A nation is known, recognized and distinguished among the world nations by certain characteristic features. The highest and the greatest of these features is culture.

HEYDAR ALIYEV
31.10.2024 15:57
Presentation Held on Progress within the 'e-Culture' Digital Management ModelOn October 31, a presentation on the progress achieved within the “e-Culture“ digital management model by the Ministry of Culture took place at the Heydar Aliyev Center. During the presentation, moderated by Aynur Karimova, Head of the Department of Media and Communication of the Ministry, Saadat Yusifova, Deputy Minister of Culture, emphasized that the global challenges of the next decade will be marked by rapid digitalization trends in almost all sectors, including culture. Currently, traditional cultural formats are fading as the new generation perceives culture through a digital lens. Digitization is becoming a key focus of our country's socio-economic system and is rapidly penetrating every aspect of life, including people's daily tasks. With these changes in mind, the “e-Culture digital development strategy of the Ministry of Culture“ was approved, and its implementation is underway. Over the next three years, more than 100 measures will be implemented to digitize the cultural sector and optimize processes, use a data-driven digital management model and a unified administration policy, improve information systems and resources, redesign and digitize services, improve integration capabilities, and automate internal management processes in a total of 10 priority areas. To organize the digital management process, a working group was created, and the action plan of the “e-Culture“ strategy was approved. An analysis of the current situation in all clusters identified various needs. During the timeframe of the strategy, the provision of services in the form of “full electronic service“ is 80% delivered, and other aspects have been completely resolved. At the same time, the inclusion of at least 20 comprehensive e-services of the Ministry of Culture in the register of public services, the application of a single “electronic cabinet“ system within the Ministry (www.my.culture.az) and the integration of all related resources into this “electronic cabinet“ are among the priorities. In addition, the digitization of information on immovable historical and cultural sites and the production of at least 10 promotional resources using modern technology for the promotion of Azerbaijani culture are also key areas of focus. Rashad Azizov, Head of the Department of Creative Industries and Digital Development of the Ministry of Culture, noted the Ministry's partnerships with several institutions regarding the “e-Culture“ strategy. He emphasized the need for those in the cultural field to stay informed about digitization and current technological developments. As part of the development of the strategy, an audit of the IT park and network security was conducted. The architecture for network and cyber security was established. Ten training sessions on various clusters and modules were conducted, and digital analysis was provided. An internal map was created for each enterprise. Rashad Azizov, in his speech, also emphasized details about clusters, modules, the “e-Culture“ matrix, the “e-Culture“ architecture, information resources of the Ministry, and the digital analytical assessment of last year's Children's Art Festival. Discussions were held on the establishment of a single cultural register, the revision of the Ministry's register of cultural objects and institutions within the National Register of Cultural Property, the introduction of a digital approach and the use of a single personal cabinet system based on the one-stop principle, and other issues. It was noted that the electronic admission of students and teachers to educational institutions under the Ministry's system has been successfully carried out. Aynur Karimova, Head of the Department of Media and Communication of the Ministry of Culture, in her speech emphasized the importance of content production in a contemporary cultural environment. She mentioned the current lack of content in line with national and human values. She also discussed the Ministry's official website (“culture.gov.az“) and noted that these resources will be integrated into the “e-Culture“ digital management system in the future. At the end of the event, questions of the participants were answered and suggestions were made.   ..
30.10.2024 15:27
Minister of Culture Receives Citizens in AghjabadiIn accordance with the directive of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, heads of central executive bodies and other administrative institutions hold monthly meetings with citizens in various cities and districts and hear citizens' concerns on different issues. On October 30, the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Adil Karimli, met with citizens in Aghjabadi district. Before the reception, Minister Adil Karimli and the head of Aghjabadi District Executive Authority, Rafil Huseynov, paid tribute to National leader Heydar Aliyev by visiting his monument in the city center and laying flowers in front of it. Citizens from Aghjabadi, Aghdam, Barda, Tartar, and Lachin districts took part in the reception held at the Aghjabadi Museum of History and Local Lore. They mainly expressed their concerns, suggestions and initiatives regarding employment, labor recognition, and other issues related to the field of culture. The Minister of Culture heard the citizens and instructed the relevant representatives of the Ministry to promptly look into each matter and resolve it in accordance with the law. At the reception, the issues raised by the families of martyrs and veterans were registered and taken under control for the purpose of careful, timely, and objective consideration. ..
