International Maqom Art Forum Opens in Namangan
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended and delivered remarks at the opening ceremony of the Third International Maqom Art Forum in Namangan, the Dunyo News Agency reports.
According to the Presidential Press Service, in welcoming forum participants, international guests and representatives of the cultural and artistic community, the President stressed that the art of maqom serves as a spiritual bridge that connects people's hearts and guides them towards goodness.
He noted that the forum, now a traditional event in Uzbekistan, has evolved into a global platform that enhances the universal significance of maqom art.
The event has brought together senior representatives of UNESCO, ICESCO, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the Organization of Turkic States, TURKSOY, the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA), the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, as well as ministers of culture, ambassadors and around 250 cultural and artistic figures from more than 80 countries.
The President paid special tribute to the unique cultural heritage of the Namangan region, this year's host of the forum, highlighting both its rich artistic traditions and the creativity and industriousness of its people. He honoured the legacy of outstanding poets and thinkers including Boborahim Mashrab, Nodim, Fazli, Majzub Namangani, Sufizoda, Ibrat, Usman Nasyr and Chusti, while also recognizing the contribution of hafiz singers, musicians and composers to the development of Uzbekistan's musical heritage.
He also noted that Namangan is currently hosting the 65th International Flower Festival, which has evolved from a traditional flower exhibition into a major internationally recognised cultural event and has become one of the country's national brands.
The President highlighted that more than 150 million flowers were planted in Namangan this year, an achievement officially recognised by the Guinness World Records.
Addressing the importance of maqom, President Mirziyoyev stressed that this musical tradition, inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is far more than music—it embodies the memory of a nation, the heart of its people and the voice of its soul across generations.
He emphasised that the primary objective of the Third International Maqom Art Forum is to preserve, study and promote this unique cultural heritage while ensuring its transmission to future generations.
In recent years, elevating the status of maqom both nationally and internationally has become a key priority of Uzbekistan's cultural policy. Alongside performance excellence, increasing attention is being devoted to the study of the theoretical foundations of maqom.
To support this effort, Uzbekistan has established an integrated education system linking music schools, specialised institutions and higher education establishments, while also creating creative associations across 21 fields of culture and the arts, including maqom. Young performers' competitions will now be organised at neighbourhood (mahalla), district, regional and national levels.
The President unveiled several new initiatives aimed at further promoting maqom art.
He proposed granting the future Maqom Centre, currently under construction in New Tashkent, the status of a World Maqom Centre, alongside the establishment of an International Maqom Academy. In addition to Uzbek maqom schools, the academy will teach Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Tajik, Indian and other traditions of Eastern classical music.
The centre will also house an International Digital Library and research laboratory containing unique musical manuscripts, audio recordings and sheet music archives from around the world, creating a global academic platform for scholars and musicologists.
Another initiative envisages the creation of a World Anthology of Maqom, bringing together classical musical traditions such as maqom, mugham, muqam and dastgah, along with musical scores, audio and video recordings and scholarly research on a single digital platform. A dedicated mobile application featuring an expanding digital maqom archive will also be launched.
To encourage academic research in this field, the President proposed establishing an international fund that would provide grants for scientific research, the study of rare historical sources, innovative projects and financial support for specialists working in maqom.
He also proposed introducing an International Maqom Prize, to be awarded every two years to distinguished scholars and performers who have made an outstanding contribution to the development of maqom.
In addition, a cultural and tourism route entitled "The Maqom Route" will be created across six regional traditions of Shashmaqom. Special thematic streets dedicated to maqom heritage will be established in Bukhara, Samarkand, Khiva, Kokand, Shahrisabz and Tashkent.
The President also announced that the renowned Maqom Ensemble, founded by Yunus Rajabi and responsible for preserving and popularising Uzbekistan's classical musical heritage, will receive the status of a National State Ensemble and officially bear his name.
President Mirziyoyev emphasised that the International Maqom Art Forum has become an important international dialogue platform for preserving this invaluable heritage, passing it on to future generations and strengthening friendship and cultural dialogue among nations.
Concluding his address, he wished all participants good health, inspiration and continued creative success before officially declaring the Third International Maqom Art Forum open.
The President also commented on the national football team's participation in the FIFA World Cup, noting that the players had fulfilled the nation's 34-year dream.
Expressing confidence that the team would proudly represent Uzbekistan in today's match, he wished the players every success.
The opening ceremony concluded with a colourful gala concert.
Following the event, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev concluded his visit to the Namangan region and returned to Tashkent.
