Uzbek President Reviews Global Culture Promotion Projects

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on projects and initiatives aimed at developing culture and the arts, preserving Uzbekistan's national heritage and promoting it internationally.

The president was presented with plans to organize exhibitions dedicated to Uzbekistan's archaeological, scientific and applied heritage at leading museums and cultural institutions around the world. In September 2026, the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha is scheduled to host the exhibition "Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion", while the Prada Foundation in Milan is due to stage the international archaeological exhibition "Global Antiquity" in November 2026, featuring artifacts from Uzbekistan.

In 2027, more than 200 archaeological artifacts illustrating the country's history from the Bronze Age to the Early Middle Ages are planned to be exhibited at Palazzo Grimani in Venice and the Nara National Museum in Japan. More than 150 examples of decorative and applied arts, including gold embroidery, suzani textiles, ikat fabrics and jewelry, will also be displayed at Palazzo Reale in Milan.

Officials also presented projects for an exhibition on the life and scientific legacy of Abu Ali ibn Sina in Florence, along with joint initiatives involving cultural institutions in Japan, the United Kingdom, China, Saudi Arabia and other countries.

The presentation also covered cultural heritage preservation projects. A branch of the State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan is planned to open in the palace of Grand Duke Nikolai Romanov, featuring a permanent exhibition of around 300 exhibits while preserving the building's historical appearance. Restoration work is also continuing at the Mukhtar Ashrafi House Museum, including the renovation of its facade, historic interiors and museum displays, as well as the installation of modern engineering and multimedia systems.

Mirziyoyev was also briefed on the international tour of the opera "Tamerlano". 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. The performance is scheduled to be presented at Carnegie Hall in New York in March 2027.

The creation of a National Cultural Projects Operator based on the state Directorate of International Festivals under the Ministry of Culture was also discussed. The new body will coordinate major international cultural events, organize concerts featuring internationally renowned performers and oversee preparations for the Sharq Taronalari International Music Festival.

Among the planned events are concerts by pianist Lang Lang at the Great Wall of China in Beijing and Registan Square in Samarkand, as well as a performance by composer Max Richter at the Uzbekistan International Forums Palace in Tashkent.

The president was also informed about Uzbekistan's participation in international cultural projects. The country's national pavilion, "The Aural Sea", at the 61st Venice Biennale of Art, dedicated to the Aral Sea and Karakalpakstan, attracted more than 60,000 visitors. The solo exhibition "Instruments of the Mind" by Uzbek artist Vyacheslav Akhunov in Venice was visited by more than 12,000 people from over 30 countries.

At Milan Design Week 2026, Uzbekistan's national pavilion, "When the Apricot Blossoms", received a special mention from the Fuorisalone Award 2026 jury. According to the presentation, the exhibition attracted more than 18,000 visitors and generated an international media reach of 171 million.

Projects planned for 2026–2027 include the Aral Cultural Summit in Nukus on 11–13 September 2026, a new season of the Aral School programme, preparations for the Bukhara Biennale 2027, and new productions of the opera "Turandot" and the ballet "The Nutcracker" at the Alisher Navoi State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Uzbekistan.

The presentation also included proposals for Uzbekistan's participation in Milan Design Week and Art Basel, hosting the Art for Tomorrow international conference, expanding cooperation with Qatar Museums in crafts and design, and establishing an artists' residency and an international jewellery school in Bukhara.

Following the presentation, Mirziyoyev instructed officials to ensure high-quality implementation of all projects, strengthen oversight of restoration work, maintain a balance between national traditions and modern approaches, and enhance the practical impact of international cultural cooperation.