A capsule-laying ceremony took place in Bishkek, marking the beginning of construction of a new cultural center on the site where the 'Chatyr-Kul' cinema once stood. According to information from the city authorities, the facility is expected to open in September of this year.
The event was attended by the city's mayor, Aibek Junushaliev, the Minister of Culture, Information, and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan, Mirbek Mambetaliev, as well as local residents.
The mayor noted that no residential building will be constructed on this site. "We are creating a cultural center that will be as significant as its predecessor, 'Chatyr-Kul.' With strict adherence to construction norms and schedules, we plan to open it in September," the mayor emphasized.
The project is being carried out under the guidance of the Bishkek city administration. It is planned to build a three-story building with an underground parking lot for 92 cars. The total area of the land plot is 0.4 hectares, while the area of the building itself is 2,490 square meters. The new center will house a cinema with 420 seats, classrooms for musicians and theater enthusiasts, food court areas, and an exhibition hall with 330 seats.
It is worth noting that the 'Chatyr-Kul' cinema was opened in 1967 in the Botanical residential area and could accommodate 600 viewers. In 2010, the building was nationalized and transferred to the state youth theater 'Uchur'; however, no major repairs were conducted, and in recent years, the cinema was not in use. On November 5, 2025, a fire occurred in the building, after which the mayor ordered to determine the future of the site and expedite the implementation of the new cultural center project.
