A playwright, writer, war veteran, PEN member and PhD in social work based in Ukraine, Sarnatska’s work explores resilience, trauma, and social justice, with a particular focus on women affected by violence and communities impacted by war.
She is the author of nine plays and two books, with her work produced and presented by leading theatres and institutions across Ukraine, Germany, Sweden, Poland and the United States. Her writing has reached international audiences through productions, staged readings, and literary events at institutions including Yale University, the Royal Dramatic Theatre, Schauspiel Stuttgart and many others.
Alongside her artistic practice, Sarnatska is deeply engaged in humanitarian work. She co-founded and directs the Teplonosiї Charitable Foundation, supporting wounded veterans, and leads the Veterans Department of the international volunteer network Balakun.
Her numerous fellowships and awards reflect a remarkable commitment to literature, human rights and civic engagement. During her residency at AR-Helsinki, we look forward to supporting her continued artistic practice and welcoming her perspective into our community.
Don’t miss the Presentation of her book SCAM, a powerful new novel about Russia’s war against Ukraine, on the 15th of September in Helsinki, you can find more info at this link: https://helmet.finna.fi/FeedContent/LinkedEvents?id=helsinki%3Aagp3pgrmz4&lng=en-gb
Read her full bio on our website: https://artistsatrisk.org/2026/07/28/ar-resident-alina-sarnatska/
Sarnatska is part of the Artists at Risk (AR) / Ecologists at Risk (ER) – A European Network for Creative Resilience (AR/ER-ENCR) programme, a residency-network designed to foster resilience in times of heightened threats to artists and cultural professionals within the AR/ER Network, and reaching out across EU neighbourhood regions, co-Funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
We thank Creative Europe,The Finnish Arts and Culture Agency, the City of Helsinki and the Culture and Leisure Division, for funding the residency. Welcome to AR-Helsinki, Alina! ✨
