Mirziyoyev Visits Tashkent’s New Contemporary Art Centre
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the new Centre for Contemporary Art in Tashkent to review its facilities ahead of its official launch scheduled for 6 September 2026.
The flagship project of the Culture and Art Development Foundation of Uzbekistan is the nation's first state contemporary art centre and among the largest cultural institutions of its kind in Central Asia. During his tour, Mirziyoyev emphasized that along with preserving historical heritage, Uzbekistan must systematically foster contemporary art reflecting the creative potential of current generations. He instructed officials to ensure the venue operates as an open, dynamic space for young artists, researchers, and international collaborators.
Housed in a 1912 historic building designed by architect Wilhelm Heinzelmann—originally built as a tram depot and later utilized as a diesel power plant—the facility was restored by the French architectural firm Studio KO. The restoration retained the building’s industrial character while reconfiguring internal spaces for exhibitions, educational programs, research, and public events.
The infrastructure includes exhibition galleries, meeting spaces, a concept store, a restaurant, and a public library with a research archive on visual culture and critical theory. The centre will host lectures, film screenings, workshops, art residencies, and performances aimed at supporting local specialists.
The inaugural international exhibition, titled Hikmah, focuses on knowledge and cultural memory through 11 works by prominent artists, including site-specific commissions and an installation on loan from the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. The institution has established partnerships with international entities, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the National Museum of Asian Arts in the United States, Tate and the Delfina Foundation in the United Kingdom, the Centre Pompidou in France, and the Arts Council Korea.
