Page 22 - DIVA_1_2019

c u l t u r e c u l t u r e

Interview with
Bakhtiyor

Sayfullaev

Uzbekistan Minister of Culture

It is not every day that one has the chance to run into the Q: Did this involve an increase in the budget for the cultural
Minister of Culture in person, without knowing who he is, sector?
and be granted an exclusive interview. This was how we met Yes, an impressive amount is being invested in developing
this gracious, friendly man, who is not only the Minister of this sector. The president will soon sign a decree on the
Culture but also a man of great personal culture. We had the strengthening of the material and technical base for the cultural this idea to open the maqam museum here and to open opened the borders to our neighboring countries, and people
possibility of meeting with him in the newly opened museum institutions. Also, a resolution was adopted on strengthening the Maqam center in Tashkent. We will constantly update can now easily visit them. The standard of living of people
of Shakheiabz, in Uzbekistan. The museum is a pure marvel, and development of circus art in the Republic. It should be the collection and acquire more old instruments and do as a whole is rising and improving. People have hope for a
dedicated to the Maqomart, the traditional music that one finds noted that this year there is an additional innovation for exhibits. brighter future owing to the policies of the president of our
in many of the central Asian countries, and its construction is universities of creative orientation. In a number of creative Republic. And a very important point is that all our cities are
one of His Excellency’s most recent achievements. areas, traditional tests were replaced by creative exams. Q: What about the visual arts, painting or sculpture? I haven’ttttttttt very safe places to live.
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see much of this kind of art.
Uzbekistan recently organized the world’s first Maqomart In Tashkent, the center of the Uzbek maqam (instrumental For artists, there is a separate institute, the Academy of Arts The main principle of our president is: everything for the
International Forum, at the initiative President of Uzbekistan, music and singing) is being built. To develop the art of in Tashkent. This is not part of the Ministry of Culture but people. As a minister I have to think first and foremost about
Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyevand. It was a tremendous maqam in the music schools of the Republic, which number a separate entity, dealing only with these areas. One of the how this can benefit our people. They are at the center of
success, nationally, regionally and internationally, with more over 300, specialist maqam study and training programs have most famous museums is the Savitsky State Museum of Art our attention the whole time. Their well-being is our main
than 70 countries represented. been set up. in Nukus. concern. MF
Q: You, personally, and your country overall, have a very Q: Now that the economy is booming, one wonders what you Under the leadership of the new president, we
rich culture. How do you, as Minister of Culture, manage are doing to encourage people to stay in these traditional are moving to the international level. We have
to keep alive and cultivate this spirit of Uzbek culture at the activities, where the salaries might be less attractive than an agreement with the Louvre Museum. In 2021
practical level? elsewhere? we plan to open an exhibition there. The director
President Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev pays special The state pays great attention to preserving the material of the Louvre museum will soon arrive here to
attention to the development of culture and art, so we have and cultural values of the Republic. We have 7,474 objects discuss all this further.
his unwavering support. The Maqomart International Forum, designated as belonging to our cultural heritage in the
for example, was his idea. Over the past year and a half, some Republic. For example, in the city of Shakhrisabz, there are In the British Museum we will be given a place for a
20 resolutions, emanating from both the president and the some 20 cultural heritage objects. In late September, there permanent exhibition. We are giving to the British
cabinet of the Republic’s culture minister, have been adopted, will be an international dance festival in the city of Khiva. Museum our old traditional costumes, and we will
and they are currently being implemented. have a special place dedicated to our history.
Q: How many festivals do you organize per year?
In particular, the salaries of people active in culture and art A lot of festivals are held every year. Every month there are Q: Finally, your Excellency, what is your vision for
were raised. The activity of the state philharmonic society several festivals. the culture of Uzbekistan?
was restored. Further, a ten-year program was set up to We are developing and will continue to develop it,
strengthen the material and technical base of the republic’s Q: Could you tell us more about this maqam museum? preserving our cultural heritage. As you can see,
museums and theaters (there are 37 of them). The museum opened yesterday. The President came up with we are not standing still. Our President recently

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