John Hughes 130
The History
In 1869, John Hughes, an engineer from the South Wales industrial town of Merthyr Tydfil, travelled to Imperial Russia.
There, on the wide empty plains (the steppes) he set up an ironworks which developed into a huge industrial complex. Around the works grew up a town: Hughesovka.
By the first decade of the twentieth century, the population of Hughesovka was around 50,000 people, most of them working for or dependent on the works. The city's industry continued to expand however.
In 1924, during the Soviet period, the city was renamed Stalino (Сталино), and in 1932 became the centre of the Donetsk region. Finally renamed Donetsk in 1961, the city became a notable centre for coal mining and the steel industry with a population of over 982,000 inhabitants and a metropolitan area of over 2,000,000 people.
In 2014, Donetsk and its surrounding areas became a centre of political unrest with separatists and Ukrainian military forces fighting for control of the city and surrounding areas. As of May 8, 2018, the Donetsk People's Republic has full control of the city, with Ukrainian and DPR forces still engaging in combat outside of the city.
In 1869, John Hughes, an engineer from the South Wales industrial town of Merthyr Tydfil, travelled to Imperial Russia.
There, on the wide empty plains (the steppes) he set up an ironworks which developed into a huge industrial complex. Around the works grew up a town: Hughesovka.
By the first decade of the twentieth century, the population of Hughesovka was around 50,000 people, most of them working for or dependent on the works. The city's industry continued to expand however.
In 1924, during the Soviet period, the city was renamed Stalino (Сталино), and in 1932 became the centre of the Donetsk region. Finally renamed Donetsk in 1961, the city became a notable centre for coal mining and the steel industry with a population of over 982,000 inhabitants and a metropolitan area of over 2,000,000 people.
In 2014, Donetsk and its surrounding areas became a centre of political unrest with separatists and Ukrainian military forces fighting for control of the city and surrounding areas. As of May 8, 2018, the Donetsk People's Republic has full control of the city, with Ukrainian and DPR forces still engaging in combat outside of the city.
The Project
2019 will mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of Donetsk, and the 130th anniversary of the passing of John Hughes. It is proposed to hold a number of events to mark these anniversaries, and Hughes' significant achievements, through a series of cultural events in Hughes' hometown of Merthyr Tydfil, and throughout South Wales, beginning in late March.
Events proposed thus far are as follows:
Friday March 29
String Recital: Cyfartha Castle
Merthyr Tydfil
www.visitmerthyr.co.uk/cyfarthfa-park
Saturday March 30
Dziga Vertov: "Enthusiasm: The Symphony of Donbass" (1930)
with live string quartet accompaniment
Theatr Soar, Merthyr Tydfil
www.theatrsoar.co.uk
Saturday March 30
Film Premiere: "Donbass" (2018)
Theatr Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil
www.redhousecymru.com
Sunday March 31 TBC
Piano Recital: Dmitri Onishchenko
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
onishenko.org
Sunday March 31 TBC
Dziga Vertov: "Enthusiasm: The Symphony of Donbass"
with live string quartet accompaniment
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
www.wmc.org.uk/glanfa
Friday March 24 to Sunday March 26
Merthyr Rising Festival
www.merthyrrising.uk
Further information on these, and other events celebrating John Hughes will be published here as they are confirmed
2019 will mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of Donetsk, and the 130th anniversary of the passing of John Hughes. It is proposed to hold a number of events to mark these anniversaries, and Hughes' significant achievements, through a series of cultural events in Hughes' hometown of Merthyr Tydfil, and throughout South Wales, beginning in late March.
Events proposed thus far are as follows:
Friday March 29
String Recital: Cyfartha Castle
Merthyr Tydfil
www.visitmerthyr.co.uk/cyfarthfa-park
Saturday March 30
Dziga Vertov: "Enthusiasm: The Symphony of Donbass" (1930)
with live string quartet accompaniment
Theatr Soar, Merthyr Tydfil
www.theatrsoar.co.uk
Saturday March 30
Film Premiere: "Donbass" (2018)
Theatr Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil
www.redhousecymru.com
Sunday March 31 TBC
Piano Recital: Dmitri Onishchenko
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
onishenko.org
Sunday March 31 TBC
Dziga Vertov: "Enthusiasm: The Symphony of Donbass"
with live string quartet accompaniment
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
www.wmc.org.uk/glanfa
Friday March 24 to Sunday March 26
Merthyr Rising Festival
www.merthyrrising.uk
Further information on these, and other events celebrating John Hughes will be published here as they are confirmed
Previous Events
Kharkiv, Ukraine: August 2013
In August 2013, a 24 piece brass ensemble from Symphonic Brass Wales, visited the city of Kharkiv, as guests of the Department of Culture of the Kharkiv Region.
The ensemble's visit was part of the 70th anniversary celebrations of the liberation of the Kharkiv from enemy occupation in 1943.
SBW performed in a televised, grand scale performance in the presence of the then Ukrainian President, Veterans of the Great Patriotic War (World War II) and other VIP guests, together with a variety of international bands, including representatives from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Turkey and more.
The Welsh contingent also performed in an massed open event for the general public in Freedom Square, and gave a stand alone concert performance for people of the Chervonozavodsky region
In August 2013, a 24 piece brass ensemble from Symphonic Brass Wales, visited the city of Kharkiv, as guests of the Department of Culture of the Kharkiv Region.
