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

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The 1st International TURKSOY Theater Festival will be held in Shusha and Baku from October 31 to November 4.

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01.11.2023

01.11.2023 11:25

The festival is held on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and the declaration of the city of Shusha as the "Cultural Capital of the Turkic world" for 2023, the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the professional national theater of Azerbaijan, and the 30th anniversary of TURKSOY. Within the framework of the festival, the 9th meeting of the Council of Directors of State Theaters of TURKSOY member countries will be held in Shusha on October 31.

Directors of state theatres of TURKSOY member countries such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkiye, Turkmenistan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and Gagauzia (Moldova) are participating in the meeting.

The guests got acquainted with the historical places and mysterious nature of Shusha city before the meeting.

The guests who visited the Shusha fortress walls were informed about the history of Shusha city and the construction of the fortress walls. It was reported that the fortress built by Karabakh Khan Panahali Khan protected the city from foreign interference for a long time and was a symbol of invincibility. During the occupation, the fortress walls were subjected to Armenian vandalism. The guide of Shusha City State Reserve Department informed the guests about the city. He spoke about Shusha's neighborhoods, Khan Gizi Spring, Ganja Gate of Shusha Castle, Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque, the Mehmandarovs' Estate Complex ,and Gazanchi Church. The guests visited the museum-floor complex of Molla Panah Vagif and shared their thoughts about our common literary values.

During the tour, information was also given about the damage done to our cultural monuments by the Armenians during the occupation period, as well as the falsification of our ancient artifacts. It was reported that, after the liberation of Shusha from the occupation, large-scale reconstruction works were started here. In addition to the construction of the infrastructure, the restoration of the city's true face and historical and cultural monuments has been started in Shusha.

In the end, the guests visiting the Jıdır plain watched the mysterious nature and scenery.

NEWS

24.07.2024 16:55

Joint information of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Intellectual Property Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan As recently reported in the media, the lyrics and music of the composition “Karabakh“ (“The cradle of dreams is always Karabakh“) by the Azerbaijani composer Bahram Nasibov were changed by Gor Yepremyan, presented as an “Armenian folk“ song “Sirun Jan“ and uploaded to YouTube under the tag “Armenian folk song“. In this regard, on July 9, 2024, the Intellectual Property Agency issued a detailed statement, followed by a joint statement with the Ministry of Culture on July 10, and additional joint information on July 12. Following the actions described in the joint information on July 12, 2024, YouTube has deleted the video recording of “Sirun Jan“ from Gor Yepremyan's official page due to copyright infringement. It was also reported that the distribution company “CD BABY“ has taken the necessary steps to remove the song from digital music platforms such as YouTube Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Deezer. We would like to inform you, that as a result of these efforts, with the support of the agency, an application was submitted to YouTube on behalf of Adil Nasibov, the heir of composer Bahram Nasibov. The application supported by technical assistance from the Digital and Audiovisual Broadcasting Industry Public Union (RAYS) (https://rays.az/) accredited by the agency, resulted in the removal of Gor Yepremyan's song “Sirun Jan“ from YouTube for copyright infringement. In addition, the distribution company CD BABY has ensured its removal from YouTube Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, and other digital music platforms. In addition to the above, we would like to point out that the music of the song “Aghji jan“ performed by Harout Pamboukjian is identical to the melody of “Karabakh“ (“Cradle of dreams is always Karabakh“) by Azerbaijani composer B. Nasibov. As a result, YouTube removed the song from its platform. Thus, the fact that the lyrics and music of the song “Karabakh“ (“The cradle of dreams is always Karabakh“) belonged to the Azerbaijani composer Bahram Nasibov and the violation of Nasibov's copyright by the Armenian performer Gor Yepremyan was confirmed by the management of “Youtube“ and by “Youtube Music“, “Spotify“, “Apple Music“, “Amazon Music“, “Deezer”, and other digital music platforms, and the violated rights of the composer were restored. ..

24.07.2024 16:06

Date of Reception of Citizens by Minister of Culture Adil Karimli in Gadabay Scheduled The reception of the citizens from Gadabay, Shamkir, Tovuz, Aghstafa, and Gazakh districts by the Minister of Culture Adil Karimli, scheduled for July this year, will take place on July 29, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Gadabay (address: Heydar Aliyev Avenue, 1). ..

24.07.2024 15:04

Special Scholarship Program for Culture and Creative Industries to be IntroducedAs outlined in the Action Plan of the “Socio-Economic Development Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022-2026,“ approved by Order No. 3378 of July 22, 2022 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, one of the issues under the activity “Ensuring the dynamic development of Cultural and Creative industries (CCI) and strengthening their export potential“ is the development of human resources in the CCI sector. The Action Plan designates the Ministry of Culture as the chief agency responsible for implementing the measure “Creation of certificate programs tailored to modern and competitive Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) and a special scholarship program for studying abroad.“ The criteria for selecting candidates for education and the procedures and rules for financing education under the “Special Scholarship Program for Culture and Creative Industries“ have been approved by the decision of the Collegium of the Ministry of Culture. The scholarship program allows to study abroad at bachelor's and master's levels, to participate in short-term training, courses, and programs (including distance education), as well as to take part in short-term training, courses, and programs in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The CCI abroad scholarship program aims to educate 60 students, certify 1,000 professionals in the field, establish a training center, and attract at least 100 young people annually to pursue education in this field. It also aims to increase the number of specialties taught in the field by 10 percent and improve their content. The scholarship program covers fields such as audiovisual (music, cinema, including animation, videography, and photography), fashion art, design, curatorial work, architecture, event organization, cultural and creative management, organization of work with publishers, gaming industry, theater, comedy and performance, and creative technologies. The program is open to individuals over the age of 15 who wish to develop their creative skills. Detailed information on the application process for the scholarship program, as well as the criteria and procedures for selecting participants, will soon be available on the Ministry's official online platforms. ..

24.07.2024 11:03

Grant Competition for NGOs to Promote Cultural and Creative Industries Continues The grant competition announced by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan on July 4, 2024 for non-governmental organizations to promote cultural and creative industries continues. The main goal of the competition is the development of cultural and creative industries, and nurturing cultural and innovative society, in line with the implementation of the Action Plan of the “Socio-Economic Development Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022-2026“, approved by Order No. 3378 of July 22, 2022 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. It also aims to implement projects that address contemporary challenges, support modern, sustainable, and multilateral cooperation, and increase the involvement of civil society organizations. The grant competition includes projects focused on the development of cultural and creative industries, digital solutions in the field of culture, and institutional reforms in the film industry, supporting local animation. ..

22.07.2024 18:00

Ministry of Culture Represented 46th UNESCO World Heritage Committee Session in New Delhi The 46th session of the World Heritage Committee, regarded as one of the most important events of UNESCO, is held in New Delhi, the capital of India, from July 21-31 this year. A delegation led by Deputy Minister Saadat Yusifova represents the Ministry of Culture at the event. During the official opening ceremony of the session on July 21, speeches were delivered by the Director-General of UNESCO, the Prime Minister of India, and other senior officials. The agenda of the meeting, adopted on July 22, included the Secretariat's report, reports from the Advisory Bodies ICOMOS, IUCN, ICCROM, and the Regional Centers, as well as discussions on the Committee's budget and the Strategy for Cultural Heritage Capacity Building. Ambassador Elman Abdullayev, Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to UNESCO, delivered Azerbaijan's national statement during the discussions, outlining the actions planned at COP29 to support Azerbaijan's cultural heritage, restore cities and historical monuments deliberately destroyed during the Armenian occupation, and protect cultural heritage from the effects of climate change. Discussions according to the agenda will continue in the coming days. As part of the visit, Deputy Minister S. Yusifova met with her UAE counterpart Mubarak al-Nakhi on July 22. The successful development of cultural cooperation between the two countries and the intensification of contacts over the past year were highlighted during the meeting. Mr. Al Nakhi mentioned that he had attended the opening of “Shusha Capital of Islamic Culture 2024“, the Khari Bulbul Festival, and had been fascinated by Shusha. The meeting also covered future plans for joint activities to continue the cultural initiatives started during COP28 in Dubai last year. The Deputy Minister also met her Australian counterpart, Ms. Rachel Perry, on the same day. They discussed cooperation on international platforms for the protection of cultural heritage, the exchange and promotion of best practices, and effective mechanisms to protect against the effects of climate change on cultural heritage. The other party was given general information about the cultural events and new initiatives planned in our country as part of COP29. The delegation of the Republic of Azerbaijan participating in the 46th session consists of members from the Permanent Mission to UNESCO, the National Commission for UNESCO, ICOMOS Azerbaijan, and the “Icherisheher” State Historical-Architectural Reserve Administration. ..

