As part of the joint project "It Was Recently, It Was Long Ago" with the Central State Archive of Film, Photo, and Sound Documents (CSAFPSD KR, which is part of the Archive Service of the KR), AKIpress publishes unique archival photographs. This material highlights the theme "Everyday Life of the Kyrgyz."
The Ministry of Culture, Information, and Youth Policy has summed up the results of the competition dedicated to the creation of cultural tourism products based on traditional crafts. According to the department, the goal of this initiative is to search for and develop original designs of cultural tourism goods that rely on traditional ornaments and craft skills, while combining them with modern design solutions.
According to information provided by the National Statistical Committee, there are currently 21 professional theaters actively operating in Kyrgyzstan. Of these, 10 theaters are located in the capital, Bishkek, 2 are in the Jalal-Abad region, 3 are in Osh, 2 are in the Naryn region, and one theater can be found in each of the Batken, Issyk-Kul, Osh, and Talas regions.
According to data from the National Statistics Committee, in 2024, there were 42 cinemas operating in Kyrgyzstan, which collectively attracted over 3 million viewers. Last year, more than 232,000 screenings were held.
The film "The Dream of Reason," created by Kyrgyz director and film critic Talgar Zamir-Seyit, has been selected to participate in the Toronto Global Film Festival, which will take place in Canada from December 20 to 22, 2025. The filming of the movie took place on the Kamchatka Peninsula and resulted from international collaboration between Kyrgyzstan, Japan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. The uniqueness of the project lies in the fact that the entire film was shot on a mobile phone, which
The Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports, and Youth Policy has announced a tender for the procurement of equipment for multimedia systems. According to information published on the government procurement portal, an unrestricted procurement method will be used.
Talantbek Tolobekov has been appointed as the director of the Department of Cinematography of the Ministry of Culture, Information, and Youth Policy. This decision was made in accordance with the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers, signed by the Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev. Previously, this position was held by Ulan Adamaliev.
On February 18, the National Theater "Manas" hosted the presentation of the book "Manaschylar," which covers the biographies and life stories of 150 manaschy over the last five centuries. This work was created by manaschy and the theater's director, Nurbek Talantbekov. The book contains a chronologically ordered list of manaschy, supplemented by verses written by manaschy Rysbaev Isakov, who also entered the Guinness Book of Records for his 124-hour performance of the
On October 30, a personal exhibition of the artist and sculptor Boobek Arykov, titled "Return to the Source," was opened at the Kyrgyz National Museum of Fine Arts named after Gapar Aitiev. According to the press service of the Ministry of Culture, Boobek Arykov completed his education at a city vocational technical school, where he studied wood processing. After that, he continued his studies at the Tashkent State Institute of Theatre and Arts named after Ostrovsky and the Almaty
On November 10, a youth forum titled "Kyyalymdagy Kyrgyzstan" will take place at the Small Arena in Bishkek, dedicated to Youth Day, as reported by the press service of the Ministry of Culture. It is expected that more than 5,000 people will participate in the event, including young leaders, activists, entrepreneurs, startups, as well as specialists in the fields of science and technology. The forum will also be joined by creative and cultural workers, students, young civil servants,
The Kyrgyz National Drama Theater named after Toktobolot Abdumomunov has announced its performances for the month of November. On November 4 at 18:30, the audience will be offered the historical drama "Eñlik-Kebek" based on the work of M. Auezov;
The Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports, and Youth Policy has announced the results of the competition "State Support for Youth Initiatives within the Framework of State and Municipal Target Programs." The main objective of this competition is to instill a sense of citizenship and patriotism in young people, strengthen spiritual and moral foundations, promote their intellectual, creative, and physical development, as well as support initiatives aimed at meeting the educational
On October 31, as part of the Culture Workers' Day, the Ministry of Culture organized sports competitions in volleyball and football for employees of cultural institutions. As noted by the ministry's press service, 24 teams participated in the competitions: 14 of them represented men's football teams, while 10 represented women's volleyball teams.
