PROJECT FACTS

Phase I: September 2007 – December 2010

Budget: CHF 1’ 800’000

Location: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

Implementing Agency: Swiss Cooperation Offices (SCO) Dushanbe, Bishkek, Tashkent

Donor: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

BACKGROUND

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation has supported Arts and Culture (A&C) programmes in Central Asia since 1998. In line with the principles outlined in its Cultural Policy Paper (2002), SDC considers Art and Culture as an important ‘good governance’ tool for the development of an “open, constructive and participatory public debate on all social levels reflecting the mutual respect among different social groups”. Moreover, it considers that the support of cultural activities forms an integral and indispensable part of development as “Culture is not one of life’s luxuries – it is life itself”.

The external projects’ review encouraged SDC to further streamline the programme on a regional basis, and to promote the development of a programme with the common objectives and principles of work.

PROGRAMME GOAL

The Programme’s goal is to strengthen “Diversity in Unity” for the development of dynamic societies, i.e. to foster participation, promote respect and intercultural dialogue among and across the Central Asian societies through artistic and cultural activities.

Three priority areas for support were identified:

(1) Diversity of voices will give different (sub-) cultures and minorities a voice;

(2) Participation will encourage new forms of civil participation; and

(3) Intercultural dialogue will enhance knowledge and comprehension across cultures and communities in the CA region. Specific attention will be given to rural areas and innovative approaches.

PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION

The Regional Line will include projects jointly conceived by the Regional Arts and Culture Programme with a focus on intercultural dialogue.

During this phase, The RACP intends to have three regional projects:

a)  Film Forum  “Kinovisa” (Uzbekistan, November of 2008);

b)  Colloquium on CA cultural perspectives (Tajikistan, fall of 2009);

c)   Experiment Fusion Festival in 2010 (Kyrgyzstan, fall of 2010).

Each SCO in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan will develop and implement country-specific activities. Through national lines, space and resources will be provided for establishing platforms allowing artistic grappling with and societal reflection on cultural, political and societal problems.

ACTIVITIES IN KYRGYZSTAN

Regional Line

"Experiment " Fusion Festival of visual and performing arts (2010)

The SDC opens the "Experiment" Fusion Festival for visual and performing art. FUSION-in this context, means synthesis of traditional and contemporary arts forms.

Goal: Cross-nurturing of contemporary and traditional artists so as to stimulate new forms of / contents for visual and performing arts.

The Festival will be run in year 2010. Performances will include theatre, music, dance, theatre, cinema, visual arts, multimedia. All three countries will be presenting on this festival.

National Line

Art Araba (Rural Culture Development)

This project aims to build a bridge between urban and rural areas by raising awareness of each others’ experiences, as well as by training rural culture managers. The Art Araba project will support art activities built on a participative approach and will involve different events and forums for discussing social issues.

Music development Line

This project aims to revive music in rural areas of Kyrgyzstan. Master -classes will be organized, where experts will share their experience with young musicians. Moreover, the project will encourage an exchange between urban and rural musicians,  as well as music actors and the local community.

Support to the cinema in Kyrgyzstan

This component aims  contribute to the development of  the  film-making in Kyrgyzstan. It’s plan to conduct various discussions on new directions and trends in movie making; diversity in film, film criticism and  organization master classes for young film makers. Those activities will strengthen exchanges, collaborations and mutual learning between film makers, film critiques and film experts of Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia.

National Colloquium

Within this line it is plan to bring together experts, representatives of the cultural community and institutions, intellectuals and members of creative unions for discussions in order to disseminate professional knowledge and skills, to expose new ideas and trends, to foster critical thinking through discussions among Central Asia experts and the public.

Jazz Festival

The Programme will continue to support annual “Jazz_Bishkek_Spring” international festival. Motto of the festival is – “Music without borders”. Festival mission is to build bridges for understanding, friendship trough cultural collaboration in the Central Asian region by developing jazz music. Distinctive feature of the Bishkek jazz festival is the synthesis of jazz and traditional music. Within the festival, foreign masters of jazz conducting master-classes for young musicians.

Festival is continuing development of jazz in the regions of Kyrgyzstan. Jazz concert organized in Karakol (2008) and Osh cities(2009). In debuting category of the Bishkek Jazz festival, young jazz musicians from the regions performing for the first time at the big stage.

Support to local initiatives

The RACP supporting local innovative and creative cultural initiatives through the  competition of the Small Grants Fund “Tilekke-Tirek”. The grants (maximum amount USD 2,500) are awarded to individuals and local organizations twice a year. On average 20 cultural projects are supported and realized. Some of the most recent grants made presentation to the general public: presentations of theatre play “Manaschy” by Jamal Seidakhmatova and theatre play “Legend about love” by Burul Kalchabaeva and Egemberdi Bekboliev, children art exhibition “Magic plasticine”, and movable exhibition  “Not past time. Kara-Balta – a town of contrasts”.

APPROACH

The Regional Arts and Culture Programme in Kyrgyzstan supports diversity in local cultures, thereby contributing to the building of open, pluralistic and participative societies. It will promote innovative trends and will take an experimental approach. Special attention is paid to initiatives from rural areas and youth groups those that consider the role of women as the creators and transmitters of culture.