22.07.2024 15:51

The Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Awarding the Honorary Title of "People's Artist" to F.K. Zakirov Guided by Item 32 of Article 109 of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I hereby order: To award “People’s Artist” honorary title to Farrukh Karimovich Zakirov for his services rendered to the development of cultural ties between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Uzbekistan. Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, July 22, 2024 ..

22.07.2024 10:48

Comprehensive Overview of Vagif Poetry Days As reported earlier, Vagif Poetry Days took place in Shusha from July 17 to 19 under the organization of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture. We present a comprehensive overview of the festival of literature and arts. The poetry festival began on July 18 in front of the Molla Panah Vagif Museum and Mausoleum Complex. The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of the state and government, prominent figures of literature, science, and culture of the Republic, as well as residents of Shusha who returned to their homeland in May this year. Chingiz Abdullayev, the people's writer and first secretary of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers (UAW), expressed his happiness at participating in such a grand event in Shusha. He noted that this year's Vagif Poetry Days coincided with several important occasions: “It is the first poetry festival conducted under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, after the complete restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Shusha holds the title of “Cultural Capital of the Islamic World for 2024“. This year coincides with the 530th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Muhammad Fuzuli and the 90th anniversary of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers. Over 100 members of the Union are taking part in this year's event”. Academician Isa Habibbayli, President of ANAS, spoke about Molla Panah Vagif's literary contributions. He highlighted that Vagif was the first to extensively introduce Azerbaijani geography into our literature, celebrating the land's beauty: “Vagif praised the beauty of Azerbaijan in his poetry. He brought the vernacular into literature at a high level. His creativity is, first of all, an Azerbaijani phenomenon.“ The scholar noted that at the time when the USSR was discreetly pursuing its internationalist movement in Karabakh, the national leader Heydar Aliyev built a grand mausoleum for Vagif in Shusha, which was a sign of Azerbaijan's presence in Karabakh. It is important to restore it in all its glory. The newly organized Vagif Poetry Days are a great celebration of Azerbaijan, which is developing day by day under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, expressed through the language of poetry and art. The people's writer Elmira Akhundova spoke about the boundless love and care of the national leader Heydar Aliyev for the Azerbaijani language and literature. She mentioned that during the most difficult periods of the Soviet era, Heydar Aliyev promoted the preservation and development of national consciousness and the concept of Azerbaijanism. He made sure that works that nurtured this idea and passed it on to future generations were awarded the State Prize. Fazil Mustafa, a deputy of the 6th convocation of the Milli Majlis, said that the successful liberation of our lands was due to the outstanding organizational talent of President and Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev and the exceptional bravery of the Azerbaijan Army. At present, Shusha, which has become a symbol of Azerbaijan, is being restored to its former glory. People's Poet Sabir Rustamkhanli, Chairman of the Press Council of Azerbaijan and Deputy Chairman of the UAW Rashad Majid, Secretary of the UAW Selim Babullaoghlu, and Chairman of the Kazakh branch of the Union Barat Vusal spoke about the charm, exceptionality, and uniqueness of Shusha, which has become the venue of international events, and recited poems. During the artistic part, a poetic duet based on the works of Mohammad Fuzuli and Molla Panah Vagif was performed by the honored artists Azad Shukurov and Nazir Rustamov. The musical pieces “Karabagh“, “Shusha Mountains“ and “This is the Homeland“ were performed by Honored Artist Nigar Shabanova and soloists Abgul Mirzaliyev, Ilkin Dovlatov, and Leyla Rahimli. The audience greeted the concert program with applause. At the end, photos were taken to commemorate the event. *** The Vagif Poetry Days, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture continued with colorful events after the opening ceremony. A theatrical composition titled “Fuzuli's Nexus,“ dedicated to the 530th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Muhammad Fuzuli (1494-1556), was presented the same day in front of Khurshidbanu Natevan's house. Speaking before the composition based on Fuzuli's works, Ilgar Fahmi, secretary of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers, spoke about the works of Muhammad Fuzuli. Fahmi highlighted the poet’s significant influence on native-language poetry. He mentioned that Mohammad Fuzuli's works such as “Bangu-bade,“ “Leyli and Majnun,“ “Sahhati-Maraz,“ and “Rindu-Zahid“ were used in the artistic and musical composition. Ilgar Fahmi wrote the script of the play, which aroused great interest among the audience, and the director is Honoured Artist Loghman Karimov. Participants in the composition included honored artists from the Shusha State Musical Drama, State Pantomime, and State Yugh Theater: Nazir Rustamov, Azad Shukurov, Bahruz Vaqifoghlu, Teymur Mammadov, and Gasim Nagh, Orkhan Abishov, Pustakhanim Zeynalova, Jala Novruz, Zahra Salayeva, Surahi Alimammadova, Nurlan Rustamov, Javad Nuriyev, Elnur Ismayilov, and Nihat Heybatov. The Azerbaijan State Song and Dance Ensemble and students of the Baku Choreography Academy also took part in the performance. *** On July 18, as part of the Vagif Poetry Days, a modern poetry hour titled “The Motherland of the Word - Karabakh“ took place in front of Khurshidbanu Natevan's house. First, Ibrahim Ilyasli, the head of the poetry section of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers and the host of the event, shared his thoughts about the Poetry Days. He described it as a celebration of poetry, art, and spirituality. He also mentioned that this year's event was again organized at a high level. Aghalar Bayramov, professor at the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts, honored artist and master of artistic recitation, recited patriotic poems. Later, poets took the stage. Ramiz Gusarchayl, chairman of the Guba section of the UAW, writer, playwright, and translator Seyran Sakhavat, Elchin Isgenderzadeh, chairman of the Karabakh section of the UAW, poets and honored cultural workers Gasham Najafzadeh, Rafig Yusifoghlu, head of the press service of the UAW Khayal Rza, Farid Huseyn, and Intigam Yasar recited their poems on various subjects. Poems about Shusha were particularly well received. *** The day concluded with an ethno-jazz concert held in front of Khurshidbanu Natevan's house. Jazz musician and pianist, Honoured Artist Emil Afrasiyab, performed a lively program at the concert, accompanied by Honoured Artist Iskander Alasgarov (drums) and Elvin Nabiyev (bass). Before the concert began, Emil Afrasiyab addressed the audience and spoke about the historical significance of the Vagif Poetry Days in Shusha. He noted that just as free Karabakh is the symbol of modern, independent Azerbaijan, the Vagif Poetry Days are the symbol of the liberated Shusha. He mentioned that the first ethno-jazz concert in Shusha will remain in the memory of all participants for a long time, and expressed confidence that similar events will be held more often in our fortress city. Then, interesting performances were presented. The program included “Two worlds“, “Extra Trace“, “And I Love Her“, “Aziza“, “Rainy Day“, “Letter to Father“, “Fantasia“, “Prayer“, “Nueva“ and other musical performances. The audience met the concert with loud applause. The Vagif Poetry Days will end on July 19. *** A conference titled “Mohammed Fuzuli. Beyond Time“ dedicated to the 530th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Muhammad Fuzuli took place on July 19 at the Shusha Hotel-Congress Center. The event was moderated by Ilgar Fahmi, the Secretary of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers. Academician Govhar Bakhshaliyeva, Acting Vice-President of ANAS, and Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies named after Z. Bunyadov, mentioned that the conference was organized in accordance with the plan of events developed to implement the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the celebration of the 530th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet Muhammad Fuzuli: “For more than five centuries, the works of Muhammad Fuzuli have been appreciated by readers in Azerbaijan and all over the world. Although centuries have passed since Fuzuli wrote and created, the charm of his works does not diminish from year to year. On the contrary, with the passage of time, new generations, with their intelligence and comprehension, engage with the great poet's creativity on different levels and reinterpret it from their own point of view”. The academician noted that in addition to the numerous events planned by ANAS to commemorate the 530th anniversary of the great poet's birth, extensive work is being done to research the poet's scientific legacy. Academician Teymur Karimli, Director of the Institute of Manuscripts named after Muhammad Fuzuli of ANAS, said that in 1994, while Azerbaijan was progressing towards development and stabilization of its independence, a great historical and literary event was taking place in our country: “The 500th anniversary of Muhammad Fuzuli. Even amidst the turmoil, the national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev did not postpone the celebration of the jubilee of the great poet in those years that were challenging for the destiny of our country. Instead, he ensured that Fuzuli's anniversary was celebrated grandly through a series of celebrations in Azerbaijan, and neighbouring countries. Poet Farid Huseyn, a member of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers, spoke about the unique literary universe of Fuzuli. He emphasized that the timeless legacy created by Fuzuli will always remain relevant and adored by readers. Deputy Minister of Culture Farid Jafarov said that after our historic victory, we are meeting for the fourth time in Shusha, our cultural capital, to celebrate Vagif Poetry Days: “It is a fortunate coincidence that the 530th anniversary of Fuzuli falls in the same year as our country hosts a significant global event like COP29. This jubilee year, we must ensure that writers and poets from abroad receive comprehensive information about Fuzuli. At the same time, let's share the news of our Karabakh victory and the realities of the 30-year occupation period.“ The deputy minister stated that last month, a conference titled “Mohammed Fuzuli and Alishir Navai: Our Common Literary and Moral Values“ was held during the Days of Azerbaijan Culture in Tashkent, and an anthology of the poet's works translated into Uzbek was presented. The great poet's legacy has also been promoted at international book fairs with special sections at the Azerbaijani stand. The 10th Baku International Book Fair, scheduled for October this year, will also honor Muhammad Fuzuli. Following the speeches, the soloists of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, Honored Artist Anar Mikayilov and Roza Zeynalova, performed a composition based on “Leyli and Majnun“ by Mahammad Fuzuli. *** On July 19, the documentary film “Repression of the Word“ (2022), produced with the support of the Ministry of Culture, was screened at the Shusha Hotel-Congress Center as part of the Vagif Poetry Days. Rafig Hashimov is the director of the film, produced by the “Bulatfilm Production“ company, while Selim Babullaoghlu is the screenwriter and Rufat Suleymanov is the cameraman. The film pays tribute to 31 writers, poets, and other intellectuals who were victims of repression and tells the tragic life stories of some of them. It also looks back at the tragic and historical philosophy behind Stalin's repressions. The film includes the opinions of the people's writer Anar, historian and researcher of work and life of Javid Hamid Jafarov, academician Rafael Huseynov, the director of the Museum of the Victims of Political Repression Mirabbas Mammadov, the doctor of philological sciences and professor Badirkhan Ahmadov, and the doctor of philosophy in philology and associate professor Firudin Gurbansoy on the wave of repression in the 1930s and the reactionary nature of communism. *** On July 19, the poetry festival ended with an artistic and musical performance named “Travel with Vagif,“ staged in front of Khurshidbanu Natevan's home. The performance presented for the first time is dedicated to the Azerbaijani traveler, geographer, historian, ethnographer, philosopher, and poet Haji Zeynalabdin Shirvani. Zeynalabdin Shirvani, born in 1780 in Shamakhi, moved to the city of Karbala with his family, where he received his first education. In 1796, he moved to Baghdad to complete his studies covering philosophy, medicine, astronomy, mathematics, and several languages. The travel books in Baghdad's libraries, the discussions among scholars who gathered from across the Eastern world, and the stories of visiting pilgrims revealed a new world to him. Since then, young Zeynalabdin aimed to see the world and share its wonders with his fellow countrymen, and decided to travel without hesitation... The name of the outstanding scientist has gained wide fame not only in our homeland, but also far beyond its borders. H. Z. Shirvani's historical, philosophical, geographical, and biographical works have been published in countries such as China, India, the Republic of Korea, Iran, Türkiye, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Poland, France, England, and beyond, and have been highly appreciated by experts and scholars of these regions. The stage performance in Shusha, presents the scientist’s life story and life credo to the spectators. The performance is intended to introduce our compatriot who has promoted Azerbaijani culture worldwide. The author of the play, ordered by the Ministry of Culture, is Ilgar Fahmi, the Secretary of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers, and the production director is Honored Artist Loghman Karimov. Participants in the performance included honored artists from the Shusha State Musical Drama, State Pantomime, and State Yugh Theater: Nazir Rustamov, Azad Shukurov, Bahruz Vaqifoghlu, Teymur Mammadov, and Gasim Naghy, Orkhan Abishov, Pustakhanim Zeynalova, Jala Novruz, Zahra Salayeva, Surahi Alimammadova, Nurlan Rustamov, Javad Nuriyev, Elnur Ismayilov, and Nihat Heybatov. At the same time, People's Artist Gulyanag Mammadova, Honored Artist Nigar Shabanova, khanandas Huseyn Malikov, Nushaba Karimli, Azerbaijan State Song and Dance Ensemble and students of the Baku Choreography Academy took part in the performance. The artistic and musical stage performance prepared with great professionalism was met with applause by the audience. After the performance, photos were taken to commemorate the occasion. With this event, the Vagif Poetry Days, held for the fourth time in liberated Shusha, our cultural capital, went down in history. On January 14, 1982, with the participation of national leader Heydar Aliyev, the mausoleum of the great poet and statesman Molla Panah Vagif (1717-1797) and the House of Poetry were opened in Shusha. At this event, Heydar Aliyev supported the initiative of our literary figures in this field and ordered the launch of Vaqif Poetry Days. The first festival of literature and art was held in July 1982. ..

