Latest news with #AralCultureSummit
Euronews
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Aral Sea crisis: Uzbekistan launches Aral Culture Summit to boost development in the region
ADVERTISEMENT Mention the Aral Sea or search for it online, and apocalyptic scenes appear. A lake once so vast it is still called a sea—teeming with life and supporting dozens of marine species and picturesque fishing villages—is receding and close to disappearing. The concentration of salt and other minerals in the drying waters became so high that it is now almost as lifeless as the Dead Sea. Its former bed now lies barren, a salty desert with few desert-dwelling animals and toxic waste left behind by Soviet biological weapons scientists. Salty dust storms continue to make local people sick. The Aral Sea is situated in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, an autonomous republic in Uzbekistan, spanning the northwestern portion of the country. Shifting the disaster narrative That their republic became synonymous with a disaster zone hurts the people of Karakalpakstan even more than the loss of their sea. That is why they decided, with help from regional and national governments, to take action in showing the world that there is much more to this land than the Aral desert. This region is the cradle of multiple civilisations, all of whom left their mark. It is dotted with ancient cities, fortresses and Zoroastrian 'towers of silence' built centuries—maybe even millennia—ago. Consequently, it now has some of the world's most fascinating archaeological excavation sites. The 2025 Samarkand Climate Forum, where the leaders of five Central Asian countries and the European Union agreed to strengthen cooperation on green transition and sustainable development, gave Karakalpakstan the opportunity it needed to promote its cultural and environmental revival. A new event was thus launched: the Aral Culture Summit. Related Experts at the Samarkand Climate Forum warn central Asia is getting warmer year after year 'Everything fades, everything disappears eventually—only the stars remain forever.' With these paraphrased verses from poet Ulmambet Khojanazarov, Saida Mirziyoyeva, First Assistant to the President of Uzbekistan, opened the inaugural summit. 'These lines… remind us that while landscapes shift and even seas may vanish, something enduring remains: a sense of hope, resilience, shared memory and meaning. We are here today in Nukus, the cultural heart of Karakalpakstan, not only to reflect on what has been lost but to imagine together what might be revealed,' Mirziyoyeva said. Summit focuses on tourism, innovation and sustainable development The summit hosts a multidisciplinary programme with panel discussions, keynotes, artistic performances and exhibitions addressing key issues such as environmental regeneration, creative economy and cultural diplomacy. It brings together local and international activists, artists and scientists to explore and implement ecological, social and cultural strategies for the sustainable development of Karakalpakstan. Among the guests was Ivana Živković, Assistant Secretary-General of the UNDP. 'I think it is a wonderful idea, and for that reason UNDP is supporting this event. UNDP has been present in Karakalpakstan since 1997, working closely with communities—from bringing clean water to supporting afforestation efforts to prevent soil erosion and environmental and health damage. Innovation and new approaches are key to supporting this region,' Živković said. Tourism and investment potential highlighted Tourism is designated as one of Uzbekistan's main development priorities, and many summit participants believe Karakalpakstan—with its abundance of historical and cultural assets—can become a key destination. 'There is a lot of interest in the 'kalas'—the more than 40 desert fortresses here,' said Sophie Ibbotson, Uzbekistan's Tourism Ambassador. 'Some of those have already been excavated, and we're learning more all the time. GIZ, the German development agency, has several projects in eco-tourism around Sudochie Lake, part of the Aral Basin. There are also yurt camp initiatives and a workshop in Chimbay where visitors can watch traditional yurt-making and have lunch.' Even the Aral Sea disaster itself is becoming a unique point of interest. ADVERTISEMENT 'There's a small focus on disaster tourism. Many people want to visit the Aral Sea and what's left of it—like the ship graveyard in Moynaq. But the aim is shifting—not to look at destruction, but to learn from environmental mistakes and understand the broader issues of climate change,' Ibbotson said. The summit's broader agenda includes digital development, youth empowerment, reforestation, land erosion prevention, water management and climate-resilient agriculture. The event is set to take place every 18 months, with the next edition planned for mid-2026.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Yahoo
Why are artists, architects and ecologists meeting in Uzbekistan's Aral Sea Region?
