Applications for the Generation Nika Award open on 15 November: ZMINA introduces a special human rights award

A story of loss can give rise to support, creativity and new opportunities for young people. This is the mission behind the Generation Nika Award, established in memory of Veronika Kozhushko, an artist and poet from Kharkiv who was killed in a Russian attack on her hometown. 

Veronika Kozhushko. Collage: ZMINA 

“We decided to support this award because we were deeply moved by how a painful story of loss can become a powerful source of support for young people,” said Inna Ilchenko, Project Manager at the Human Rights Centre ZMINA. 

Applications for the annual Generation Nika Award, which recognises young Ukrainian artists and writers, will open on 15 November 2026. This year, the Human Rights Centre ZMINA will, for the first time, present a special award for works addressing human rights issues. 

The award will be open to artists and writers aged 16 to 21 working in visual arts or literature. It will recognise artistic testimonies that turn personal experiences of war or social challenges into works of art exploring human rights, civic engagement and the strengthening of democratic resilience. 

“We believe that art is an incredibly powerful way to speak about human rights. It is important to us to give young people the space to express their civic views through art,” said Ana More, Head of the Civil Society Protection Programme at the Human Rights Centre ZMINA. 

The winner of the human rights category will receive a voucher worth UAH 25,000 for an educational programme or courses of their choice. Options include courses in English, web design, graphic design, art history and other subjects. The voucher will be valid for one year from the date it is awarded. 

With the winner’s consent, ZMINA will also offer promotional and media support, including a recorded interview and video content for the Centre’s platforms, as well as an opportunity to appear on Ukrainian Radio. 

What other opportunities does the award offer? 

The main Generation Nika Award has two categories for participants aged 16 to 21: 

• visual arts – painting, graphic art and digital painting; 
• literature – poetry, fiction and essays. 

The winner in each category will receive UAH 40,000. 

Separate awards will also be available for younger participants aged 12 to 15. The Serhiy Zhadan Charitable Foundation will recognise literary works, while the AZA NIZI MAZA studio will recognise works of visual art. Each winner will receive UAH 6,000. 

In addition, the Omega and Khartiia military units will present two special awards for the best literary and visual artworks addressing military themes. 

How to apply 

Applications will be accepted from 15 November 2026 to 15 January 2027. Ukrainian citizens who meet the age requirements are eligible to submit their work. Applicants do not need to have previously published their work or participated in exhibitions. Both published and unpublished original works are eligible for the competition. 

Applicants must prepare the following: 

• an application form and the relevant consent forms for the processing of personal data and non-commercial use of the submitted work; 
• a creative CV or biography; 
• the competition entry: a literary work in Word format or high-quality photographs of artworks in JPEG format, specifying the title, year of creation, materials used and dimensions. 

Separate application and consent forms are provided for participants under 18, which must also be signed by a parent or legal guardian, depending on the participant’s age. 

Applications must be sent to nikageneration24@gmail.com. The email subject line must read: “Generation Nika Award Application – [Surname] – Category [name of category or special award]”. An application will only be considered accepted once the applicant receives a confirmation email. Entry to the competition is free of charge. 

When will the results be announced? 

By 15 April 2027, the organisers will publish the longlists for the main award and ZMINA’s human rights award. The shortlists, featuring three candidates in each category, will be announced on 25 April. 

A separate jury at the Human Rights Centre ZMINA will select the winner of the human rights award by secret ballot. 

The award ceremony will take place in Kharkiv on 19 May 2027, the birthday of Veronika Kozhushko. 

About the Generation Nika Award 

The award was established in 2024 in memory of Veronika Kozhushko, an artist and poet from Kharkiv who was killed in a Russian missile strike on an apartment building in the city on 30 August 2024. She was 18 years old. 

The founders are Serhiy Zhadan, the Serhiy Zhadan Charitable Foundation, the Nika Generation Charitable Foundation (founded by Ihor and Tetiana Kozhushko) and the Kharkiv Literary Museum (directed by Tetiana Pylypchuk). 

The initiative supports young Ukrainian artists and writers, recognising their creativity, courage and compassion. ZMINA’s new human rights award builds on this mission by giving young people an opportunity to address human rights and social challenges through art. 

Further details on eligibility requirements, application forms and award regulations are available on the Nika Generation Charitable Foundation’s official website and the award website. 

As previously reported, ZMINA became a partner of the Generation Nika Award in 2026.