22.07.2024 10:09

Interview Stage Begins for Recruitment of Teachers in Music, Art, Painting, Mugham, and Ashug SchoolsThe test stage of the competition for recruiting teachers to music, art, painting, mugham, and ashug schools and centers under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan was conducted on June 2, 2024, together with the State Examination Center. Candidates who score at least 35 points in the test exam are eligible to proceed to the interview stage of the competition. From July 23-30 of the current year, candidates can sign up for the interview stage using the “my.culture.az“ single personal account. Those who passed the test stage of the 2023 teacher recruitment competition by the Ministry of Culture, but did not attend or succeed in the interview, are eligible to re-register for the interview. Candidates who have been successful in the 2023 Teacher Recruitment Competition and are on the reserve list can select available vacancies by registering through their personal “my.culture.az“ account. Candidates must use the “Digital.Login“ for registration in order to participate in the interview and vacancy selection phases. ..

19.07.2024 17:34

Vaqif Poetry Days Conclude in Our Cultural Capital The Vagif Poetry Days organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture in Shusha have come to a close. On July 19, the poetry festival ended with an artistic and musical performance named “Travel with Vagif,“ staged in front of Khurshidbanu Natevan's home. The performance presented for the first time is dedicated to the Azerbaijani traveler, geographer, historian, ethnographer, philosopher, and poet Haji Zeynalabdin Shirvani. Zeynalabdin Shirvani, born in 1780 in Shamakhi, moved to the city of Karbala with his family, where he received his first education. In 1796, he moved to Baghdad to complete his studies covering philosophy, medicine, astronomy, mathematics, and several languages. The travel books in Baghdad's libraries, the discussions among scholars who gathered from across the Eastern world, and the stories of visiting pilgrims revealed a new world to him. Since then, young Zeynalabdin aimed to see the world and share its wonders with his fellow countrymen, and decided to travel without hesitation... The name of the outstanding scientist has gained wide fame not only in our homeland, but also far beyond its borders. H. Z. Shirvani's historical, philosophical, geographical, and biographical works have been published in countries such as China, India, the Republic of Korea, Iran, Türkiye, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Poland, France, England, and beyond, and have been highly appreciated by experts and scholars of these regions. The stage performance in Shusha, presents the scientist’s life story and life credo to the spectators. The performance is intended to introduce our compatriot who has promoted Azerbaijani culture worldwide. The author of the play, ordered by the Ministry of Culture, is Ilgar Fahmi, the Secretary of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers, and the production director is Honored Artist Loghman Karimov. Participants in the performance included honored artists from the Shusha State Musical Drama, State Pantomime, and State Yugh Theater: Nazir Rustamov, Azad Shukurov, Bahruz Vaqifoghlu, Teymur Mammadov, and Gasim Naghy, Orkhan Abishov, Pustakhanim Zeynalova, Jala Novruz, Zahra Salayeva, Surahi Alimammadova, Nurlan Rustamov, Javad Nuriyev, Elnur Ismayilov, and Nihat Heybatov. At the same time, People's Artist Gulyanag Mammadova, Honored Artist Nigar Shabanova, khanandas Huseyn Malikov, Nushaba Karimli, Azerbaijan State Song and Dance Ensemble and students of the Baku Choreography Academy took part in the performance. The artistic and musical stage performance prepared with great professionalism was met with applause by the audience. After the performance, photos were taken to commemorate the occasion. With this event, the Vagif Poetry Days, held for the fourth time in liberated Shusha, our cultural capital, went down in history. On January 14, 1982, with the participation of national leader Heydar Aliyev, the mausoleum of the great poet and statesman Molla Panah Vagif (1717-1797) and the House of Poetry were opened in Shusha. At this event, Heydar Aliyev supported the initiative of our literary figures in this field and ordered the launch of Vaqif Poetry Days. The first festival of literature and art was held in July 1982. ..