30.10.2024 11:20
Azerbaijani Folk Tales Published in TürkiyeAs part of the project of the Azerbaijan Culture Center in Türkiye, various folk tales were translated into Turkish and published in Ankara under the title “Azerbaijani Tales.“ The book includes fairytales such as “Tig-Tig Khanim,“ “Jirtdan,“ “Shangulum, Shungulum, Mangulum,“ “Bald,“ “Goychak Fatma,“ “The Tale of Pirim the Hunter,“ “Magic Carpet,“ “Tapegoz's Tale,“ “Malikmammad,“ “Fox, Fox, Tunbaki,“ among others. The book was compiled by Matanat Huseynova, an Azerbaijani scholar and culture critic based in Türkiye, while the fairy tales were illustrated by the well-known children's artist Nushabe Kuchuk. It is important to note that fairy tales, as a key genre of Azerbaijani folk literature, are a part of our national and spiritual heritage, demonstrating the ancient traditions and rich perspectives of our people. These stories also significantly influence the development of children's aesthetic sense and worldview. The Ministry of Culture is actively collaborating with Azerbaijani cultural centers abroad to translate, publish, and promote Azerbaijani folk tales in various languages. ..
28.10.2024 14:37
Azerbaijan Chosen as the Filming Location of the Year for Indian Directors and ProducersThe 11th IIFTC - India International Film Tourism Conclave was held in Mumbai on October 23-25. The event was attended by the Ministry of Culture and the Cinema Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ARKA), as well as film commissions from various countries, including Türkiye, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Spain, Slovakia and Norway. Companies from our country, including “Filmlab.az“, “Filmbridge Azerbaijan“, “CNF“ and “Ultra Production“ took part in the event at IIFTC. This year's congress was particularly important for our country. During the award ceremony of the event it was announced that Azerbaijan was recognized as the most popular filming destination for Indian directors and producers. In his speech, Harshad Bhagwat, head of the IIFTC Congress, emphasized that Azerbaijan has become one of the most sought-after filming locations in recent years.       During the event, the Azerbaijani delegation held several meetings aimed at promoting the country's culture, supporting the development of creative fields, as well as promoting our film potential at the international level and attracting foreign experts to the development of the local film industry. These meetings included discussions on hosting film shoots in our country and cooperation in joint film productions. We would like to inform you that the implementation of various projects within the framework of the Creative Azerbaijan initiative, the revival of the activities of the Film Commission and the participation of international producers in film shoots in Azerbaijan in the last two years are also important for the development of the local film industry.       ..
28.10.2024 10:26
Minister of Culture Meets the Staff of the Academic Opera and Ballet TheaterThe meetings of the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Adil Karimli, with the staffs of the leading theaters of our country continue. Discussions at the meetings focus on the ongoing activities of cultural centers and creative tasks. On October 26, the Minister of Culture visited the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater and met with its staff. During the meeting, the status of the creative activities of the theater was discussed with the director, People's Artist Yusif Eyvazov, the chief director, Honored Artist Hafiz Guliyev, the chief conductor, Honored Artist Ayyub Guliyev, and leading figures such as People's Artist Gulaghasi Mirzayev, Honored Artists Afag Abbasova, Tural Aghasiyev, and Jahangir Gurbanov,  soloists Mahir Taghizadeh, Taleh Yahyayev, Atesh Garayev, and Mutallim Demirov. The members of the creative team were concerned with the material well-being of the artists, their provision of housing on preferential terms, the replacement of old musical instruments, solving the problems of ballet dancers' retirement and military service, the payment of fees for performances at state events, the granting of honorary titles, and the production of new works. The discussion also touched upon the re-editing and printing of the works of Azerbaijani composers of the last century and the creation of opportunities for creative people to participate in international competitions, festivals, and workshops. The Minister shared his thoughts on these issues. He emphasized the attention of President Ilham Aliyev to the development of the theater sector as well as other spheres of culture. The infrastructure of theaters is being improved, and artists are regularly awarded honorary titles and prizes. The renovation of the building of the Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre is another example of this attention. According to the Minister, efforts are being made to improve the legislative framework in the cultural sector. At the end of this process, a number of issues will be resolved. At the end of the meeting, Adil Karimli mentioned that the issues raised would be taken into consideration and wished the team success in their creative endeavors.       ..
