Culture
Turkmen filmmakers among nominees for prestigious Eurasian Film Award
25.11.2025On 21 November, a list of films approved for consideration by the expert council of the Open Eurasian Film Award ‘Diamond Butterfly’ was published. This was reported by the state news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. Among the contenders are the feature film ‘The Composer,’ created in Turkmenistan, as well as the joint Turkmen-Uzbek film ‘Magtymguly’. A total of 34 works are presented in the competition programme from Russia, China, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Serbia, Venezuela, Cuba, Senegal, South Africa, Pakistan, Belarus, Indonesia, Vietnam, Iran and a number of other countries. The award ceremony will take place on 27 November at Masterskaya ‘12’ under the direction of Nikita Mihalkov. Twelve awards will be presented that evening, including a special prize for ‘Contribution to World Cinema.’ The winners will be determined by a vote of the expert council. The award covers a wide range of nominations: best film, directing, screenplay, cinematography, music, acting, supporting roles, production design, as well as a separate category for films from countries outside the Eurasian space. The main winner of the award will receive $1 million, while the other winners will receive $250,000 each.
Polish pianist Wojciech Waleczek performed in Ashgabat
22.11.2025A concert by Polish pianist Wojciech Waleczek was held at the Mukam Palace of the State Cultural Centre of Turkmenistan. The musician performed alongside the State Symphony Orchestra of Turkmenistan, conducted by Rasul Klychev, according to IIC. In the first part of the evening, Wojciech Waleczek performed works by European composers, including Claude Debussy's ‘Clair de Lune’ and Franz Liszt's ‘Rêve d'amour’. Compositions by Beethoven, Mozart and Paganini were also performed. The second part of the concert featured Frédéric Chopin's ‘Piano Concerto No. 1’. The orchestra accompanied the soloist, emphasising the leading role of the piano. The concert was held as part of European Culture Days and attracted the attention of classical music lovers.
A delegation from Turkmenistan studied the collections of the Museum of Mankind in Paris
22.11.2025The delegation from Turkmenistan, which is on an official visit to France, visited the Musée de l'Homme in Paris. Representatives of the Turkmen side familiarised themselves with the main exhibitions dedicated to the anthropological and cultural heritage of the peoples of the world and learned about the museum's scientific and educational programmes, according to IIC. The tour was conducted by Julio Bendezu-Sarmiento, an archaeologist at the French National Centre for Scientific Research and Head of the Franco-Turkmen archaeological expedition. He talked about the structure of the museum and its collections and answered questions from the delegation. A meeting was also held with the Head of the research group at the French National Centre for Scientific Research. They discussed opportunities for expanding cooperation: joint projects, exchanges of specialists and participation in international programmes. The visit to the museum was part of the official programme of the visit and strengthened professional and scientific ties between Turkmenistan and France.
Turkmen masters presented their art at the international crafts week
22.11.2025The third Saudi International Handicrafts Week is being held in Riyadh from 13 to 26 November 2025 under the patronage of Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan. Among this year's participants is a delegation from Turkmenistan. The country's State Academy of Arts presented handmade carpets, traditional silver jewellery and ceramics, according to the press service of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan. Representatives from more than 40 countries and over 400 Saudi artisans are participating in the forum. The project is being implemented as part of the Year of Handicrafts 2025 and is aimed at strengthening the business potential of artisans by providing them with additional market opportunities and a platform to promote their products. Oguljennet Mollayeva, a lecturer at the Academy, noted that the Saudi Arabian government's initiative creates significant opportunities for promoting national cultural heritage and popularising Turkmen carpet weaving, which is included in UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Her colleague Shazada Orazberdiyev presented guests with an exhibition of national jewellery — ‘gulyaka’, ‘tumar’, ‘bilezik’ — talking about their traditions, symbolism and place in Turkmen culture. Hezretguly Annageldiyev, a teacher at the Academy, demonstrated his original ceramic works: vases, jugs, figurines and other items. According to him, each work is dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust and reflects the desire of the masters to bring a modern artistic touch to the craft tradition.