19.07.2024 13:05

"Repression of the Word" screened at Vagif Poetry DaysOn July 19, the documentary film “Repression of the Word“ (2022), produced with the support of the Ministry of Culture, was screened at the Shusha Hotel-Congress Center as part of the Vagif Poetry Days. Rafig Hashimov is the director of the film, produced by the “Bulatfilm Production“ company, while Selim Babullaoghlu is the screenwriter and Rufat Suleymanov is the cameraman. The film pays tribute to 31 writers, poets, and other intellectuals who were victims of repression and tells the tragic life stories of some of them. It also looks back at the tragic and historical philosophy behind Stalin's repressions. The film includes the opinions of the people's writer Anar, historian and researcher of work and life of Javid Hamid Jafarov, academician Rafael Huseynov, the director of the Museum of the Victims of Political Repression Mirabbas Mammadov, the doctor of philological sciences and professor Badirkhan Ahmadov, and the doctor of philosophy in philology and associate professor Firudin Gurbansoy on the wave of repression in the 1930s and the reactionary nature of communism. ..

19.07.2024 12:06

Conference on "Mohammed Fuzuli. Beyond Time" Held in Shusha The Vagif Poetry Days, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, continue in Shusha. A conference titled “Mohammed Fuzuli. Beyond Time“ dedicated to the 530th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Muhammad Fuzuli took place on July 19 at the Shusha Hotel-Congress Center. The event was moderated by Ilgar Fahmi, the Secretary of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers. Academician Govhar Bakhshaliyeva, Acting Vice-President of ANAS, and Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies named after Z. Bunyadov, mentioned that the conference was organized in accordance with the plan of events developed to implement the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the celebration of the 530th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet Muhammad Fuzuli: “For more than five centuries, the works of Muhammad Fuzuli have been appreciated by readers in Azerbaijan and all over the world. Although centuries have passed since Fuzuli wrote and created, the charm of his works does not diminish from year to year. On the contrary, with the passage of time, new generations, with their intelligence and comprehension, engage with the great poet's creativity on different levels and reinterpret it from their own point of view”. The academician noted that in addition to the numerous events planned by ANAS to commemorate the 530th anniversary of the great poet's birth, extensive work is being done to research the poet's scientific legacy. Academician Teymur Karimli, Director of the Institute of Manuscripts named after Muhammad Fuzuli of ANAS, said that in 1994, while Azerbaijan was progressing towards development and stabilization of its independence, a great historical and literary event was taking place in our country: “The 500th anniversary of Muhammad Fuzuli. Even amidst the turmoil, the national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev did not postpone the celebration of the jubilee of the great poet in those years that were challenging for the destiny of our country. Instead, he ensured that Fuzuli's anniversary was celebrated grandly through a series of celebrations in Azerbaijan, and neighbouring countries. Poet Farid Huseyn, a member of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers, spoke about the unique literary universe of Fuzuli. He emphasized that the timeless legacy created by Fuzuli will always remain relevant and adored by readers. Deputy Minister of Culture Farid Jafarov said that after our historic victory, we are meeting for the fourth time in Shusha, our cultural capital, to celebrate Vagif Poetry Days: “It is a fortunate coincidence that the 530th anniversary of Fuzuli falls in the same year as our country hosts a significant global event like COP29. This jubilee year, we must ensure that writers and poets from abroad receive comprehensive information about Fuzuli. At the same time, let's share the news of our Karabakh victory and the realities of the 30-year occupation period.“ The deputy minister stated that last month, a conference titled “Mohammed Fuzuli and Alishir Navai: Our Common Literary and Moral Values“ was held during the Days of Azerbaijan Culture in Tashkent, and an anthology of the poet's works translated into Uzbek was presented. The great poet's legacy has also been promoted at international book fairs with special sections at the Azerbaijani stand. The 10th Baku International Book Fair, scheduled for October this year, will also honor Muhammad Fuzuli. Following the speeches, the soloists of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, Honored Artist Anar Mikayilov and Roza Zeynalova, performed a composition based on “Leyli and Majnun“ by Mahammad Fuzuli. ..

18.07.2024 19:44

First Ethno-Jazz Concert in Shusha at Vagif Poetry DaysThe Vagif Poetry Days, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, kicked off in Shusha on July 18 and continued with a series of colorful events after the opening ceremony. The day concluded with an ethno-jazz concert held in front of Khurshidbanu Natevan's house. Jazz musician and pianist, Honoured Artist Emil Afrasiyab, performed a lively program at the concert, accompanied by Honoured Artist Iskander Alasgarov (drums) and Elvin Nabiyev (bass). Before the concert began, Emil Afrasiyab addressed the audience and spoke about the historical significance of the Vagif Poetry Days in Shusha. He noted that just as free Karabakh is the symbol of modern, independent Azerbaijan, the Vagif Poetry Days are the symbol of the liberated Shusha. He mentioned that the first ethno-jazz concert in Shusha will remain in the memory of all participants for a long time, and expressed confidence that similar events will be held more often in our fortress city. Then, interesting performances were presented. The program included “Two worlds“, “Extra Trace“, “And I Love Her“, “Aziza“, “Rainy Day“, “Letter to Father“, “Fantasia“, “Prayer“, “Nueva“ and other musical performances. The audience met the concert with loud applause. The Vagif Poetry Days will end on July 19. ..

18.07.2024 18:09

"The Motherland of the Word - Karabakh": Modern Poetry Hour in ShushaOn July 18, as part of the Vagif Poetry Days, a modern poetry hour titled “The Motherland of the Word - Karabakh“ took place in front of Khurshidbanu Natevan's house. First, Ibrahim Ilyasli, the head of the poetry section of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers and the host of the event, shared his thoughts about the Poetry Days. He described it as a celebration of poetry, art, and spirituality. He also mentioned that this year's event was again organized at a high level. Aghalar Bayramov, professor at the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts, honored artist and master of artistic recitation, recited patriotic poems. Later, poets took the stage. Ramiz Gusarchayl, chairman of the Guba section of the UAW, writer, playwright, and translator Seyran Sakhavat, Elchin Isgenderzadeh, chairman of the Karabakh section of the UAW, poets and honored cultural workers Gasham Najafzadeh, Rafig Yusifoghlu, head of the press service of the UAW Khayal Rza, Farid Huseyn, and Intigam Yasar recited their poems on various subjects. Poems about Shusha were particularly well received. ..

18.07.2024 16:26

“Nexus of Fuzuli Poetry” at the Shusha Poetry Festival The Vagif Poetry Days, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, began in Shusha on July 18 and continue with colorful events after the opening ceremony. A theatrical composition titled the “Nexus of Fuzuli Poetry,“ dedicated to the 530th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Muhammad Fuzuli (1494-1556), was presented the same day in front of Khurshidbanu Natevan's house. Speaking before the composition based on Fuzuli's works, Ilgar Fahmi, secretary of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers, spoke about the works of Muhammad Fuzuli. Fahmi highlighted the poet’s significant influence on native-language poetry. He mentioned that Mohammad Fuzuli's works such as “Bangu-bade,“ “Leyli and Majnun,“ “Sahhati-Maraz,“ and “Rindu-Zahid“ were used in the artistic and musical composition. Ilgar Fahmi wrote the script of the play, which aroused great interest among the audience, and the director is Honoured Artist Loghman Karimov. Participants in the composition included honored artists from the Shusha State Musical Drama, State Pantomime, and State Yugh Theater: Nazir Rustamov, Azad Shukurov, Bahruz Vaqifoghlu, Teymur Mammadov, and Gasim Nagh, Orkhan Abishov, Pustakhanim Zeynalova, Jala Novruz, Zahra Salayeva, Surahi Alimammadova, Nurlan Rustamov, Javad Nuriyev, Elnur Ismayilov, and Nihat Heybatov. The Azerbaijan State Song and Dance Ensemble and students of the Baku Choreography Academy also took part in the performance. ..