The ensemble's visit was part of the 70th anniversary celebrations of the liberation of the Kharkiv from enemy occupation in 1943.
SBW performed in a televised, grand scale performance in the presence of the then Ukrainian President, Veterans of the Great Patriotic War (World War II) and other VIP guests, together with a variety of international bands, including representatives from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Turkey and more.
The Welsh contingent also performed in an massed open event for the general public in Freedom Square, and gave a stand alone concert performance for people of the Chervonozavodsky region
Exhibition / Diplomatic Mission: November 2013
Courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
In Cardiff harbour on November 13, an opening of an art exhibition dedicated to the 200th anniversary of John Hughes, Welsh engineer and founder of city Donetsk, took place. The event was organised by the Embassy of Ukraine to the United Kingdom.
First Minister of the Welsh Government Carwyn Jones, Mayor of Donetsk Olexander Luk'yanchenko, Former First Minister Rhodri Morgan, Mayor of Cardiff Derek Morgan, members of the National Assembly of Wales, Ambassador of Ukraine Volodymyr Khandogiy and representatives of the Ukrainian community attended the opening of the exhibition of Ms Tetyana Ponomarenko-Laverash, honored artist of Ukraine. The exhibition "Hughesovka. The future begins in the past", was then displayed until November 17 at the Norwegian Church Arts Centre.
During the opening ceremony, Ambassador Khandogiy emphasised that, having invested his skills and inspiration in Donetsk, Mr. John Hughes proved that advanced technology can bring great improvements, modernization and development despite political boundaries. "Thus, we can say that Ukraine’s advancement on the track of the European integration in its practical dimension has started a long time ago, in particular with the help of such pioneers as John Hughes", said the Ambassador.
In turn Carwyn Jones, First Minister of the Welsh Government, underlined the importance of such cultural projects for developing bilateral regional co-operation between Ukraine and Wales.
Welcoming the VIP-guests on behalf of the Donetsk City Administration Oleksandr Lukyanchenko stated that the name of John Hughes was remembered and respected in modern Donetsk. His innovative and creative approach to business serves as an example for the people of Donetsk today. On this occasion Oleksandr Lukyanchenko invited the guests to visit Donetsk next year and to participate in the celebrations dedicated to the commemoration of John Hughes’ bicentenary.
During the event the Mayor of Donetsk presented the picture "Hughesovka" by Tetyana Ponomarenko-Laverash to the city of Cardiff as a sign of friendship. This extraordinary piece of art was created with the help of children with disabilities.
The Mayor of Donetsk Oleksandr Lukyanchenko and Ambassador Volodymyr Khandogiy also laid a wreath to the monument of John Hughes in West Norwood in London, with the financial support of Ukrainian businessman Rinat Akhmetov's Foundation «Development of Ukraine». The ceremony was held with the assistance of Bob Flanagan, President of the “Friends of West Norwood Cemetery” community.
A photogallery of the event in Cardiff can be found here
Courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
In Cardiff harbour on November 13, an opening of an art exhibition dedicated to the 200th anniversary of John Hughes, Welsh engineer and founder of city Donetsk, took place. The event was organised by the Embassy of Ukraine to the United Kingdom.
First Minister of the Welsh Government Carwyn Jones, Mayor of Donetsk Olexander Luk'yanchenko, Former First Minister Rhodri Morgan, Mayor of Cardiff Derek Morgan, members of the National Assembly of Wales, Ambassador of Ukraine Volodymyr Khandogiy and representatives of the Ukrainian community attended the opening of the exhibition of Ms Tetyana Ponomarenko-Laverash, honored artist of Ukraine. The exhibition "Hughesovka. The future begins in the past", was then displayed until November 17 at the Norwegian Church Arts Centre.
During the opening ceremony, Ambassador Khandogiy emphasised that, having invested his skills and inspiration in Donetsk, Mr. John Hughes proved that advanced technology can bring great improvements, modernization and development despite political boundaries. "Thus, we can say that Ukraine’s advancement on the track of the European integration in its practical dimension has started a long time ago, in particular with the help of such pioneers as John Hughes", said the Ambassador.
In turn Carwyn Jones, First Minister of the Welsh Government, underlined the importance of such cultural projects for developing bilateral regional co-operation between Ukraine and Wales.
Welcoming the VIP-guests on behalf of the Donetsk City Administration Oleksandr Lukyanchenko stated that the name of John Hughes was remembered and respected in modern Donetsk. His innovative and creative approach to business serves as an example for the people of Donetsk today. On this occasion Oleksandr Lukyanchenko invited the guests to visit Donetsk next year and to participate in the celebrations dedicated to the commemoration of John Hughes’ bicentenary.
During the event the Mayor of Donetsk presented the picture "Hughesovka" by Tetyana Ponomarenko-Laverash to the city of Cardiff as a sign of friendship. This extraordinary piece of art was created with the help of children with disabilities.
The Mayor of Donetsk Oleksandr Lukyanchenko and Ambassador Volodymyr Khandogiy also laid a wreath to the monument of John Hughes in West Norwood in London, with the financial support of Ukrainian businessman Rinat Akhmetov's Foundation «Development of Ukraine». The ceremony was held with the assistance of Bob Flanagan, President of the “Friends of West Norwood Cemetery” community.
A photogallery of the event in Cardiff can be found here