As of November 2023, the following events are scheduled at the Naryn Regional Academic Musical Drama Theater named after Muratbek Ryskulov. On November 1 at 14:00, a creative evening dedicated to the People's Artist of Kyrgyzstan, Bermet Ömürova, will take place;
On November 3, an event titled "Culture of the City of Manas" will take place at the Barpy Drama Theater in Jalal-Abad, dedicated to the professional holiday of cultural workers, which is celebrated on November 2. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Culture. Various institutions will participate in the celebration, including the Jalal-Abad Regional Kyrgyz Drama Theater named after Barpy, the Toktosun Tynibekov Philharmonic, the Culture Department of the City of
On November 3, an exhibition dedicated to Culture Day will take place at the branch of the Urkui Salieva Museum, which is part of the National Historical and Archaeological Museum Complex "Sulaiman-Too." It is titled "National Instruments — The Voice of Heritage." According to information provided by the press service of the Ministry of Culture, the exhibition will showcase various folk instruments, such as the komuz, kyl kyak, choor, and dobulbas. The aim of this event is
The Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Adylbek Kasymaliev, addressed a congratulatory message to the workers of the cultural sphere on the occasion of their professional holiday. Full text of the congratulation:
On November 4, a concert dedicated to the Day of National Unity will take place at the National Center for Children and Youth "Seitek." The event will feature ensembles from the Bashkir State Pedagogical University named after M. Akmulla and talented artists from Bashkortostan, as reported by the Russian House in Bishkek. The concert will begin at 16:00.
The Embassy of Hungary in Bishkek has announced the Hungarian Film Days, scheduled for November 3-5 and November 10. As part of this event, viewers will be offered outstanding works of Hungarian cinema created by renowned directors. These films, based on real events and destinies, tell the rich history of Hungary through the lens of the personal stories and memories of the main characters.
On October 29, the world said goodbye to the honored artist of the Kyrgyz Republic, Svetlana Gusakova, who was a renowned soloist of the Kyrgyz National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet named after A. Maldybaev. Information about this loss was received from the Ministry of Culture. Svetlana received her education at the Kyrgyz State Institute of Arts named after B. Beishenaliev. In 1991, she began her career as an intern at the theater, where she debuted in the role of Gilda in the opera
On October 25, 2025, a solemn opening of the restored mausoleum of Shabdan Batyr took place in the village of Tort-Kul, located in the Chon-Kemin ayil district. This information was provided by Shabdan's great-granddaughter, Zhainagul Taiguronova. The restoration work, which lasted from September 7 to October 20, 2025, allowed the monument to be returned to its original appearance.
On October 30, a meeting took place in Bishkek between the Minister of Culture, Information, and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan, Mirbek Mambetaliev, and his Russian counterpart, Olga Lyubimova. According to the press service of the Ministry of Culture, the meeting discussed aspects of cooperation in the field of culture and humanitarian ties between the two countries.
Edil Baisalov, serving as the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, held talks with the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, Olga Lyubimova, who visited Bishkek on an official visit at the head of a Russian delegation. According to information provided by the Cabinet of Ministers, the discussion focused on the current state and future directions of cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Russia in the field of culture and humanitarian initiatives.
On February 18, the National Theater "Manas" hosted the presentation of the book "Manaschylar," which collects the biographies, life stories, and works of 150 manaschy over the past 500 years. The author of this work is manaschy and theater director Nurbek Talantbekov. The manaschy are listed in chronological order, and their stories are complemented by verses created by manaschy Rysbay Isakov. He also gained fame for his record in the Guinness Book of Records, when he
At the event dedicated to the Days of Russian Culture in Kyrgyzstan, the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Head of the President's Administration Adylbek Kasymaliev held a meeting with the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova. During this event, Nikita Mikhalkov was awarded the Order of "Dostuk" [Friendship] — this is a high state recognition, the government reported.