28.10.2024 09:53
Adil Karimli Meets the Staff of the University of Culture and ArtsOn October 25, Minister of Culture Adil Karimli visited the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts (ADMIU) and met with the staff. He highlighted the rich traditions of the university and noted the significant contributions of its graduates to the development of our culture. It was noted that under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, culture, along with other sectors, is receiving special attention in our country. The efforts of educators in this field are recognized and they are honored with various awards and prizes. The Ministry of Culture attaches great importance to the training of personnel and closely cooperates with the Ministry of Science and Education in this area. The improvement of quality in the cultural sector is closely linked to the training of personnel. To make progress in this area, it's important to understand the interests and views of young people in their chosen fields. Despite the rapid innovations and developments in artificial intelligence in our era, the cultural sector is entirely dependent on the human factor—talented, skilled, and qualified personnel. The Ministry of Culture has prioritized the development of human potential in cultural and creative industries. The first 20 students will receive support for their bachelor and master studies abroad. Talking about the development of the cinema industry, the Minister said that last year, in cooperation with the Azerbaijan Cinema Agency (ARKA), a competition was organized for film projects to be produced with state support and order. He noted that more than 40 films were completed as a result of this competition. In addition, the ministry plans to support student film productions. The rector of the university honored artist Jeyran Mahmudova, thanked the minister for meeting with the team. She emphasized the importance of personnel training and mentioned the signing of a cooperation agreement between the educational institution and ARKA. As a result of this agreement, 12 film projects were started. Six of these projects have been screened, and the remaining six projects are currently being filmed. Kamal Mushfig Ibadov, an ADMIU student, received the “Best Documentary Director“ award at the international student film festival “Voskhod,“ organized by the All-Russian State University of Cinematography named after Sergey Gerasimov, for his film “Motivator,“ one of the six projects. In addition, ADMIU received a diploma for its active participation in the festival. The Minister considered their proposals on such issues as the publication of textbooks and study materials by professors and students of the educational institution, the appointment of actors to positions by the Ministry of Culture, raising young people's interest in cinema, free admission to theaters for ADMIU students, master's level education, training of managers, and new educational specialties, and answered their questions. Regarding the publication of textbooks and teaching aids by teachers, the Minister said that the Ministry of Culture purchases books from national publishers every year. Since last year there has been an increase in the purchase of scientific and scientific-popular books, which are then distributed to the libraries of our republic. Commenting on the appointment of actors by the Ministry of Culture, the Minister pointed out that every year about 60 students graduate from ADMIU's Faculty of Theatre Arts: “We must focus on placing these graduates in suitable theaters, and it is important to encourage private theaters to get involved. Adil Karimli mentioned that in order to increase young people's interest in cinema, efforts are being made to expand film production in our country and to support student films. During the meeting, a proposal for free admission of ADMIU students to theatres was discussed. The Minister mentioned that steps are being taken in this area. The Ministry of Culture and the Education Development Fund signed a cooperation agreement as part of the “Student Plus“ project. The agreement provides for special discounts for students in theaters, museums, and reserves. Speaking about the Master's program and new qualifications, the Minister noted that in recent years in our country the legal and regulatory framework of education has been improved, and significant work has been done to improve the material and technical support. At the end of the meeting, the Minister wished success to the staff. ..
