AKIpress conducted an interview with the minister about achievements and projects in the cultural sphere for 2025. The renovation of theaters, new musicals, and increased funding were important topics of discussion.
The minister also touched upon aspects of cultural diplomacy, including the organization of Culture Days in other countries, as well as preparations for the World Nomad Games and the SCO Summit. He emphasized the need to preserve cultural heritage, increase the salaries of cultural workers, and develop infrastructure.
“Our goal is to draw attention to culture, develop interesting projects, and expand the repertoire,” the minister emphasized.
According to him, in 2025, state support has increased significantly. A multitude of cultural events is expected both in Kyrgyzstan and abroad, as the country’s culture has every chance of gaining international recognition.
- Thank you for taking the time for this interview. Let's discuss the results of the year in the cultural sector. Which projects implemented by the ministry do you consider the most significant?
- This year, significant funding was allocated for culture, which allowed for major renovations of theaters and the purchase of new stage equipment. We also acquired 72 buses for theaters, which greatly improved their touring capabilities. Previously, theaters could not travel to the regions, but now, for example, the Issyk-Kul Theater named after Jantoshiev is successfully touring the Naryn region.
This year, several major musicals were staged based on the Toktogul Satylganov National Philharmonic, such as "Raymaly and Begimai" and "Jamilya." The first of these was shown 15 times in Bishkek to full houses. It was also staged in Moscow, where it garnered significant interest. My team was pleased with the success, and it inspires further work.
It is important for us to bring audiences back to theaters, as funding has been extremely limited in recent years. In 2024, the budget for culture increased to more than 5 billion soms, and in 2025, it will rise to 7 billion soms. We plan to maintain this level of funding for the next year.
The musical "Jamilya" was also successful in Almaty. We continue to work on new projects, such as the musical "SuiMonkul," dedicated to the famous actor SuiMonkul Chokmorov, for which funds have also been allocated.
We are also working on increasing the salaries of cultural workers. The president announced a 50% increase for all budget employees working in this field.
- What steps have been taken to preserve cultural heritage this year?
- We launched the program "KooNo Taryh Syrlary," for which about 50 million soms were allocated this year. Next year, the amount will increase to 70 million soms. The funds will be directed towards the restoration and preservation of historical sites. We have begun work on the reconstruction of the Tash-Rabat caravanserai and archaeological excavations in various regions.
However, unfortunately, we lack specialists in the fields of restoration and archaeology. We plan to reach out to colleagues from neighboring countries to involve them in our projects.
- How does the exclusion of objects from the cultural heritage list occur, and what criteria exist for this?
- This is done in accordance with the law "On the Protection and Use of Historical and Cultural Heritage." There is a list of objects of republican and local significance, which includes more than 500 objects. Exclusions occur, for example, when construction is necessary or if the objects have lost their significance.
An example is the "Issyk-Kul" hotel, which was demolished as it did not hold cultural value, and a new building was constructed in its place, becoming a symbol of development.
In some cases, objects are excluded due to their emergency condition, such as the building of the music school, which was recognized as emergency and is subject to demolition with subsequent construction of a new one.
- What role will Kyrgyzstan play in the international cultural arena in the future?
- We successfully held Culture Days of Kyrgyzstan in Tajikistan, which contributed to the popularization of our culture beyond the country. Next year, we have many events planned, including the World Nomad Games and various festivals, which will allow us to promote our culture on the international stage.
We also plan to participate in a theater festival in France and the Biennale in Italy, as interest in our culture is growing.
For example, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Korea, we staged the play "Semetey," which showcases the interpretation of our epic by a Korean director.
The opening of the World Nomad Games is expected to take place in Bishkek, and the president is personally overseeing the preparations for the event. We anticipate significant attention to this event, which will take place within the framework of the SCO summit and will include many cultural programs.
- What are the priorities of the Ministry of Culture in developing infrastructure?
- This year, we renovated several theaters, including the Young Spectator Theater and the Russian Theater named after Chyngyz Aitmatov. We also plan to replace old stage equipment in some theaters.
Next year, we will begin the capital construction of a new theater in Karakol, and a new philharmonic will be built in Manas.
We are also working on improving existing theaters to ensure comfortable conditions for audiences.
- How does the Ministry cope with budget constraints?
- This year, we received more than 7 billion soms from the republican budget, which is significantly higher than planned. This will allow us to continue developing culture and conducting necessary events.
We also launched the "Kyrgyz Madaniyat Service" program, which allows us to manage our own stage equipment and reduce rental costs.
- What is the current state of the film industry in Kyrgyzstan?
- The film industry is actively developing, and this year our films occupy about 70% of the box office market. We also plan to develop the infrastructure of the film industry, including the construction of a film studio and a recording studio.
We are working on changes to the legislation to improve working conditions in the film industry.
- How is the Ministry of Culture adapting to digital changes?
- We are developing unified digital solutions, such as a ticket sales system for theaters and museums. This will allow us to increase revenues and make services more accessible to the population.
We are confident that culture can and should generate income. Our task is to create interesting projects that will be in demand.
- What is the Ministry's policy in the field of information?
- We are working on a bill regarding bloggers, which will help define their role and responsibility. This is important for ensuring quality information.
- How does the Ministry of Culture envision the future of cultural diplomacy in Central Asia?
- We are actively developing cultural ties with neighboring countries by holding joint events. This strengthens friendship and cooperation in the region.
Through cultural initiatives, we can promote our culture and strengthen ties with other countries.
- What makes Kyrgyz culture unique?
- The epic "Manas" is the foundation of our culture and distinguishes us from other Central Asian countries. It is our cultural heritage.
- What role does culture play in your life, Mirbek Kemelovich?
- Culture for me is a part of my life, and I take pride in our tradition. I believe that developing cultural infrastructure is my main priority.
- How do you relax?
- In my free time, I try to relax in nature and think about the future of our country.
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