Balkanabat hosts Aktau Culture Days
22.11.2025The opening of Aktau City Culture Days, timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's neutrality, took place in Balkanabat, according to the news website Asmannews. The delegation from Aktau was greeted with warmth and respect. The opening ceremony was held at the State Drama Theatre of the Balkan velayat named after Saparmyrat Turkmenbashy the Great and included an exhibition of fine and decorative arts, books on the national cuisine of Turkmenistan, and a concert. The programme featured national compositions and dances from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, theatrical scenes about Magtymguly Pyragy and Abay Kunanbayev, and musical performances by Turkmen and Kazakh artists. The finale was a Turkmen dance called ‘kushtdepdi’, symbolising the friendship and unity of the two countries.
Ashgabat celebrated the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel with a concert by the symphony orchestra
20.11.2025A concert dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of French composer Maurice Ravel was held in Ashgabat. The event was a notable occasion in the cultural calendar and presented listeners with key works by the master of musical impressionism, according to IIC. The State Symphony Orchestra of Turkmenistan, conducted by Honoured Artist of the country Rasul Klychev, performed a programme that included Ravel's most iconic works. The evening was opened by French Ambassador to Turkmenistan Philippe Merlin, who emphasised the importance of the composer's work for world musical culture. The concert featured ‘Pavane for a Dead Princess,’ one of Ravel's most famous lyrical compositions, as well as his ‘Piano Concerto in G major (M.83)’. The solo part in the three-part concerto was performed by pianist Vladimir Mkrtumov, Honoured Artist of Turkmenistan. The programme also included ‘Morning Song of the Jester’. The highlight of the evening was the performance of ‘Bolero’, presented for the first time on the Turkmen stage.
Chairman of the Union of Artists of Turkmenistan awarded gold medal in Tashkent
17.11.2025An exhibition has opened in Tashkent, in the Central Exhibition Hall of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan, as part of the International Congress ‘Spiritual Heritage and Enlightenment in Central Asia’. This event has become a true cross-cultural manifesto, according to IIC. The exhibition was created as a visual dialogue between the countries of the region: from the rich hues of the Azerbaijani school to the steppe breath of Kazakh masters, from Kyrgyz folk symbolism to the decorativeness of Uzbek art. But the works of Turkmen artists stood out particularly brightly against this backdrop. Their canvases are a visual code of steppe culture: an organic combination of ethnographic motifs, author's technique and philosophical depth. One of the key moments of the opening was the presentation of the gold medal of the Union of Artists of Uzbekistan to the Chairman of the Union of Artists of Turkmenistan, Charymyrat Yazmyradov. This award is not only a personal recognition, but also a symbolic confirmation that Turkmen art is gaining weight in the regional arena.
Turkmen artist honoured with International ‘Heritage of the Future’ award
16.11.2025The ‘Heritage of the Future’ (‘Kelajak merosi’) International award ceremony was held in Tashkent. According to the results of the first competition in the category ‘Fine and Applied Arts,’ the award was presented to People's Artist of Turkmenistan Babasary Annamyradov, reports the state news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. Established in 2025 on the initiative of Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the award recognises outstanding cultural figures who contribute to the preservation of traditions, the development of art and the strengthening of national spiritual heritage. The event brought together the leaders of Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan. The winners were presented with a statuette, a diploma and a cash prize.