Most visitors to Uzbekistan stick to the Silk Road tourist trail, exploring the mosques and madrasas of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, and perhaps the intriguing mix of Islamic and Soviet modernist architecture of the capital, Tashkent. Amid the remote, arid landscapes of northern Uzbekistan, however, artists, architects, ecologists, and activists are gathering in a city less frequented by international visitors. Nukus, the regional capital of Karakalpakstan, is playing host to the inaugural Aral Culture Summit: a potential springboard for sustainable transformation and cultural renewal in the Aral Sea region, once the fourth-largest lake in the world and now often seen as a tragic symbol of environmental neglect and its devastating consequences. Spearheaded by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF), this summit will set the stage for a unique cross-disciplinary dialogue on how art, culture, design, and science can transform the region's future. The collapse of the Aral Sea is one of the largest man-made environmental disasters in history. During the 1960s, the Soviet Union diverted water from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers for agricultural irrigation, drastically reducing the amount of water flowing into the Aral Sea. By the 1980s, the Sea had shrunk to less than half of its original size, and by 2007, much of the northeastern part had dried up completely. The results were devastating. Once abundant fish populations disappeared, biodiversity plummeted, and the local economy, which relied on the Sea, collapsed. The region's residents, particularly in the town of Moynaq, were left with the remnants of what was once a thriving fishing industry. Now, what remains is a vast, barren seabed, often whipped up by dust storms carrying salt and toxic chemicals. Rather than looking at this backdrop as purely a bleak cautionary tale, beyond redemption, the Aral Culture Summit offers an invitation to ask and discuss: Can we use the lessons of the past and harness culture and heritage to inspire change? For Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of the ACDF, culture and environment are fundamentally intertwined. 'For centuries Uzbekistan's rich heritage and traditions have been intrinsically linked to and informed by our environment,' she says. 'We believe the creative industries can have a role in helping us develop long-term, sustainable solutions that will protect the local ecology, unite the community, and drive innovation,' she adds, underlining how the summit seeks to embody this connection, uniting the creative industries with scientific and ecological expertise. With this connection in mind, from 5-6 April – hot on the heels of the Samarkand International Climate Forum on 4 April – Nukus will host a rich programme of panel discussions, networking forums, and cultural events. Artists, ecologists, and local businesses will collaborate to explore ways of revitalising Karakalpakstan, the region surrounding the Aral Sea, through sustainable practices, while a roster of cultural immersions – featuring food, music, and art – will allow visitors to connect deeply with the local heritage and traditions. What's more, this will take place in the world's largest (non-collapsible) yurt, in homage to the traditional dwellings of the region's nomadic peoples. In this setting, echoing the gathering of families around a hearth, conversations will explore salient questions for the region: using culture, architecture and heritage as catalysts for climate action; driving change through content; women's leadership; how art and tradition shape identity; and agriculture as culture. The roster of experts taking part includes international names from across art, design, architecture and ecology, such as Aric Chen, Artistic Director of Rotterdam's Nieuwe Instituut; Belgian landscape architect Bas Smets; founder and principal architect of waiwai, Wael Al Awar; Kazakhstani biodesigner Dana Molzhigit; and Natalia Idrisova, curator of Tajikistan's 'Polygon' Art Group. These international voices will be in conversation with key figures in the local community, whose agency is key in the area's regeneration. Among those taking part will be Karakalpak artist Saidbek Sabirbayev; theatre director Sultanbek Kallibekov; Aijamal Yusupova, director of the State Museum of History and Culture of the Republic of Karakalpakstan; and contemporary poet Kydirniyaz Babaniyazov. For Sabirbayev, bringing these voices together, and shining a spotlight on the region, is an important step. 'As an artist, I was born and raised in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, so the problem of the Aral Sea is our problem and my pain. The summit drew me because 70-80% of my works are related to the Aral Sea and Karakalpakstan… I hope that where there is attention, there will be results,' he explains. Crucially, the Aral Culture Summit does not seek to be 'just another conference'; rather, it is designed as an ongoing conversation, with fresh iterations every 18 months and a commitment to longstanding legacy. The first phase of the project will focus on the regeneration of Istiqlol Park, the future headquarters of the summit. This former amusement park, which is one of the only green spaces in the city, will be transformed into a community hub offering a range of environmentally conscious and culturally enriching experiences, serving as an example both of eco-responsible tourism and a model for other cities grappling with similar environmental challenges. The Aral Culture Summit is just one of numerous big cultural 'moments' for Uzbekistan in 2025. As well as participating in the World Expo Osaka and the Venice Biennale Architettura, the country will host its first ever biennial (the Bukhara Biennial) in September and, come November, the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand – an event that has not been held outside Paris in 40 years. It remains to be seen whether culture and ecology will unite to truly make a difference in the Aral Sea region, but one thing is certain: as Uzbekistan opens its doors to international audiences, it has staked its claim – and that of Karakalpakstan, specifically – to a place in the global cultural conversation. The inaugural runs in Nukus from 5-6 April 2025.
