"Damage to Culture". The Creative Intelligentsia Asks the President to Preserve the House of Artists

Сергей Гармаш • 19.03.2026, 20:17 • Local news

The Union of Artists, representing the interests of the creative intelligentsia of Kyrgyzstan, has addressed a letter to the head of state, Sadyr Japarov.

In the letter, it is emphasized that the Union of Artists has a rich history spanning 90 years. The building housing the Union—the House of Artists—represents an important element of the country's cultural heritage. For many years, it has contributed to the development of Kyrgyz visual arts, serving as a creative center for renowned masters, a venue for exhibitions, and a hub for cultural life.

Among the outstanding individuals who have led the Union are S. Chuykov, G. Aitieva, S. Chokmorov, T. Sadykov, and Zh. Kadyraliev.

The House of Artists was built in the 1950s by order of the government of the Kyrgyz SSR. Currently, it is under the balance of the Union of Artists and has the status of an architectural monument of republican significance. For decades, this building has become a center for the development of Kyrgyz art and continues to be an important venue for artists, exhibitions, and cultural events," the address states.

Currently, the fate of this building raises serious concerns among both the creative community and the cultural public of the country.

In their address, the creative team emphasizes that any changes in the form of ownership or purpose of the building, as well as its physical destruction, would cause significant damage to national culture, historical memory, and the spiritual education of future generations, especially considering its architectural value in the center of the capital.

The Union of Artists calls on the head of state:

to assist in preserving the House of Artists;
to grant it the status of a cultural heritage site under state protection;
to create the necessary conditions for the stable operation of the Union of Artists.

In the address, it is noted: "We believe in your policy of supporting national culture and historical heritage and hope for a positive resolution of this issue with your assistance."

It should be reminded that it was recently reported that the Bishkek city administration intends to transfer the land on which the House of Artists is located to the Presidential Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic. Artists learned about the plans to annul the land use agreement through social media, which raised concerns about the future of the House of Artists.

Read also: