The Kyrgyz are mentioned in historical written sources earlier than the neighboring peoples currently living in Central Asia. The first information about the Kyrgyz dates back to the 3rd century BC. Today, the culture of Kyrgyzstan represents a system of nomadic and agricultural culture. The country is characterized by a civilizational synthesis and cultural pluralism. The culture of Kyrgyzstan is presented as a symbiosis of traditions, customs, worldviews, stereotypes, and the mentality of a nomadic people, as well as the lifestyle of agricultural peoples in synthesis with Islamic traditions.
A cultural elite has formed in the country, distinguished by passionate activity, relentless creative search, and socially significant initiatives. The cultural elite of Kyrgyzstan serves as an indicator of cultural authenticity and exercises creative freedom.
From 1991 to 2005, several nationwide targeted programs were implemented in Kyrgyzstan as part of state programs: "Araket," "Ayal-zat," "Zhashtyk," "Manas-1000," "Osh-ZOOO," "2200 years of Kyrgyz statehood," "Sustainable human development." Each year was declared the year of a particular social group: "year of youth," "year of women," "year of the elderly," "year of health."
The concept of "Kyrgyzstan is our common home" (2000-2002) became an indicator of the creation of a system of national cultural centers within the Assembly of Peoples of Kyrgyzstan. National cultural centers for Slavic peoples, Uzbeks, Dungans, Turks, Chechens, Uighurs, and other peoples were established. The Assembly of Peoples of Kyrgyzstan became a mechanism for dialogue between the state and national minorities.
Currently, the cultural life of Kyrgyzstan can be characterized by the following aspects.
Clubs. In 2001, there were 656 club institutions operating in Kyrgyzstan, of which 618 were in rural areas. A total of 1,766 club formations exist in the republic, of which 1,594 are in rural areas. The total number of participants in these institutions is 26,154, of which 13,355 are women. Among amateur associations, children's groups are particularly popular: "Zhas kyial," "Shattyk," "Taberik," "Rahat," "Ak Shoola," "Aiperi."
Parks of Culture and Recreation. The oldest parks of culture and recreation in Kyrgyzstan are: the Karagach Grove in Bishkek (1881), the A. S. Pushkin Park in Karakol (1895), and the T. Satylganov Park in Osh (1919). The first park established was the "Zvezdochka" (now named after I. V. Panfilov). Parks have been created not only in the capital and in regional and district centers but also in many villages and settlements. Today, there are 26 state parks in the republic, the largest of which are in Bishkek. These include the central park named after I. V. Panfilov, the park named after Yu. Fuchik, and the children's park named after K. Zhakypov. In Osh, there are the parks named after T. Satylganov, A. Navoi, as well as the parks "Alamedin," "Dubovy," "Druzhba," and the Karagach Grove. Various attractions, gaming machines, and summer theaters operate in these parks.
Museums. The museum network of Kyrgyzstan includes the following profiles: historical — 5; ethnographic — 2; historical-ethnographic — 3; historical-architectural — 2; historical-local history — 5; nature reserves — 2; memorial — 11; art — 2; literary — 3.
In addition to state museums, there are also about 30 departmental museums widely represented in Kyrgyzstan. The republic has a fairly extensive network of school museums. These museums vary in profile: memorial museums, museums of military and labor glory, history of schools, villages, historical and ethnographic museums. Among the ethnographic museums, the one in the village of Aleksandrovka in the Chui Valley (museum of the Dungan people) is particularly interesting; among the historical ones is the museum in secondary school No. 1 in Talas.
In Bishkek, there are two private museums: the Museum of the History of Technology and Inventions and the Museum of the History of Cosmonautics.
Libraries. Currently, the Kyrgyz Republic has a well-developed network of libraries of various types and profiles. The total number of libraries exceeds 2,500. The leading role in library services for the adult and child population of the republic belongs to state mass (public) libraries functioning within the Department of Culture. The National Library has a hall with a collection of candidate and doctoral dissertations on microcarriers and microfilms, which contains over 97,000 dissertations. Its collection of periodicals exceeds 900,000 copies, including 400,000 newspapers, more than 500,000 magazines, and scientific works. Since 1991, all domestic materials have been entered into the electronic catalog "Kyrgyzstan." The Republican Library for Children and Youth serves as a methodological center for children's and school libraries. In addition to mass (public) libraries, the republic has 1,749 school libraries, 76 libraries of higher and secondary educational institutions, 38 medical libraries, 32 technical libraries, 10 agricultural libraries, and 11 libraries belonging to the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic.
National Book Chamber of the Kyrgyz Republic. The Book Chamber stores accurate addresses of scientific and technical information and historical references necessary for creating a central catalog of printed publications, state bibliography, statistics, publishing, printing industry, and book trade. Each year, the chamber receives more than 16,000 copies of books, brochures, periodicals, various publications, posters, postcards, sheet music, and more.
Archives. In April 1998, based on a decree of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, the state structure of government bodies was improved. According to this decree, the State Archive Agency under the Government of the Republic was transformed into the Department of Archival Affairs under the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Currently, the archives of the republic represent a unified State Archive Service. There are 3 central state archives, a documentation center, and a scientific-methodological center, 7 regional state archives and 3 of their branches, 54 district and city archives, and 7 archive and documentation management offices under regional state administrations. All these archival institutions are managed by the Department of Archival Affairs under the Ministry of Education and Culture of the republic.
As of January 1, 2001, the archives of the republic hold 12,427 archival funds with a total volume of over 2,237,000 files. The Central State Archive of Film, Photo, and Sound Documents holds 135,313 documents, including 16,100 film documents, 112,962 photo documents, and 6,521 sound documents. A significant event in the life of archivists was the law "On the National Archival Fund of the Kyrgyz Republic," which was adopted by the Jogorku Kenesh on January 11, 1994. In December 1999, the Legislative Assembly of the Jogorku Kenesh adopted a new amended law "On the National Archival Fund of the Kyrgyz Republic."
