President of Uzbekistan Reviews Priority Projects in Culture and the Arts

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev today reviewed a presentation on priority projects and initiatives aimed at developing culture and the arts, preserving the nation's cultural heritage, and promoting it internationally, according to the Dunyo News Agency.

According to the Presidential Press Service, the presentation began with plans to showcase Uzbekistan's archaeological, scientific, and applied arts heritage at leading museums and exhibition venues around the world.

Among the key initiatives are the "Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion" exhibition at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha in September 2026 and the international archaeological exhibition "Global Antiquity" at Fondazione Prada in Milan in November 2026, featuring unique artefacts from Uzbekistan. In 2027, more than 200 archaeological objects spanning the Bronze Age to the Early Middle Ages will be displayed at Palazzo Grimani in Venice and the Nara National Museum in Japan. Palazzo Reale in Milan will also host an exhibition of more than 150 examples of Uzbek decorative arts, including gold embroidery, suzani textiles, ikat fabrics, jewellery, and traditional handicrafts.

Plans were also presented for an exhibition in Florence dedicated to the life and scientific legacy of Abu Ali ibn Sina (Avicenna), as well as joint cultural projects with leading institutions in Japan, the United Kingdom, China, Saudi Arabia, and other countries.

Special attention was devoted to the restoration of cultural heritage sites. A branch of the State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan will be established in the Romanov Palace while preserving the historical character of the complex and creating a permanent exhibition featuring approximately 300 artefacts.

Restoration work is also underway at the Mukhtar Ashrafi House Museum, including the preservation of its historic façade and interiors, the renewal of its exhibition, and the installation of modern engineering systems, climate control, security equipment, multimedia technologies, and a professional recording studio.

The presentation also reviewed the international tour of the opera "Tamerlano" and its future performances. This year the production was staged at Dubai Opera, Vienna's Musikverein, the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, and the Royal Opera of the Palace of Versailles. Directed by Stefano Poda, George Frideric Handel's music was reinterpreted by Kirill Richter using traditional Uzbek musical instruments, with the participation of the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan, the national choir, the orchestra of traditional instruments, and internationally acclaimed soloists.

In March 2027, "Tamerlano" is scheduled to be performed at Carnegie Hall in New York, providing another opportunity to present Uzbekistan's opera tradition and performing arts to an international audience.

The President also reviewed proposals to establish a unified system for organising major concerts, festivals, competitions, and exhibitions through the creation of a National Cultural Projects Operator under the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation. The new institution will coordinate major international cultural events, promote them abroad, commission concerts featuring world-renowned performers, and oversee preparations for the International Music Festival "Sharq Taronalari."

Among this year's highlights was John Legend's concert at Samarkand's Registan Square on 8 June. Concerts by world-renowned pianist Lang Lang are planned at the Great Wall of China and in Samarkand later this year, while composer Max Richter will perform at the Uzbekistan International Forums Palace in Tashkent.

The presentation also reviewed Uzbekistan's participation in major international cultural events. At the 61st Venice Biennale, Uzbekistan's national pavilion features "The Aural Sea," a project exploring the Aral Sea and Karakalpakstan through memory, mythology, and cultural narratives, which has already attracted more than 60,000 visitors. At Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti, the solo exhibition "Instruments of the Mind" by Uzbek artist Vyacheslav Akhunov presents more than 200 works created since the 1970s and has welcomed over 12,000 visitors from more than 30 countries.

At Milan Design Week 2026, Uzbekistan's national pavilion "When the Apricot Blossoms", created through collaboration between twelve international designers and twelve artisans from Uzbekistan and Karakalpakstan, received a Special Mention from the Fuorisalone Award 2026 jury. The pavilion welcomed more than 18,000 visitors and generated an estimated international media reach of 171 million people.

The meeting also reviewed the Art and Culture Development Foundation's programme for 2026-2027, including the Aral Cultural Summit in Nukus, the next season of the Aral School international programme, new productions of Puccini's "Turandot" and Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" at the Alisher Navoi State Academic Bolshoi Theatre, and preparations for the Bukhara Biennale 2027.

Additional proposals included Uzbekistan's participation in Milan Design Week and Art Basel, the organisation of the international "Art for Tomorrow" conference, expanded cooperation with Qatar Museums in crafts and design, and the establishment of an artists' residency and an international jewellery school in Bukhara.

Concluding the presentation, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev instructed the responsible agencies to ensure thorough preparation of all projects, maintain the highest standards in restoration work, harmoniously combine national heritage with contemporary approaches, and enhance the practical impact of Uzbekistan's international cultural cooperation.