Uzbek Gift Contest Launched for Designers and Artisans

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Tourism Committee, in cooperation with the Hunarmand Association and the Academy of Arts, has announced the launch of the Uzbek Gift Contest, an initiative aimed at promoting national handicraft products as modern tourist souvenirs.

The initiative is designed to support the creative potential of regional designers and master artisans, assist in creating compact, high-quality, and affordable souvenirs, and develop a modern product line capable of presenting Uzbekistan's national culture to foreign tourists.

The contest will be conducted in two stages.

Stage One: Idea and Design Development From 24 July to 16 August, the contest will be held among designers, artists, and young creative professionals. Participants will submit sketches, design projects, and creative concepts for modern tourist souvenirs based on traditional craft art.

Submissions must blend national character with modern design, remain compact, attractive, and convenient for tourists, and prove suitable for practical manufacturing by artisans.

Stage Two: Production of Finished Goods From 20 August to 20 September, artisans who are members of the Hunarmand Association will join the competition. Based on the top sketches and design projects selected during the first stage, they will manufacture finished souvenir products.

Evaluations will consider execution quality and craftsmanship, alignment with national style, compactness, ease of transport, and product affordability.

Designers, artists, young creative professionals, and artisan members of the Hunarmand Association are invited to participate. Online registration is required to enter.

Application deadlines:

• First stage: until 16 August
• Second stage: until 20 September

Each contest winner will receive a cash prize of 5 million soums.

The holding of the Uzbek Gift Contest represents a step toward forming a new generation of tourist souvenirs—products combining Uzbek craft traditions, modern design, and practicality.

In the long term, such projects are expected to expand the range of souvenir products while enhancing the recognition of national cultural heritage within the international tourism market.