18.07.2024 15:19

Vaqif Poetry Days Kick Off in Our Cultural CapitalThe Vagif Poetry Days, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, are held in Shusha on July 17-19. The poetry festival began on July 18 in front of the Molla Panah Vagif Museum and Mausoleum Complex. The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of the state and government, prominent figures of literature, science, and culture of the Republic, as well as residents of Shusha who returned to their homeland in May this year. Chingiz Abdullayev, the people's writer and first secretary of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers (UAW), expressed his happiness at participating in such a grand event in Shusha. He noted that this year's Vagif Poetry Days coincided with several important occasions: “It is the first poetry festival conducted under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, after the complete restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Shusha holds the title of “Cultural Capital of the Islamic World for 2024“. This year coincides with the 530th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Muhammad Fuzuli and the 90th anniversary of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers. Over 100 members of the Union are taking part in this year's event”. Academician Isa Habibbayli, President of ANAS, spoke about Molla Panah Vagif's literary contributions. He highlighted that Vagif was the first to extensively introduce Azerbaijani geography into our literature, celebrating the land's beauty: “Vagif praised the beauty of Azerbaijan in his poetry. He brought the vernacular into literature at a high level. His creativity is, first of all, an Azerbaijani phenomenon.“ The scholar noted that at the time when the USSR was discreetly pursuing its internationalist movement in Karabakh, the national leader Heydar Aliyev built a grand mausoleum for Vagif in Shusha, which was a sign of Azerbaijan's presence in Karabakh. It is important to restore it in all its glory. The newly organized Vagif Poetry Days are a great celebration of Azerbaijan, which is developing day by day under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, expressed through the language of poetry and art. The people's writer Elmira Akhundova spoke about the boundless love and care of the national leader Heydar Aliyev for the Azerbaijani language and literature. She mentioned that during the most difficult periods of the Soviet era, Heydar Aliyev promoted the preservation and development of national consciousness and the concept of Azerbaijanism. He made sure that works that nurtured this idea and passed it on to future generations were awarded the State Prize. Fazil Mustafa, a deputy of the 6th convocation of the Milli Majlis, said that the successful liberation of our lands was due to the outstanding organizational talent of President and Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev and the exceptional bravery of the Azerbaijan Army. At present, Shusha, which has become a symbol of Azerbaijan, is being restored to its former glory. People's Poet Sabir Rustamkhanli, Chairman of the Press Council of Azerbaijan and Deputy Chairman of the UAW Rashad Majid, Secretary of the UAW Selim Babullaoghlu, and Chairman of the Kazakh branch of the Union Barat Vusal spoke about the charm, exceptionality, and uniqueness of Shusha, which has become the venue of international events, and recited poems. During the artistic part, a poetic duet based on the works of Mohammad Fuzuli and Molla Panah Vagif was performed by the honored artists Azad Shukurov and Nazir Rustamov. The musical pieces “Karabagh“, “Shusha Mountains“ and “This is the Homeland“ were performed by Honored Artist Nigar Shabanova and soloists Abgul Mirzaliyev, Ilkin Dovlatov, and Leyla Rahimli. The audience greeted the concert program with applause. At the end, photos were taken to commemorate the event. It’s worth mentioning that on January 14, 1982, with the participation of national leader Heydar Aliyev, the mausoleum of the great poet and statesman Molla Panah Vagif (1717-1797) and the House of Poetry were opened in Shusha. At this event, Heydar Aliyev supported the initiative of our literary figures in this field and ordered the launch of Vaqif Poetry Days. The first festival of literature and art was held in July 1982. Vagif Poetry Days, with a history of 42 years, will be held for the fourth time in the liberated Shusha. ..

17.07.2024 16:07

Upcoming Vagif Poetry Days to Take Place in Our Cultural CapitalThe next Vagif Poetry Days will be held in Shusha under the organization of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture on July 17-19. Officials, literary figures, cultural representatives, scientists, poets, and writers from the Turkic republics visiting our country for the 90th anniversary of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers will take part in the poetry festival. During the Vagif Poetry Days, various events will be held in Shusha's historical and cultural sites, such as the Molla Panah Vagif Museum-Mausoleum Complex, restored by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Natavan's House, in the area in the front of the Shusha City Executive Authority, and the Shusha Hotel-Congress Center. On January 14, 1982, with the participation of national leader Heydar Aliyev, the mausoleum of the great poet and statesman Molla Panah Vagif (1717-1797) and the House of Poetry were opened in Shusha. At this event, Heydar Aliyev supported the initiative of our literary figures in this field and ordered the launch of Vaqif Poetry Days. The first festival of literature and art was held in July 1982. Vagif Poetry Days, with a history of 42 years, will be held for the fourth time in the liberated Shusha. ..

12.07.2024 18:07

TÜRKSOY Celebrates its 31st AnniversaryIt has been 31 years since the foundation of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TÜRKSOY). On July 12, 1993, at a meeting in Almaty attended by the Ministers of Culture of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan, an agreement was signed to establish the “Joint Administration of Turkic Culture and Arts“ (TÜRKSOY). Since 2009, the organization has been known as the International Organization of Turkic Culture. The Secretariat of TÜRKSOY is located in Ankara, Türkiye. In addition to its six founding member countries, TÜRKSOY has observer members, including the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the Republics of Altai, Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, Tiva, Khakassia, and Sakha-Yakut of the Russian Federation, and the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia of Moldova. As a common cultural platform of the Turkic peoples, TÜRKSOY promotes our moral values with deep historical roots, our rich cultural and literary heritage, and the diverse art of friendly and brotherly countries worldwide. Azerbaijan has actively participated in the activities of the organization since its establishment. The first Secretary General of TURKSOY was Polad Bulbuloghlu, the former Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and currently our Ambassador to Russia. Every year TURKSOY carries out projects related to our country. In particular, the project “Cultural Capital of the Turkic world“ has been implemented twice in Azerbaijan. In 2016, Shaki city held this title. In 2023, Shusha, known as the capital of Azerbaijani culture and a symbol of our historical victory, became the “Cultural Capital of the Turkic World“. At the 40th session of the TURKSOY Permanent Council of Ministers of Culture, which was held in Shusha in October 2023, important discussions were held and decisions were made on the future spectrum of the organization's activities. On the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the establishment of TÜRKSOY, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan congratulates the General Secretary of the organization, Sultan Raev, and the staff of the TURKSOY Secretariat, as well as all the brotherly nations represented in the organization, and wishes new successes in our future joint activities! ..

12.07.2024 15:22

Minister Adil Karimli Participates in the Meeting of the Ministers of Culture of the SCO Member StatesOn July 12, a meeting of the Ministers of Culture of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held within the framework of the XXXIII International Festival of Arts “Slavic Bazaar“ in Vitebsk, in the Republic of Belarus. Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan Adil Karimli took part in the meeting. Speaking at the meeting, Minister Adil Karimli congratulated the Republic of Belarus on becoming a full member of the SCO. He reminded the participants of the 2016 Memorandum between Azerbaijan and the SCO and emphasized the great importance of cultural development within the framework of this organization. It was noted that the participation of President Ilham Aliyev in the SCO Summit held in Astana on July 4 this year once again emphasized our country's intention to further strengthen cooperation within this organization. The Minister said that we highly value our role as a dialogue partner in the SCO and are committed to strengthening cooperation in various fields, including culture, education, and science: “Our goal is not only to strengthen our relations, but also to use the potential to support sustainable development.“ Adil Karimli also mentioned that this year Azerbaijan hosted the Days of Culture of Belarus, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and the Russian Federation, while Uzbekistan hosted the Days of Culture of Azerbaijan. The minister noted that Azerbaijan will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in November 2024. This prestigious event will include a cultural agenda, including a meeting of ministers of culture. This meeting will provide an important platform to address the negative impacts of climate change on cultural heritage. The Day of National Cultures of the SCO countries will be held at the “Slavic Bazaar in Vitebsk“ festival. The Day of Cultures began on July 12 with a concert “For peace and creation together with the SCO“ on Victory Square in Vitebsk. Delegations of the member states of the organization also attended the event. Established in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization includes full members such as China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, India, and Belarus. Several countries hold observer and dialogue partner statuses with the organization. Since 2016, Azerbaijan has taken an active role as a dialogue partner in the SCO. ..

11.07.2024 17:11

Information Session Held for Non-governmental OrganizationsOn July 10, an information session on the grant competition for the promotion of cultural and creative industries announced by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan was held. More than 40 non-governmental organizations took part in the session, which was held at the Center for Development of Cultural and Creative Industries. During the information session, representatives of the Ministry and the Competition Commission presented detailed information on the priority areas and subtopics of the competition. They also explained the terms of participation in the contest and the requirements for the project proposal, and answered the questions of the representatives of non-governmental organizations. The Ministry of Culture announced the grant competition for non-governmental organizations to promote cultural and creative industries on July 4. Applications are accepted electronically on the website grants.culture.az until August 2, 2024. For details, call 147 (Call Center). ..

11.07.2024 14:52

The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Cinema Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan Announce the Results of Post-Production Film Support CompetitionIn May of this year, ARKA announced a competition to support the completion of film projects in their post-production stages. The competition, aiming to stimulate and increase the efficiency of the country's film production, raise the competitiveness of independent production centers, and support joint film production, has concluded. Applications from nine projects were received for the competition in various categories, including full-length feature and documentary, short feature, documentary, and animation films. The Arts Council decided to award state support to six of these evaluated projects. Short documentary film “Memory Palaces“ directed by Matlab Mukhtarov, “Rental Azerbaijan“ LLC; full-length documentary film “The Return“, directed by Elmaddin Aliyev, “Karvan Production“ LLC; full-length feature film “Silent Time“, directed by Tahir Tahirovich, “Nova Gorica Kino“ Center“ LLC; full-length documentary “Black cat, white shani“, directed by Alamdar Faig, “Chinar Film“ LLC; short feature film “Inverted Shadows“, directed by Haji Safarov, “Chinar Film“ LLC; full-length feature-documentary “Where are you, crane?“ film directed by Ilkin Yusif “Boomerangfilm“ LLC It’s worth mentioning that for the first time in the country, a competition is held to support film projects in the post-production phase. The Cinema Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan will continue to conduct competitions throughout the year to offer state support for film projects. ..

