Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The I.V. Savitsky State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and the State Museum of the History of St Petersburg have signed a memorandum of cooperation.
The agreement was one of the outcomes of a visit to Uzbekistan by a delegation from the World Club of St Petersburg residents, aimed at developing museum, academic and cultural ties, the Dunyо news agency reported.
The delegation was led by the club’s chairwoman, Natalia Sidorkevich. The visit began in Nukus with a wreath-laying ceremony at the grave of I.V. Savitsky, the founder of the State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan.
The delegation then met with Ajiniyaz Kaynazarov, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Karakalpakstan.
The participants discussed prospects for cooperation in science, higher education, tourism, publishing and exchanges between museums.
Greetings from St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov and Chairman of the city’s Legislative Assembly Alexander Belsky were also conveyed at the meeting.
Their messages highlighted the historical ties and longstanding partnership between St Petersburg and Uzbekistan, including Uzbekistan’s role in receiving thousands of residents evacuated from besieged Leningrad during World War II. They also stressed the importance of further developing humanitarian ties between the regions.
In addition to signing the memorandum, Sidorkevich presented the museum with works by St Petersburg artists who are members of the World Club of St Petersburg residents.
The gifts included the canvas “Mausoleum of Amir Temur” by Russian Honoured Artist Nikita Fomin and paintings by Anatoly Annenkov, a member of the Union of Artists of Russia and a lecturer at the Russian Academy of Arts. The museum also received a bibliophile edition entitled “The Hermitage: Earthly and Heavenly”, published by Rare Book from St Petersburg.
The cultural programme included visits to ancient monuments in Karakalpakstan — Chilpyk, Toprak-Kala and Ayaz-Kala — as well as a tour of Ichan-Kala in Khiva, which is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In Khiva, the delegation met with Odilbek Ibragimov, director of the museum-reserve. The sides discussed the preservation and restoration of adobe architecture in the context of climate change and exchanged commemorative gifts.
Following the visit, prospects were identified for joint research and exhibition projects involving museums in St Petersburg, Nukus and Khiva.
The World Club of St Petersburg residents also thanked the Consulate General of Uzbekistan in St Petersburg for its assistance in organising the visit.
