Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Starting this year, the International Biennale of Contemporary Art will be held in Bukhara every two years from September through November. The corresponding resolution was signed on 21 August by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The first biennale is scheduled to take place from 5 September to 20 November.

The main objectives of the event are to support contemporary and applied art, promote the development of handicrafts, integrate national culture into the global cultural space, raise the level of education and research in the creative industry, and train professionals of international caliber. The biennale is also intended to enhance the country’s appeal as a tourist destination and to transform cultural heritage sites into venues for artistic expression.

The Art and Culture Development Foundation has been designated as the organizing body. For the first biennale, 14 cultural heritage sites in Bukhara will be brought together into a creative cluster, featuring exhibitions, educational programs, research initiatives, as well as artistic and production activities.

More than 60 art objects, including installations by renowned international artists, are expected to be created.

The best works will be presented at exhibitions abroad. A ten-week program of scientific, educational, cultural, entertainment, tourism, and gastronomy events will be held with the participation of leading experts, artists, and chefs.

An International Academic Symposium with the participation of more than 30 international experts, curators, and art historians is also planned. Biennale venues will undergo artistic lighting and preservation work, with tailored concepts and designs developed in collaboration with foreign specialists, along with infrastructure improvements. Additionally, a new exhibition will be prepared at the Museum of Fine Arts.

The president instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to approve, within three days, a comprehensive plan for preparing and holding the first biennale, including a budget and funding sources.

The International Biennale of Contemporary Art has been held in Tashkent since 2001, with its tenth edition organized in 2024.