11.07.2024 12:37

Admission Exam Results Announced for Music and Art Schools, and CentersThe results of admission exams for the 2024-2025 academic year for music and art schools and centers under the Ministry of Culture have been announced. Candidates were informed of their results via the “MyCulture“ single personal cabinet (my.culture.az) and e-mail. Additionally, exam results can be accessed through the resource https://imtahan.culture.az, developed as an alternative to enhance citizen satisfaction and communication. From May 6 to 31, 16,280 people applied for admission to music and art schools and centers through the personal cabinet “my.culture.az“. Of these applicants, 12,196, or 75 percent, were successful. Based on the exam results, 9,428 of them were admitted to free programs and 2,768 to paid programs. This year, 2,000 more students have been admitted to schools compared to last year, which had 10,215 admissions. Successful candidates are required to finalize their electronic admission process through their personal accounts by August 15, 2024. To do so, they must log in to their personal “my.culture.az“ cabinet, fill out the required information in the “Student Placement“ section, and pay the tuition fee, if applicable. Appeals regarding exam results will be considered on July 15-17. The main objective of the reform measures in the cultural sector is to ensure transparent and effective management, the introduction of digital solutions, and the satisfaction of citizens. The admission procedures for music and art schools and centers are carried out under the digital development strategy “e-Culture“, which plays an important role in ensuring flexible and direct communication and transparency. We congratulate our students and their parents and wish them a successful academic year! ..

10.07.2024 18:35

The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan The Intellectual Property Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan JOINT STATEMENT On Unlawful Appropriation and Other Copyright Violations Related to the Composition "Karabagh" by the Azerbaijani Composer Bahram NasibovThe appropriation and theft of works of Azerbaijani authors and Azerbaijani folklore by Armenians continues. The most recent example is the song “Karabagh“ (“The cradle of dreams is always Karabakh“) by the well-known Azerbaijani composer Bahram Nasibov, which was performed by Gor Yepremyan with changed lyrics under the name “Sirun Jan“, posted on the YouTube platform, and labeled as “Armenian folk,“ i.e., “Armenian folk song“ in the video description. Like the appropriation of Uzeyir Hajibeyov's works by Armenians, this case of plagiarism also caused a wide reaction within Azerbaijani society. On July 9, 2024, the Intellectual Property Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan released a detailed comment on the matter. Regarding the subject discussed above, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Intellectual Property Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan state the following: 1. The composition “Karabagh“ (from now on referred to as the “Composion“), was written and composed by the Azerbaijani composer Bahram Nasibov in the 20th century and was first performed by the People's Artist of Azerbaijan Arif Babayev in 1972. 2. The Composition was registered on June 2, 1972, in the Azerbaijan Branch of the All-Union Agency on Copyrights, the legal predecessor of the Intellectual Property Agency, in accordance with the legislation of the USSR. After Bahram Nasibov passed away in 1998, his heirs registered many of his song genre compositions, including this one, with the Copyright Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (predecessor of the Intellectual Property Agency) on July 14, 2004. They received composition registration certificate No. 662 from the agency. 3. The Composition is one of Bahram Nasibov's most famous songs, it has been performed many times in Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, and other countries, and there are numerous video and audio recordings of these mass performances. 4. The state registration documents of the Composition, its copies on various media, and the recognition of Bahram Nasibov's authorship during mass performances in Azerbaijan serve as evidence that Bahram Nasibov is the sole author of the Composition. 5. The Composition can be used with the consent of Bahram Nasibov's heirs, and to the extent specified in such consent, with proper attribution to him. However, as can be seen from the description and content of the “Sirun Jan“ video on YouTube, Bahram Nasibov is not credited as the author. Instead, the illegally performed composition is posted on YouTube as an “Armenian folk song.“ 6. Based on the registration documents and the mass performance history of the Composition, the Ministry of Culture and the Intellectual Property Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan unequivocally conclude that this case constitutes plagiarism of the music of the Composition. 7. As further evidence of plagiarism, several performances of the composition and the video “Sirun Jan“ were submitted to the experts of the Intellectual Property Agency for assessment of similarity. The People's Artists and Composers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Faig Sujaddinov and Eldar Mansurov, acted as experts and concluded through their research that the music of the song “Sirun jan“ performed by the Armenian singer, is completely identical to the music of the song “Karabagh“ composed by Bahram Nasibov in the Chahargah Mugham. In addition, the composition originally named “Karabagh“ was renamed “Sirun Jan“ and the Azerbaijani lyrics containing the phrase “The cradle of dreams is always Karabakh“ were replaced by Armenian lyrics, resulting in a distortion of the original piece. 8. Consequently, the Composition was distorted, and plagiarism was committed on the music that is part of the Composition. As a result, performer Gor Yepremyan and those involved in the unauthorized performance, recording, and online posting of the work infringed upon Bahram Nasibov's personal copyright and the property rights of his heirs. In the given case of copyright violation, Gor Yepremyan bears the main legal responsibility, and other persons involved in the violation share this responsibility. 9. We state that the failure to investigate and address the aforementioned violation would violate the principle of “national treatment,“ a fundamental principle set forth in Article 5 of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, to which the Republic of Armenia is a signatory, as well as other international agreements to which it is a party, including the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization, the WIPO Copyright Treaty, and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty. In this regard, we demand that the relevant authorities of the Republic of Armenia address the case of plagiarism, stop the presenting of the Azerbaijani composer Bahram Nasibov's composition as the Armenian folk song “Sirun Jan“ with lyrics modified by Gor Yepremyan, restore Bahram Nasibov's copyright, hold the responsible parties accountable, and report on the actions taken in accordance with international law and national legislation. ..

10.07.2024 15:30

The reception of citizens by the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan Adil Karimli in Gadabay district is rescheduled The reception of the citizens from Gadabay, Shamkir, Tovuz, Aghstafa, and Gazakh districts by the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan Adil Karimli, originally scheduled to take place on July 12 at 10 am at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Gadabay (address: Heydar Aliyev Avenue 1), has been postponed. The new date of the reception will be published in advance on the official web resources of the Ministry. ..

08.07.2024 15:55

Info Session Announced for Grant Competition Promoting Cultural and Creative IndustriesAn open information session on the grant competition for NGOs to promote cultural and creative industries, announced by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, will take place on July 10 at 4 p.m. at the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Center (the 8th floor of “Simurg“ plaza, Mehdi Mehdizadeh 33, Khatai district). During the information session, representatives of the Ministry and members of the Competition Commission will provide detailed information on the terms of participation, priority areas and subtopics, and the requirements for project proposals. Representatives of the NGOs interested in the competition are welcome to attend. On July 4, 2024, the Ministry of Culture announced a grant competition for non-governmental organizations to promote cultural and creative industries. Applications must be submitted by August 2, 2024, through the online platform grants.culture.az. For more information, please call 147 (hotline of the Ministry of Culture) or mob. 994505200674 (The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Center). ..

08.07.2024 11:07

Production of Short Animated Film "Nargız" ContinuesThe production of the winning film projects from the competition organized by the Ministry of Culture and the Cinema Agency (ARKA) of the Republic of Azerbaijan between July and October 2023 is underway with state support. Currently, work continues on “Nargız,“ a short animation film that is among the 11 winning entries. The film, produced by “Peri Film“ LLC (Animafilm Studio), is directed by Masud Panahi. Rashid Aghamaliyev is the producer, with Masud Panahi, Ismayil Iman, and Nazrin Aghamaliyeva as the screenwriters. The editors are Rafig Mammadli and Gulshan Huseynova. Firangiz Bagirova is the lead animator, while Kubra Binnetova handles the storyboard. The animation artist is Rustam Bashirov, and artists include Elchin Hami Akhundov, Emil Shiran, Kubra Binnetova, and Nazrin Hajiyeva. The animators are Mehriban Aliyeva, Rustam Bashirov, and Emil Shiran. Zarifa Akbarova coordinates the production, and Emil Gozalov serves as the lawyer. The objective of the film is to spotlight the issue of landmines and raise awareness among both children and adults about the dangers of these mines. The short animated film “Nargız“ is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. ..

