to visit someone. And, of course, like all of us, I am waiting for the moment when I can safely invite my new friends to visit me in Ukraine”, – the student says.
Maryna Makukha's experience clearly demonstrates that Erasmus+ programs are not just about learning but are a powerful platform for personal growth, acquiring practical skills, and establishing international connections. Poltava Polytechnic is proud of its active students and continues to create opportunities for their comprehensive development and integration into the European space.
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Previously, Maryna Makukha participated in Erasmus+ youth exchanges “Art Myths Culture”, the first and second parts of “The Power of Young Artists”, “Into the wild”, took part in the 8th International Conference ICAMES 2024, and as part of a delegation from the Polytechnic, represented the university at a large-scale event hosted by a Latvian partner university.
As a reminder, faculty members of Poltava Polytechnic are eligible to participate in academic mobility and internship programs. Students can study abroad through Erasmus+ credit academic mobility grant programs for a semester or a full academic year at leading universities in Austria, Greenland, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the Czech Republic.
For more detailed information on current internship, teaching, and academic mobility programs abroad, please get in touch with the International Relations Office (office 213-C, interoffice@nupp.edu.ua) or the coordinator of international activities at the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” – Anna Pavelieva, Ph.D. in Philology, Associate Professor of the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation (email: kunsite.zi@gmail.com, phone: +38-(095)-91-08-192).
Media Centre of
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