Euronews
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Why are artists, architects and ecologists meeting in Uzbekistan's Aral Sea Region?
ADVERTISEMENT Most visitors to Uzbekistan stick to the Silk Road tourist trail, exploring the mosques and madrasas of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, and perhaps the intriguing mix of Islamic and Soviet modernist architecture of the capital, Tashkent. Amid the remote, arid landscapes of northern Uzbekistan, however, artists, architects, ecologists, and activists are gathering in a city less frequented by international visitors. Nukus, the regional capital of Karakalpakstan, is playing host to the inaugural Aral Culture Summit: a potential springboard for sustainable transformation and cultural renewal in the Aral Sea region, once the fourth-largest lake in the world and now often seen as a tragic symbol of environmental neglect and its devastating consequences. Spearheaded by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF), this summit will set the stage for a unique cross-disciplinary dialogue on how art, culture, design, and science can transform the region's future. Satellite Imagery of Aral Sea (2000-2018). Picture Courtesy of Uzbekistan Art And Culture Foundation. The Aral Sea crisis The collapse of the Aral Sea is one of the largest man-made environmental disasters in history. During the 1960s, the Soviet Union diverted water from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers for agricultural irrigation, drastically reducing the amount of water flowing into the Aral Sea. By the 1980s, the Sea had shrunk to less than half of its original size, and by 2007, much of the northeastern part had dried up completely. The results were devastating. Once abundant fish populations disappeared, biodiversity plummeted, and the local economy, which relied on the Sea, collapsed. The region's residents, particularly in the town of Moynaq, were left with the remnants of what was once a thriving fishing industry. Now, what remains is a vast, barren seabed, often whipped up by dust storms carrying salt and toxic chemicals. Sudochye Lake Aral Sea Basin. Courtesy of Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation. Fishing communities have been left in economic crisis. Courtesy of Iwan Baan and Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation. All rights reserved. Uniting science and culture Rather than looking at this backdrop as purely a bleak cautionary tale, beyond redemption, the Aral Culture Summit offers an invitation to ask and discuss: Can we use the lessons of the past and harness culture and heritage to inspire change? For Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of the ACDF, culture and environment are fundamentally intertwined. 'For centuries Uzbekistan's rich heritage and traditions have been intrinsically linked to and informed by our environment,' she says. 'We believe the creative industries can have a role in helping us develop long-term, sustainable solutions that will protect the local ecology, unite the community, and drive innovation,' she adds, underlining how the summit seeks to embody this connection, uniting the creative industries with scientific and ecological expertise. With this connection in mind, from 5-6 April – hot on the heels of the Samarkand International Climate Forum on 4 April – Nukus will host a rich programme of panel discussions, networking forums, and cultural events. Artists, ecologists, and local businesses will collaborate to explore ways of revitalising Karakalpakstan, the region surrounding the Aral Sea, through sustainable practices, while a roster of cultural immersions – featuring food, music, and art – will allow visitors to connect deeply with the local heritage and traditions. What's more, this will take place in the world's largest (non-collapsible) yurt, in homage to the traditional dwellings of the region's nomadic peoples. In this setting, echoing the gathering of families around a hearth, conversations will explore salient questions for the region: using culture, architecture and heritage as catalysts for climate action; driving change through content; women's leadership; how art and tradition shape identity; and agriculture as culture. Image: The Aral Culture Summit will take place in the world's biggest non-collapsible yurt. Image: Uzbekistan Tourism/X Image: An archival image of a traditional yurt. Image: Courtesy of ARC Architects. International expertise, local roots The roster of experts taking part includes international names from across art, design, architecture and ecology, such as Aric Chen, Artistic Director of Rotterdam's Nieuwe Instituut; Belgian landscape architect Bas Smets; founder and principal architect of waiwai, Wael Al Awar; Kazakhstani biodesigner Dana Molzhigit; and Natalia Idrisova, curator of Tajikistan's 'Polygon' Art Group. ADVERTISEMENT These international voices will be in conversation with key figures in the local community, whose agency is key in the area's regeneration. Among those taking part will be Karakalpak artist Saidbek Sabirbayev; theatre director Sultanbek Kallibekov; Aijamal Yusupova, director of the State Museum of History and Culture of the Republic of Karakalpakstan; and contemporary poet Kydirniyaz Babaniyazov. For Sabirbayev, bringing these voices together, and shining a spotlight on the region, is an important step. 