05.07.2024 09:18

Grant competition for NGOs to promote cultural and creative industriesThe Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan has announced a grant competition for NGOs in order to promote cultural and creative industries. The main objective of the competition is to promote the development of cultural and creative industries and foster a cultural and innovative society in accordance with the “Strategy of Socio-Economic Development of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022-2026“ approved by the Order No. 3378 of July 22, 2022 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. This includes the implementation of projects that meet today’s challenges, ensuring modern, sustainable and comprehensive cooperation, and increasing the participation of civil society organizations in this process. Priority Areas of the Grant Competition: 1. Projects focused on developing cultural and creative industries (enhancing and institutionalizing management within cultural and creative sectors; improving statistical data related to cultural and creative industries; volunteer efforts in cultural and creative industries; establishing digital platforms for the sale and export of cultural and creative products and services or upgrading current platforms; implementing activities promoting skill development in the capital and districts, including educational initiatives; performing statistical research in the book industry; 2. Projects dealing with digital solutions in the cultural sector (Organizing international events on digital creative industries within the country; Implementing innovative technologies in cultural and creative industries, including artificial intelligence; “E-culture“ - digitalization of culture; Digitization of cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible); 3. Projects to support local animation (hosting international animation events within the country; taking part in international animation events abroad); 4. Projects for the institutionalization of the film industry (hosting international film events within the country; taking part in international film festivals abroad; improving management within the film industry). Criteria for the Applicants of the Grant Competition: 1. Eligible applicants must be state-registered non-governmental organizations within the Republic of Azerbaijan; 2. To qualify, the NGOs entering the competition must have relevant experience in implementing cultural projects and organizing cultural events; 1. The non-governmental organizations participating in the contest must submit the following documents - a digital copy of the original state registration certificate; - a digital copy of the original extract from state register; - a digital copy of the original charter; - a digital copy of the PIN code and identity card of the legal representative. 1. Non-governmental organizations that have previously received funding from the Ministry of Culture but have not fully fulfilled their obligations prior to the start of the grant competition, despite the conclusion of the grant agreement, are not eligible to participate in the grant competition; Criteria for Project Submissions 1. The project proposal must be implemented within the Republic of Azerbaijan for a period not exceeding 3 months. 2. The maximum amount that can be allocated to a single project proposal is AZN 30,000. 3. The content of the projects submitted to the grant competition shall not contradict the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On the protection of historical and cultural monuments“, “On the cultural capital of Azerbaijan – Shusha city“, “On publishing“, “On cinematography“, “On theater and theater activities“, “On library work“, “On museums“, “On legal protection of Azerbaijani folklore expressions“, “On protection and development of Azerbaijani carpet art“, “On media“, “On copyright and related rights“, “On education“, the Civil Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan and any other regulatory acts of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Additional Requirements for Project Submissions: Project proposals that follow these principles will be prioritized during the selection process: 1. Regional inclusiveness - Project proposals should extend beyond Baku city and the Absheron district, and include various other cities and regions within Azerbaijan. 2. Multilateral collaboration - project proposals should include the expertise of specialists who will work in close cooperation and partnership with central and local government institutions. Where appropriate, the private sector and stakeholders should also be involved. 3. Innovation – Project proposals should be based on new, previously unused mechanisms and methods. Emphasis should be placed on using opportunities created by proven information and communication technologies in developed countries. 4. Diversity and Inclusion - Project proposals should reflect specific approaches to ensure the involvement of people with disabilities, vulnerable groups and people in need of social protection including youth, and women. 5. Sustainability – When drafting project proposals, it is essential to consider the sustainability of the projected outcomes, and this criterion must be clearly and precisely demonstrated within the proposal. The application deadline for the competition is August 1, 2024. Submissions are accepted electronically via grants.culture.az. The following documents are required to apply to the competition: 1. Project proposal form 2. Form of Implementation Plan 3. Budget Estimate Form For inquiries regarding the grant competition, please contact projects@culture.gov.az or call the Ministry of Culture hotline at 147. ..

04.07.2024 17:49

Board of Appeals of the Ministry of Culture Convenes Next MeetingOn July 3, 2024, the next meeting of the Board of Appeals of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Minister Saadat Yusifova. The meeting was attended by the Members of the Board of Appeals - Elchin Najafov, Deputy Chief of Staff, and the Head of the Department of Document Processing and Citizen Affairs, Shahin Hasanov, Head of the Human Capital Management Department, Vugar Mammadov, the Head of the Strategic Development and Project Management Department, Rashad Azizov, the Head of the Creative Industries and Digital Development Department, and Javid Aliyev, the head of the Audit and Internal Control Department. During the meeting, the appeals of 2 candidates related to the competition announced by the State Examination Center on February 14, 2024, and the internal interview announced on February 22, 2024, for filling vacant civil service positions in the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan were reviewed. At the meeting, the views of the candidates on the interview were heard and the opinions formulated by the Board on the basis of video recordings and documents submitted by the State Examination Center were considered. At the end of the meeting, the decisions on the considered issues were made based on the votes of the members of the Board. The Board of Appeals confirmed that the decision of the Interview Commission regarding the results of the previous interview of Aghayeva Esmira Tahir was completely objective and justified, and therefore the decision remained unchanged. In response to the appeal of Aghalar Suleyman oghlu Aghamammadov, the Board of Appeals decided to change the results of his previous interview, and found him suitable for the position he applied for, and subsequently included him in the reserve list. ..

03.07.2024 10:01

Filming of "The Kura - the Mother of Rivers" Documentary in ProgressThe film projects that have won the competition organized by the Ministry of Culture and Cinema Agency (ARKA) of the Republic of Azerbaijan in July-October 2023 are produced with the support of the state. It should be mentioned that the competition was held by the state in order to support the growth of the film industry, to promote cinematographic activities, to increase the experience of local filmmakers, to achieve the production of films that promote national, moral and universal values, and also to support the private sector in this field. The documentary “The Kura - the Mother of Rivers“, one of the 11 winning projects of the competition, is currently being filmed. The film is directed by Seyran Mahmudoghlu, and written Akbar Najaf. The producer is Fariz Ahmadov, while the production company is OD Media Production. The film will be shot along the entire length of the Kura River, from its source to its mouth, covering the territories of Terkiye, Georgia and Azerbaijan. The film will depict the geography of the Kura River, Azerbaijan's largest natural water source, as well as the surrounding cities and the socio-economic, historical and cultural developments in these regions. The central idea of the film is to illustrate the historical, cultural and economic impact of the river from the past to the present and to highlight its value to humanity. ..

02.07.2024 09:52

Workshop conducted on the fight against corruptionA workshop on strengthening the fight against corruption was conducted on July 1 under the joint organization of the Ministry of Culture, the General Anti-Corruption Directorate under the Prosecutor General's Office, and the Scientific-Methodical and Specialization Center of the Ministry. The workshop held at the International Mugham Center, was attended by executives and employees of the entities within the structure of the Ministry. During the event conducted in connection with the implementation of the order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan of April 4, 2022 on the Approval of 2022-2026 National Action Plan to Strengthen the Fight Against Corruption, discussions were held on corruption-related offenses among the employees of cultural institutions, as well as on responsibility, conflicts of interest related to these offenses, and other related topics. Piraya Samadzadeh-Aliyeva, Senior Prosecutor of the Organizational and Information Support Department of the Anti-Corruption Directorate delivered a report on “The Concept of Corruption, Its History and Forms of Manifestation“. Prosecutors Ilkin Babazadeh and Kamil Kamilli from the same department presented on the types of corruption crimes, responsibility for corruption crimes, international practice in combating corruption, and anti-corruption methods. I. Babazadeh discussed the actions of specialized institutions combating corruption in Azerbaijan and the reports received via the hotline and citizen applications concerning corruption in the cultural sector. K. Kamilli talked about the State Program, legislative improvements made in our country in this area, the international initiatives Azerbaijan has joined in combating corruption, and the National Action Plan for fighting corruption. It was pointed out that the Anti-Corruption Directorate will maintain its efforts at the highest level to strengthen the fight against corruption, which is a major form of organized crime both domestically and internationally. ..

01.07.2024 18:07

Minister of Culture Adil Karimli to receive citizens in GadabayAccording to the schedule of the reception of citizens in cities and districts by the heads of the central executive authorities and other administrative bodies, Minister of Culture Adil Karimli will receive citizens from Shamkir, Tovuz, Aghstafa, and Gazakh districts on July 12, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at the Heydar Aliyev Center of Gadabay district (address: Heydar Aliyev Avenue 1). Citizens can apply for the reception until July 8, 2024 via the Ministry's e-mail address info@culture.gov.az and phone number (012) 493-43-98. ..

