Priority projects in culture and art presented
Uzbekistan
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation of projects and events aimed at developing culture and art, preserving national heritage, and promoting it internationally.
Plans for presenting Uzbekistan's archaeological and scientific heritage, as well as works of applied art, in leading international museums and exhibition venues were first discussed.
In particular, the exhibition "Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion" is planned for September 2026 at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, and the international archaeological exhibition "Global Antiquity" featuring unique exhibits from Uzbekistan will be held at the Prada Foundation in Milan in November 2026. In 2027, over 200 archaeological objects reflecting the history of our country from the Bronze Age to the Early Middle Ages will be on display at the Palazzo Grimani in Venice and the Nara National Museum in Japan. Over 150 exhibits will be on display at the Palazzo Reale in Milan, including examples of gold embroidery, suzani, ikat, jewelry, and works of applied art.
Plans were also presented for an exhibition in Florence dedicated to the life and scientific legacy of Abu Ali ibn Sina, as well as joint projects with leading cultural institutions from Japan, the United Kingdom, China, Saudi Arabia, and other countries.
Particular attention is being paid to the restoration of cultural heritage sites. A branch of the State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan is planned for the palace of Grand Duke Nikolai Romanov. The complex's historical appearance will be preserved and a permanent exhibition featuring approximately 300 objects will be created.
The façade and historic interiors of the Mukhtar Ashrafi House-Museum are being restored, and the exhibition will be updated. The museum will be equipped with modern engineering systems, security and climate control systems, multimedia equipment, and a recording studio.
The presentation discussed the results and future plans for presenting the opera "Tamerlano" on prestigious international stages.
This year, the work was presented at the Dubai Opera, the Musikverein in Vienna, the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, and the Royal Opera of the Palace of Versailles. Stefano Poda's production featured Kirill Richter's interpretation of Handel's music, using Uzbek national musical instruments. The project involved the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan, a choir, a folk instrument orchestra, and renowned soloists.
In March 2027, the opera "Tamerlano" is planned for presentation at the renowned Carnegie Hall in New York. This will widely showcase the high potential of Uzbek opera and the national performing arts to international audiences.
The development of a unified system for organizing major concerts, festivals, competitions, and exhibitions was also discussed. It has been proposed to establish a National Operator of Cultural Projects under the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan, based at the state institution "Directorate of International Festivals" under the Ministry of Culture.
The National Operator will be responsible for organizing major international events and promoting them abroad, commissioning concerts featuring renowned performers, and preparing the Sharq Taronalari International Music Festival.
On June 8 of this year, a concert by renowned singer John Legend took place in Registan Square in Samarkand. Concerts by renowned pianist Lang Lang are planned for August and September – at the Great Wall of China in Beijing and in Registan Square, respectively. In October, a concert by composer Max Richter will be held at the Uzbekistan Palace of International Forums in Tashkent.
The results of Uzbekistan's participation in major international cultural events held this year in Venice and Milan were also presented.
At the 61st Venice Art Biennale, Uzbekistan is represented by the national pavilion featuring the project "The Aural Sea." The project explores the theme of the Aral Sea and Karakalpakstan through the prism of memory, myths, and stories. The pavilion has already been visited by over 60,000 people.
As part of the Biennale, the Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti also hosted a solo exhibition by Uzbek artist Vyacheslav Akhunov, "Instruments of the Mind." It features over 200 works by the artist, created from the 1970s to the present. The exhibition has been visited by over 12,000 people from over 30 countries.
The national pavilion "When the Apricot Blooms," organized as part of Milan Design Week 2026, features collaborative works by 12 international designers and 12 artists from Uzbekistan and Karakalpakstan. The Uzbekistan pavilion was awarded a special mention by the Fuorisalone Award 2026 jury. It attracted over 18,000 visitors, and the project's international reach reached 171 million.
The events and projects of the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan planned for 2026–2027 were also discussed.
The Aral Cultural Summit will be held in Nukus from September 11–13. Representatives of culture, science, architecture, design, and ecology will discuss sustainable development issues in the Aral Sea region. A new season of the international program "Aral School," dedicated to the climate and landscape of the Aral Sea basin, will begin in January 2027.
As part of the repertoire renewal process at the Alisher Navoi State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Uzbekistan, plans for new productions of Giacomo Puccini's opera "Turandot" and Pyotr Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker" were reviewed. Leading domestic and international directors, conductors, choreographers, and production specialists are expected to be involved in the projects.
As part of the 2027 Bukhara Biennale, plans are underway to restore cultural heritage sites, improve historical sites and public spaces, and prepare exhibition venues. More than 50 international artists and designers and over 300 representatives of our country's creative industries will participate in the Biennale.
Furthermore, proposals were considered for participation in Milan Design Week and Art Basel, the international conference "Art for Tomorrow," the development of collaboration with Qatar Museums in the field of crafts and design, and the creation of an artist residency and an international jewelry school in Bukhara.