25.10.2024 15:37
Cultural and Creative Industries Scholarship to Support the First 20 BeneficiariesIn our country, it is important for young people to study in prestigious universities abroad and to participate in various training courses and international experience programs. In this context, the Strategy of Socio-Economic Development of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022-2026, approved by the order of President Ilham Aliyev on July 22, 2022, is of special importance. In the Action Plan of the Strategy, emphasis is placed on ensuring the dynamic development of cultural and creative industries (CCI) and strengthening their export potential. The Ministry of Culture is designated as the main implementing body for the development of certificate programs meeting the requirements of the CCI and a special scholarship program for studying abroad. By the decision of the Collegium of the Ministry of Culture, the Criteria for Selection of Individuals for Education, Procedures, and Regulations for Financing Education were approved as part of the Special Scholarship Program for Cultural and Creative Industries. On October 25, a press conference was held at the National Art Museum of Azerbaijan on the conclusion of the selection stage of the scholarship program and the announcement of the candidates selected by the commission. First of all, a video with information about the winners of the scholarship program was presented. Aynur Karimova, Head of the Media and Communication Department at the Ministry of Culture, said that under the CCI scholarship program it is planned to finance the education abroad of 15 students per year and 60 students by the end of 2026. The scholarship program includes opportunities for studying abroad at the bachelor's and master's levels, short-term training abroad, study courses and programs (including distance learning), short-term courses and programs within the Republic of Azerbaijan. It was noted that between August 15 and September 15 this year, announcements were made for funding undergraduate and graduate study abroad in 11 specializations: audiovisual (music, film and animation, videography and photography), fashion art, design, curating, architecture, event organization, cultural and creative management, cooperation with publishing organizations, game industry, theatre, comedy and performance, creative technologies. During this period, 26 people registered on the edu.creative.az website, 21 of whom were shortlisted for interviews. Among the candidates, 8 applied for scholarships for undergraduate studies and 13 for master's studies abroad. Jasarat Valehov, Advisor to the Minister of Culture, highlighted the cooperation with several higher education institutions. It was noted that as of this year, the Ministry of Culture has fully digitalized the processes of student admission to music and art schools, as well as the recruitment of principals and deputy principals. Rashad Azizov, Head of the Department of Creative Industries and Digital Development of the Ministry of Culture, pointed out that the Commission of the Special Scholarship Program for Cultural and Creative Industries, which is composed of experts in this field, has been actively working in this direction under the Ministry in order to fulfill other tasks stipulated by the Regulations for Ensuring Objectivity. The evaluation of the candidates' documents shows that they have been admitted to the top foreign universities and their chosen fields of study are also priority fields. After a thorough review of the applications, it was deemed appropriate to fund the education and living expenses of 18 candidates through the scholarship program. The list of scholarship recipients is as follows: 1. Turkay Gasimzadeh – London Film School, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, MA Filmmaking 2. Nigar Asgarova – Musicube Academy, Federal Republic of Germany, Composition for films, games and media 3. Elmira Azizkhanli – Baden-Württemberg Film Academy, Federal Republic of Germany, International producing 4. Aynur Abdullayeva – University of Manchester, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Film studies and English literature 5. Nilufar Alakbarova – The New School, Parsons School of Design, USA, Fashion / Clothing Design 6. Shahin Alibeyli – Nisantaşı University, Türkiye, Textile and fashion design 7. Nazrin Mammadova – Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, Product and Dervice Design 8. Maryam Abdulla – LISAA School of Design, France, Graphic Design 9. Jamila Gul – New Academy of Fine Arts, Italy, Visual Arts and Curatorial Studies 10. Nuray Ibrahimli – Istanbul Technical University, Türkiye, Architecture 11. Nuray Hasanova – Yeditepe University, Türkiye, Architecture 12. Jahid Javadov – Istanbul Beykent University, Türkiye, Architecture 13. Asli Samadova – SDA Bocconi, Italy, Executive Master in  Business of Events  14. Lala Sultanli – Luiss University, Italy, Global Management and Politics 15. Mammad Mahmudzadeh – Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts, Federal Republic of Germany, Theater