The National Television and Radio Broadcasting Corporation (NTRC) has announced the start of the procurement process for the creation of a unique musical animated series aimed at children aged 0 to 3 years. Relevant information has appeared on the state procurement portal. The expected contract amount is 11 million 500 thousand soms. The application submission period will last until 11:00 on November 13, 2025.
A recent find by archaeologists participating in the Kyrgyz-Russian expedition is a stone depiction dating back to the early Turkic period. This discovery was made in the vicinity of the Borombay-I burial mounds. According to information provided by the Scientific Educational Center for Altaic Studies and Turkology "Great Altai" of Altai State University, the sculpture depicts a woman wearing a three-horned headdress, holding a cup in her right hand. The expedition, during which this
On October 29, the official opening of the Days of Culture of the Russian Federation took place in Bishkek, held at the Toktogul Satylganov National Philharmonic. The Minister of Culture, Information, Sports, and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan, Mirbek Mambetaliev, and the Minister of Culture of Russia, Olga Lyubimova, participated in the ceremony, as reported by the press service of the Ministry of Culture.
On October 29, the opening of the Days of Russian Culture took place at the Kyrgyz National Philharmonic named after T. Satylganov. The ceremony was attended by the culture ministers of both countries: Mirbek Mambetaliev from Kyrgyzstan and Olga Lyubimova from Russia. In his address, Mambetaliev emphasized the importance of this cultural event, noting that the ties between Kyrgyzstan and Russia are based on "a soulful connection, common historical roots, and spiritual values."
On November 2, a master class dedicated to neuroart titled "Tree of Gratitude" will be held at the Kyrgyz National Museum of Fine Arts named after Gapar Aitiev. The event will be led by Natalia Petukhova — a neuro-artist, neurography instructor, and psychological consultant.
On November 1, a lecture titled "Kyrgyz Landscape and Genre Painting of the Late 1940s-1950s" will be held at the Gapar Aitiev Museum of Fine Arts. This was reported by the Ministry of Culture. The presentation will be conducted by Aina Moldokmatova, an art historian and research associate in the department of scientific promotion of visual arts at the museum, as well as a member of the Union of Artists of Kyrgyzstan.
On November 4, the Memorial House-Museum of M.V. Frunze will host an exhibition titled "Образ М.В. Фрунзе в палехском искусстве" ("The Image of M.V. Frunze in Palekh Art"). According to the press service of the Ministry of Culture, the event will showcase a unique collection of 14 illustrations created by Palekh masters using traditional miniature techniques. Visitors will have the opportunity to view digital copies of these illustrations.
The Department of Cinematography has announced the start of a tender for the procurement of sound equipment for the National Film Studio "Kyrgyzfilm" named after T. Okeev. According to information posted on the government procurement portal, this tender will be conducted using an unrestricted method.
At the Cultural Center "COS and KOG," an important project titled "Liberation: Confronting the Repression of Sign Language in Kyrgyzstan" took place. This event became part of a museum initiative aimed at drawing attention to the issues faced by deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who use sign language in the country. According to the press service of the Bishkek City Hall, this initiative was organized with the support of the Department of Cultural Heritage and Humanities
The Ministry of Culture, Information and Youth Policy, in collaboration with the Union of Theater Workers of Kyrgyzstan, is launching the "Republican Competition for New Plays by Kyrgyz Playwrights on Historical Themes." According to reports, the aim of the competition is to support the development of national dramaturgy and to refresh the theatrical repertoire with new works.
The Capital Construction Department of the city of Osh has announced the start of a tender for the installation of a monument to the famous Kazakh writer Abai Kunanbaev. The monument is planned to be installed at the intersection of Volgogradskaya and Gapar Aitiev streets, and a museum will also be built in close proximity. According to information posted on the state procurement portal, an unlimited procurement method will be used.