Turkmenistan strengthens scientific diplomacy at spiritual heritage congress in Tashkent
15.11.2025The International Congress ‘Spiritual Heritage and Enlightenment in Central Asia’ continues its work in Tashkent, bringing together researchers and experts, including representatives from Turkmenistan. The forum's programme covers a wide range of topics reflecting the historical roots, cultural traditions and spiritual values of the peoples of the region, according to the state news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. Special attention was paid to the role of archaeology as an instrument of scientific diplomacy. This field has long gone beyond the study of antiquity and today serves as a platform for international cooperation, creating a space of trust and mutual respect. Speaking at the section ‘Material Culture and Spiritual Heritage of Central Asia’, Jennet Ezimova, senior researcher at the Institute of History and Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, emphasised that the preservation of cultural and historical heritage is part of Turkmenistan's responsibility to world civilisation.
Turkmenistan strengthens cultural cooperation in Central Asia
14.11.2025The first meeting of the ministers of culture of Central Asian countries was held in Tashkent. During the event, the Head of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan, A. Shamyradov, gave a speech, noting that Turkmenistan and the states of the region are carrying out large-scale work to strengthen friendly and partnership ties, as well as to expand international cultural cooperation, according to IIC. According to the Minister, the international cultural events held have contributed to the deepening of inter-state contacts, the exchange of experience in the humanitarian sphere and have increased interest in the rich spiritual heritage and intellectual potential of the countries of Central Asia. It was noted that Turkmenistan, by consistently strengthening relations of friendship and mutual understanding, is making a significant contribution to maintaining peace and stability both in the region and globally.
Turkmenistan presented its cultural vision at a congress in Tashkent
14.11.2025The International Congress ‘Spiritual Heritage and Enlightenment in Central Asia’ was held in Tashkent at the Centre for Islamic Civilisation. A delegation from Turkmenistan, led by Minister of Culture Atageldi Shamyradov, is participating in the event. This was reported by IIC. The opening ceremony began with the screening of a documentary film and the reading of a welcome message from the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to the participants of the forum. During the first plenary session, Turkmenistan's Minister of Culture Atageldi Shamyradov delivered a speech. He noted that spiritual heritage serves as one of the most important foundations uniting the peoples of Central Asia, and that the continuity of generations is manifested in the education of young people based on the principles of humanism, honesty and unity. The Head of the Turkmen Ministry of Culture emphasised that the works of the region's outstanding thinkers — Omar Hayyam, Alisher Navoi and Dovletmammet Azadi — are an integral part of the common cultural wealth, and their ideas about dignity, patriotism and kindness remain relevant in the modern world. During the meeting, the ministers of culture of other countries in the region discussed ways to strengthen cultural cooperation and jointly preserve the spiritual heritage of Central Asia.
Turkmen fashion to be showcased in the United States
10.11.2025The Turkmen fashion house ‘Mähirli Zenan’ is preparing to present Turkmen national fashion in the United States of America. The brand, which creates exclusive products with hand-embroidered ‘keshde’, became one of the first in the country to bring Turkmenistan's ethnic fashion to the world stage. This was reported by TerraNews. In March this year, ‘Mähirli Zenan’, with the support of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, held an international fashion show in Ashgabat. The event received widespread coverage in the foreign media. The initiative to hold the show in the United States was supported by Aksenia Krupenko, President of the American company FCGroup LLC, which is involved in cultural diplomacy and the hospitality industry. The project will be a significant step in the development of Turkmenistan's cultural diplomacy, aimed at promoting the rich heritage and unique craftsmanship of the Turkmen people. The main idea behind the ‘Threads of Tradition’ project is to showcase Turkmenistan's national identity and cultural wealth using modern forms of communication. A similar approach is planned for the preparation of a Turkmen fashion show in the United States with the assistance of the Permanent Mission of Turkmenistan to the United Nations and the Embassy of Turkmenistan in the United States. It is worth noting that ‘Mähirli Zenan’ is already well known on international catwalks: the brand represented Turkmenistan at BRICS Fashion in Russia, the Oriental Fashion Show in Paris, and also participated in the Miss Universe competition in Milan. These projects have strengthened the brand's international recognition and laid the foundation for a new ambitious step — organising a show of Turkmen national clothing in the United States.
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