'As an artist, I was born and raised in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, so the problem of the Aral Sea is our problem and my pain. The summit drew me because 70-80% of my works are related to the Aral Sea and Karakalpakstan… I hope that where there is attention, there will be results,' he explains. Crucially, the Aral Culture Summit does not seek to be 'just another conference'; rather, it is designed as an ongoing conversation, with fresh iterations every 18 months and a commitment to longstanding legacy. ADVERTISEMENT The first phase of the project will focus on the regeneration of Istiqlol Park, the future headquarters of the summit. This former amusement park, which is one of the only green spaces in the city, will be transformed into a community hub offering a range of environmentally conscious and culturally enriching experiences, serving as an example both of eco-responsible tourism and a model for other cities grappling with similar environmental challenges. Park Istiqlol, Nukus, to be developed as part of the Aral Culture Summit. Photo courtesy of Iwan Baan and ACDF, all rights reserved Suzani craft. Aral Culture Summit 2025. Picture Courtesy of Uzbekistan Art And Culture Foundation. 2025, a milestone year The Aral Culture Summit is just one of numerous big cultural 'moments' for Uzbekistan in 2025. As well as participating in the World Expo Osaka and the Venice Biennale Architettura, the country will host its first ever biennial (the Bukhara Biennial) in September and, come November, the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand – an event that has not been held outside Paris in 40 years. It remains to be seen whether culture and ecology will unite to truly make a difference in the Aral Sea region, but one thing is certain: as Uzbekistan opens its doors to international audiences, it has staked its claim – and that of Karakalpakstan, specifically – to a place in the global cultural conversation. The Aral Sea Basin. Courtesy of Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation. The inaugural Aral Culture Summit runs in Nukus from 5-6 April 2025. ADVERTISEMENT
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
ARAL CULTURE SUMMIT 2025: UZBEKISTAN'S LANDMARK EVENT ALIGNING CULTURE, ECOLOGY, AND REGIONAL COOPERATION ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
LINK to images An emergent initiative dedicated to the social and environmental transformation of the Aral Sea region through art, culture, design and science debuts 4-6 April 2025. To be inaugurated during the first Global Climate Forum in Samarkand on 4th April, attended by EU and Central Asian leaders and reinforcing Uzbekistan's commitment to green development and global cooperation. A multidisciplinary programme in Nukus, Karakalpakstan (5-6 April) with global and regional experts on culture, architecture, ecology, food security and water resource management to foster dialogue and call to action. A masterplan to revitalise Istiqlol, the Summit's future headquarters - a former amusement park and one of few remaining green spaces in Nukus - will be unveiled on 5th April 2025. NUKUS, Uzbekistan, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aral Culture Summit (ACS), a cultural and environmental initiative to revitalise the Aral Sea region in Central Asia will take place from 4-6 April 2025. Organised by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF), the Summit seeks to foster dialogue and action through art, culture, design, and science. ACS will bring together leading cultural figures, policymakers, artists, and environmental experts across two cities to explore and implement sustainable solutions that address the Aral Sea crisis and global climate challenges. Aral Culture Summit 2025 will be inaugurated during the first Global Climate Forum in Samarkand (4th April), attended by regional and European heads-of-states and reinforcing Uzbekistan's commitment to the regional cooperation for environmental and social development. Programme Highlights and ThemesAral Culture Summit continues in Nukus, Karakalpakstan near the Aral Sea on 5-6 April and will host a multidisciplinary programme with panel discussions, keynotes, artistic performances, and exhibitions, addressing critical issues such as environmental regeneration, creative economy, and cultural diplomacy. On 5th April, Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of ACDF will announce a preliminary masterplan for the regeneration of Istiqlol, a former amusement park in Nukus, reimagined by Ludi Architects as a permanent cultural and ecological hub. Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of ACDF, comments:"Aral Culture Summit is a platform for change. By integrating cultural dialogue with the climate agenda, we are ensuring that the arts contribute to our collective commitment to long term sustainable development. Our participation in the first Global Climate Forum underscores the critical role of culture to drive environmental transformation." | @ Press Kit: LINK (including hi-res images) Photo - - - View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Aral Culture Summit Sign in to access your portfolio