The National Museum of Fine Arts named after Gapar Aitiev announces a lecture titled "Visual Arts of Kyrgyzstan in the 1940s-1950s," scheduled for November 1, 2025. The event will be conducted by Aina Moldokmatova, an art historian and leading research associate of the museum's scientific and educational department, as well as a member of the Union of Artists of Kyrgyzstan.
The National Historical Museum has initiated a tender for the development of a permanent multimedia exhibition dedicated to the history of Kyrgyzstan at the National Museum of Genghis Khan, located in Mongolia. According to information posted on the government procurement portal, the method of request for quotations with qualification requirements will be used for this.
From November 5 to 8, the T. Abdumomunov Kyrgyz National Academic Drama Theater will host a "Theater Week" dedicated to the work of the renowned People's Artist Zamir Sooronbaev. This event was announced by the press service of the Ministry of Culture. This year, Zamir Sooronbaev, who is also an honorary professor at the B. Beishenaliev Kyrgyz State Institute of Arts, celebrates his 70th anniversary.
On October 30, the National Museum of Fine Arts named after Gapar Aitiev will host the opening of an exhibition by sculptor and artist Boobek Arykov titled "Return to the Roots." This information was announced by the press service of the Ministry of Culture. The exhibition "Return to the Roots" will showcase the master's works that explore issues of national roots, historical heritage, and spirituality.
In Kyrgyzstan, a unique limited edition series of men's ties inspired by national culture has been presented. These accessories combine the elegance of classic models with the rich cultural heritage of the country. The collection features traditional Kyrgyz patterns and symbols, which are reflected in modern design. Each tie is made from high-quality natural silk and is distinguished by jewelry precision — from the smallest details to impeccable sewing quality.
In collaboration with the Central State Archive of Film, Photo, and Sound Documents (CSAFPSD KR), which is part of the Archive Service of the KR, AKIpress presents a series of archival photographs as part of the project "It Was Recently, It Was Long Ago." This publication is dedicated to the theme "Everyday Life of the Kyrgyz."
On February 18, the National Theater "Manas" presented the book "Manaschylar," dedicated to the biographies and life stories of 150 manaschy over the past 500 years. The author of this work is the manaschy and director of the theater, Nurbek Talantbekov. The book is organized chronologically, and the manaschy Rysbay Isakov added poems to each story, which gives the work additional value. By the way, he entered the Guinness Book of Records for his 124-hour interpretation of
The Cabinet of Ministers approved resolution No. 631, which introduces changes to the terms of remuneration for employees of cultural, artistic, informational, and sports institutions. According to the new rules, the maximum amount of bonuses for quality work results has been increased from 30% to 70% of the wage fund. These bonuses will be financed from the special account of the institution.
The National Film Studio "Kyrgyzfilm," in collaboration with the Central State Archive and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), has completed the digitization of the feature film "I Do Not Allow a Catastrophe," created by director Algimantas Vidugiris. This digitization was carried out as part of a project to preserve the Kyrgyz film archive.
The performance of the famous ballet "Swan Lake" will take place on November 6 at the Abdylas Maldybaev National Opera and Ballet Theater. The Moscow troupe "Classical Russian Ballet" will participate in this performance. The press service of the Ministry of Culture reported that the plot of the ballet reveals the theme of love, embodied by the swan, which has become a symbol of purity, ideal, and unattainable beauty that captivated the prince. The main characters, striving
The National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet named after Abdylas Maldybaev presents its repertoire for November. November 1, 18:00 — W.A. Mozart's opera "Don Giovanni," consisting of two acts;
On November 6, a solemn event dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Omor Sultanov, the people's poet of Kyrgyzstan and a holder of the Order of Manas II degree, will take place at the National Opera and Ballet Theater named after A. Maldybaev. According to the press service of the Ministry of Culture, this event will feature not only writers and poets but also prominent figures in culture and art, as well as literature enthusiasts. Admission to the event will be free.