The head of our state has given instructions to carefully prepare projects, ensure strict quality control over restoration work, and harmoniously combine national content with modern approaches, as well as enhance the practical effectiveness of international cultural cooperation.
In particular, the exhibition "Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion" is planned for September 2026 at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, and the international archaeological exhibition "Global Antiquity" featuring unique exhibits from Uzbekistan will be held at the Prada Foundation in Milan in November 2026. In 2027, over 200 archaeological objects reflecting the history of our country from the Bronze Age to the Early Middle Ages will be on display at the Palazzo Grimani in Venice and the Nara National Museum in Japan. Over 150 exhibits will be on display at the Palazzo Reale in Milan, including examples of gold embroidery, suzani, ikat, jewelry, and works of applied art.
Plans were also presented for an exhibition in Florence dedicated to the life and scientific legacy of Abu Ali ibn Sina, as well as joint projects with leading cultural institutions from Japan, the United Kingdom, China, Saudi Arabia, and other countries.
Particular attention is being paid to the restoration of cultural heritage sites. A branch of the State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan is planned for the palace of Grand Duke Nikolai Romanov. The complex's historical appearance will be preserved and a permanent exhibition featuring approximately 300 objects will be created.
The façade and historic interiors of the Mukhtar Ashrafi House-Museum are being restored, and the exhibition will be updated. The museum will be equipped with modern engineering systems, security and climate control systems, multimedia equipment, and a recording studio.
The presentation discussed the results and future plans for presenting the opera "Tamerlano" on prestigious international stages.
This year, the work was presented at the Dubai Opera, the Musikverein in Vienna, the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, and the Royal Opera of the Palace of Versailles. Stefano Poda's production featured Kirill Richter's interpretation of Handel's music, using Uzbek national musical instruments. The project involved the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan, a choir, a folk instrument orchestra, and renowned soloists.
In March 2027, the opera "Tamerlano" is planned for presentation at the renowned Carnegie Hall in New York. This will widely showcase the high potential of Uzbek opera and the national performing arts to international audiences.
The development of a unified system for organizing major concerts, festivals, competitions, and exhibitions was also discussed. It has been proposed to establish a National Operator of Cultural Projects under the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan, based at the state institution "Directorate of International Festivals" under the Ministry of Culture.
The National Operator will be responsible for organizing major international events and promoting them abroad, commissioning concerts featuring renowned performers, and preparing the Sharq Taronalari International Music Festival.
On June 8 of this year, a concert by renowned singer John Legend took place in Registan Square in Samarkand. Concerts by renowned pianist Lang Lang are planned for August and September – at the Great Wall of China in Beijing and in Registan Square, respectively. In October, a concert by composer Max Richter will be held at the Uzbekistan Palace of International Forums in Tashkent.
The results of Uzbekistan's participation in major international cultural events held this year in Venice and Milan were also presented.
At the 61st Venice Art Biennale, Uzbekistan is represented by the national pavilion featuring the project "The Aural Sea." The project explores the theme of the Aral Sea and Karakalpakstan through the prism of memory, myths, and stories. The pavilion has already been visited by over 60,000 people.
As part of the Biennale, the Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti also hosted a solo exhibition by Uzbek artist Vyacheslav Akhunov, "Instruments of the Mind." It features over 200 works by the artist, created from the 1970s to the present. The exhibition has been visited by over 12,000 people from over 30 countries.
The national pavilion "When the Apricot Blooms," organized as part of Milan Design Week 2026, features collaborative works by 12 international designers and 12 artists from Uzbekistan and Karakalpakstan. The Uzbekistan pavilion was awarded a special mention by the Fuorisalone Award 2026 jury. It attracted over 18,000 visitors, and the project's international reach reached 171 million.
The events and projects of the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan planned for 2026–2027 were also discussed.
The Aral Cultural Summit will be held in Nukus from September 11–13. Representatives of culture, science, architecture, design, and ecology will discuss sustainable development issues in the Aral Sea region. A new season of the international program "Aral School," dedicated to the climate and landscape of the Aral Sea basin, will begin in January 2027.
As part of the repertoire renewal process at the Alisher Navoi State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Uzbekistan, plans for new productions of Giacomo Puccini's opera "Turandot" and Pyotr Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker" were reviewed. Leading domestic and international directors, conductors, choreographers, and production specialists are expected to be involved in the projects.
As part of the 2027 Bukhara Biennale, plans are underway to restore cultural heritage sites, improve historical sites and public spaces, and prepare exhibition venues. More than 50 international artists and designers and over 300 representatives of our country's creative industries will participate in the Biennale.
Furthermore, proposals were considered for participation in Milan Design Week and Art Basel, the international conference "Art for Tomorrow," the development of collaboration with Qatar Museums in the field of crafts and design, and the creation of an artist residency and an international jewelry school in Bukhara.
The head of our state has given instructions to carefully prepare projects, ensure strict quality control over restoration work, and harmoniously combine national content with modern approaches, as well as enhance the practical effectiveness of international cultural cooperation.
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