The location of Lutsk at the center of international trade routes has led to the development of an active and varied arts and culture scene.  The international Festival “Polesian Summer with Folklore” is notable for the geographic diversity of its participants and can be considered as a signature event for the city. It is a great event which brings together more than 5300 representatives of 58 groups from 38 countries around the world along with 75 groups from Ukraine. The festival's participants present the traditional cultures of their native lands. Since 1996, because of this festive event, Ukraine has been an official member of the International Council of Organizations for Folklore Festivals and Folk Art (CIOFF is an international cultural non-governmental organization formally recognized by  UNESCO).

Another very popular festival in Lutsk is the International Festival of Ukrainian pop music “On Svityaz’s Waves” which is held every summer near the biggest Ukrainian lake, Svityaz, and in Lutsk. The aim of the festival is to discover and present young talented singers and to combine modern pop music with national customs and traditions. A key requirement for participation in the concert is the performance of a song in Ukrainian.

The network of culture establishments in the city includes: 12 libraries comprising the centralized library system, 5 club establishments, 4 schools of aesthetic education, cinema, park of culture and rest, center of leisure and rest. As of 01.10.07 the various cultural establishments employed 511 workers, with a mean salary of 663 UAH (as of 01.10.06р. – 607 UAH).

The network of cultural establishments and future of events in the city are solidly in place thanks to our extensive experience and to well-established international cultural relationships. The excellent work of amateur groups is also part of the cultural scene. 7 of the groups have a rank of “folk amateur” and 1 is ranked “exemplary”. Over 2000 students get out-of-school education in Lutsk schools of aesthetic education, with approximately 500 receiving tuition support.

The fundamental goals of the Culture Department include strengthening materially the technical base of cutural establishments, introduction of the newest information technologies, expansion of services and improvement of their quality, preservation of the national cultural legacy, and the development and support of talented children and youth.

The city's cultural establishments are also active internationally. Cultural cooperation has been established with the cities of Lublin, Zamost, Kazimiezh Dolny, Vlodava and Byala Podlyaska (Poland), Brest (Belarus), Krasnodar (Russia), Tartu (Estonia), Vilnius (Lithuania) with the purpose of addressing cultural issues through an exchange of general culture and arts information and experience.

Favorable access to cultural facilities has been provided for children with physical limitations and children in socially unprotected categories, encouraging their use of libraries, clubs, theaters, museums, cinema «Promin’», parks of culture and  rest, the zoo, and study programs in schools of aesthetic education during their non-school hours.

As of 01.10.2007 the collection in our libraries consisted of 529646 books and it grows annually. To increase the popularity of books a number of activities have been implemented including children's entertainment programs and games, history presentations, competitions for young orators, and book presentations. An internet center created on the first floor of the children's library on Grushevskogo St. provides free access to the information network to all readers and especially to people with limited physical possibilities.

The collection of animals in the city's zoo includes 46 species, 10 of which are appear in the Red Book of Ukraine -- a listing of endangered species in the country. Overall, there are 175 animals in the zoo's collection, which has been enriched with the addition of camel, lion, nilgai, ostrich and pony.

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