
Volyn-Cement and the Palace of Culture
The cultural scene of Zdolbunov, a town of 25,000 inhabitants situated near the city of Rivne in north-western Ukraine, is tightly linked to the Palace of Culture of the Volyn cement plant employees. The Palace was built at the same time as the plant, both of which were completed in 1957. Volyn-Cement has supported this cultural center for 50 years, which is used 75% of the time by the cement plant employees and their families but also by the residents of Zdolbunov for various activities of an amateur nature. Various artistic groups have been established since it opened, including the brass and wind orchestra, the choir, the folk dance and song school for both children and adults, the theater group, the school for solo singers and different types of musical ensembles.
The renown of the Palace of Culture performers extends beyond the city to throughout the entire region, and the brass and wind orchestra has already performed in Russia, Belarus and Latvia. Many groups from the cultural center have received awards and recognition for their commitment to the promotion of folk art and for participating in various regional and national festivals and competitions. The Palace of Culture also houses a museum about the history of the Volyn cement plant, a library with more than 25,000 books and a photography club, plus it is also used to hold celebrations and functions for the employees of the plant. The trade union representatives and the management of the cement plant support the activities of the various amateur groups and also take care of maintaining the building. The company sponsors training and sports programs for the employees, such as the Volyn-Cement soccer team, which is the main club in the Zdolbunov area and has placed well at the regional level and in the national amateur championships.