and Orchestra Management 16. Ulviyya Farajova – MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, Republic of Austria, International Business and Law 17. Bilal Pashayev – Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, United Kingdom, Art of Filmmaking 18. Farhad Farzaliyev – Berlin University of the Arts, Federal Republic of Germany, Sound Studies and Sonic Arts At the press conference, it was mentioned that the Ministry of Culture also supported the education and living expenses of two students who applied before the given scholarship program: Latif Latifsoy, Sorbonne University, France, Cinema and Audiovisual Studies, and Ayan Mammadova, Warsaw Film School, Poland, Faculty of Film and Multimedia/Film Directing. Advisor to the Minister of Culture, Jahangir Salimkhanov, emphasized the importance of international education for the youth of our country. He said, “It has not always been possible for us to achieve this. However, we are delighted that the CCI scholarship program will cover the education and living expenses of some of our youth abroad. We will strive to keep in regular contact with those who have won the scholarship program. At the end of the event, questions from the media were answered. According to the Criteria, Procedures and Regulations for the Selection of Individuals to Study Abroad, participants in the program are required to work in institutions affiliated with the Ministry or independently, including running a business registered in the Republic of Azerbaijan. In addition, they are expected to act as trainers in master classes organized by these institutions for at least three years after graduation.             ..
25.10.2024 14:15
Appeals Commission MeetsA meeting of the Appeals Commission was held to review the complaints of candidates who were dissatisfied with the results of their interviews in the recruitment process of teachers for music, art, painting, mugham, and ashug schools and centers under the Ministry of Culture. At the meeting, the members of the Appeals Commission and the experts involved reviewed the results of five candidates. The interview results of two candidates were changed, while the results of three candidates remained unchanged. During the discussions, both the candidates' views on the interview and the opinions formulated by the commission members on the basis of the video recordings and documents were considered. On the basis of the decisions, the appeals of Rugiya Rovshanovna Ibrahimova (20 points) and Gunel Natig Binnetova (20 points) were approved, taking into account the results of the previous interview. The decisions on the appeals of the other candidates confirmed that the evaluation of their previous interviews by the interview commission was fully unbiased and appropriate, and thus the results remained unchanged.     ..
23.10.2024 09:31
Cultural Institution in Our Country Acquires 'International' Status for the First TimePresident of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has always paid attention to the development of culture along with other aspects of the development of the country. Moreover, thanks to the initiative and support of First Vice President and Head of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva, significant efforts have been made to improve the social welfare of cultural workers and expand creative opportunities. In line with these efforts, the Mugham Center in Baku, which operates under the Ministry of Culture, was granted “international“ status by the decision dated October 22, 2024 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan. It is worth mentioning that the Mugham Center is the first cultural institution in our country to be granted “international“ status under the law. This new status will improve the financial well-being of the employees of the Center, which has long been one of the leading concert venues in our capital. The Mugham Center was established on the initiative of the First Vice President, Head of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, and Patron of our Culture, Mehriban Aliyeva, and by the order of President Ilham Aliyev on April 6, 2005. The building, a unique architectural landmark of Baku, was opened in 2008. Among the projects initiated by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for the preservation and wide promotion of our national and moral values is the establishment of close cooperation relations with cultural centers of several countries. A number of projects on research and promotion of mugham art are underway. Moreover, it should be noted that on October 21, 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers, by a resolution, amended its Decision No. 382 of October 5, 2016, on the approval of “Regulations on granting special status to cultural institutions“ and “Additional monthly salaries for employees of cultural institutions granted special status. The word “international“ has been added after “academic“ in the relevant clauses and sections of the “Regulations on Granting Special Status to Cultural Institutions“ approved on October 5, 2016. ..