01.07.2024 12:31

Aptitude exams for the admission of students in music and art schools and centers under the Ministry of Culture for the 2024/2025 academic year have concludedThis year, for the first time, the admission of students to music and art schools and centers under the Ministry of Culture was carried out through my.culture.az via a single personal account. In order to ensure the satisfaction of the citizens and an objective evaluation, all necessary conditions were created to allow students to take the exams centrally in one place. A total of 16,280 people registered electronically. Approximately 15,000 candidates took the exams. Please note that candidates (or parents/guardians for those under the age of 18) will soon be notified of their exam results via a private account or email. Successful candidates will need to confirm their enrollment through the system. ..

28.06.2024 15:35

Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan Attends the Maqom Art International Forum in UzbekistanThe 2nd Maqom (Mugham) Art International Forum is taking place from June 27-30 in the Zaamin city of Jizzakh province, Uzbekistan. The opening ceremony of the 2nd Maqom Art International Forum will take place on June 27. Among the attendees will be Simona-Mirela Miculescu, Chairperson of the 42nd session of UNESCO; Salim Al-Malik, Director General of ICESCO; Sultan Raev, Secretary General of TURKSOY; A. Raimkulova, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation; Mehmet Süreyya Er, Chairman of TürkPA; Adil Karimli, Minister of Culture; Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye; Moon Hyung Suk, Secretary-General of the Asia Region of the International Folklore Organization; and other officials and representatives of the diplomatic corps of foreign countries accredited in Uzbekistan. At the opening ceremony, the President of Uzbekistan, Shevkat Mirziyoyev, spoke about the history and importance of maqom art. The ceremony was followed by the speeches of the President of the 42nd Session of the UNESCO General Conference Simona Miculescu, and the Director General of ICESCO, Salim Muhammad al-Malik. Following the speeches, an extensive concert program took place. Various groups presented captivating music and dance performances and compositions. All performances were received with applause. We would like to inform you that the “Zaminsay“ complex, where the forum was held with around 400 guests from over 80 countries, was decorated for the event. A large area has been dedicated to exhibitions that display the rich culture of the Uzbek people and their magnificent applied art. As part of the forum, an international scientific-practical conference titled “Development Perspectives of Maqom Art: Theoretical and Practical Foundations“ will take place on June 28-29. Our country is represented in the competition by young singers Nisbat Sadrayeva and Safali Mirzaliyev. They will be accompanied by musicians Ruslan Zarbaliyev on tar, Parviz Farhadov on kamancha, and Siyavush Farhadov on drums. An international jury, with experts from Azerbaijan, the USA, Egypt, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and India, will judge the performers in categories such as “Best Maqom Ensemble“, “Best Instrumental Solo“, and “Best Vocal Solo“. The organizing committee of the forum will award cash prizes, diplomas, and figurines to the winners. The closing ceremony of the Forum and the award ceremony for the winners will take place on June 30. The first Maqom Art International Forum took place in Shahrisabz, Uzbekistan, from September 6-10, 2018, and the Mugham instrumental group representing our country secured the first place. ..

27.06.2024 15:44

Uzbekistan Hosts the 2nd Maqom Art International ForumThe 2nd Maqom (Mugam) Art International Forum is taking place from June 27-30 in the Zaamin city of Jizzakh province, Uzbekistan, under the auspices of UNESCO and ICESCO. More than 400 guests from nearly 80 countries are attending the forum, which seeks to preserve, develop, and promote the rare examples of Uzbek national maqom art on an international scale, as well as enhance friendship and creative partnerships between peoples. The opening ceremony of the 2nd Maqom Art International Forum will take place on June 27. Among the attendees will be Simona-Mirela Miculescu, Chairperson of the 42nd session of UNESCO; Salim Al-Malik, Director General of ICESCO; Sultan Raev, Secretary General of TURKSOY; A. Raimkulova, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation; Mehmet Süreyya Er, Chairman of TürkPA; Adil Karimli, Minister of Culture; Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye; Moon Hyung Suk, Secretary-General of the Asia Region of the International Folklore Organization; and other officials and representatives of the diplomatic corps of foreign countries accredited in Uzbekistan. As part of the forum, an international scientific-practical conference titled “Development Perspectives of Maqom Art: Theoretical and Practical Foundations“ will take place on June 28-29. A performance competition will be held on June 28-29. An international jury, with experts from Azerbaijan, the USA, Egypt, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and India, will judge the performers in categories such as “Best Maqom Ensemble“, “Best Instrumental Solo“, and “Best Vocal Solo“. The organizing committee of the forum will award cash prizes, diplomas, and figurines to the winners. The Grand Prix prize is $15,000, while the 1st place winners in both solo and ensemble categories will receive $10,000, the 2nd place winners will receive $7,000, and the 3rd place award for solo and ensemble performers is $5,000. To support and encourage the participants, awards will be presented in several categories including “Best Maqom Composer“, “Best Soloist - Maqom Performer“, “Best Musician - Maqom Performer“, “Best Teacher in Maqom Art“, “Best Maqom Promoter“, and “Best Young Maqom Performer“. Additionally, during the forum, various exhibitions featuring cultural examples from 14 regions of Uzbekistan will be held in the pavilions. The closing ceremony of the 2nd Maqom Art International Forum and the award ceremony for the winners will take place on June 30. The first Maqom Art International Forum took place in Shahrisabz, Uzbekistan, from September 6-10, 2018, and the Mugham instrumental group representing our country secured the first place. ..

25.06.2024 17:11

Acting and vocal master classes at the Academic Russian Drama TheaterAs part of the Days of Russian Culture in Baku, the Azerbaijan State Academic Russian Drama Theater hosted acting master classes by Alexandrina Kologriva and Nataliya Kulikova, and a vocal masterclass by Alina Ivakh on June 25. Art and acting students attended the master class where Alina Ivakh, the troupe leader of the Moscow Governorship Theater, shared her creative journey and mentioned that she not only teaches acting for vocalists but also leads master classes on “vocal therapy“. Ivakh also noted that the seventh International Children's Festival will take place in Russia. She explained that “Roskonsert“ invites educators and artists from various regions and abroad to participate in the festival. “We are looking forward to welcoming Azerbaijani artists to Moscow. I hope that the cultural cooperaion between Russia and Azerbaijan will keep flourishing. This is very important. Because sharing experiences always adds value,“ the expert added. The guests highlighted that they watched Azerbaijani art, especially our films and plays. In the master class, discussions covered topics like authors, writers, actors, screenplays, sound issues, new generation actors, repertoire, and dramaturgy, strategies for engaging a younger audience, introducing new talent, and maintaining audience’s interest. It was noted that new plays in Russia are initially performed in regional theaters, and then directors from the capital select and present the best ones. The guests talked about the new approaches implemented in Russian theaters and responded to the students' questions. ..

25.06.2024 10:57

Days of Russian Culture Begin in BakuOn June 24, an opening ceremony of the Days of Russian Culture took place at the Heydar Aliyev Palace, organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The event was attended by officials from both countries, culture and arts figures, and art lovers. During the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, Andrei Malyshev, thanked the Government of Azerbaijan for their warm welcome and support for the Days of Russian Culture. It was mentioned that Azerbaijan and Russia are bound by centuries-old friendly relations and a shared historical path of development. The Days of Russian Culture in Azerbaijan were last organized in 2019: “We aim to make this an annual event from now on. These cultural projects facilitate the further development of relations between the two countries at the strategic partnership level. I believe that today's joint performance by Russian and Azerbaijani art masters will be seen as the best example of their cooperation,“ stated Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Murad Huseynov, highlighting in his speech the dynamic development of cultural relations between Azerbaijan and Russia. After the performances, a magnificent gala concert took place. The audience cheered the concert featuring Alexei Melnikov on piano, Sergey Dogadin on violin, and mezzo-soprano Maria Barakova, with accompaniment from the State Symphony Orchestra named after Uzeyir Hajibeyli, conducted by Honored Artist of Russia Ivan Rudin. The collaboration between Azerbaijani vocalists and Russian performers that evening also received enthusiastic applause. The program featuring pieces by P. Tchaikovsky, S. Rachmaninov, D. Shostakovich, and N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov provided the audience with unforgettable moments. Notably, as part of the Days of Culture on June 25, the Azerbaijan State Academic Russian Drama Theater will host acting master classes by Russian experts Alexandrina Kologriv and Natalia Kulikova, as well as vocal master classes by Alina Ivakh. On the same day, art lovers can watch the performance of the play “Family Picture“ (1847) by Alexander Ostrovsky at the Academic Russian Drama Theatre. ..

25.06.2024 09:54

Our Culture on the Air – New ProjectsThe Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and “Pro Media Group“ LLC have organized new radio projects. This collaboration has led to the presentation of the “Azerbaijani language“, “Our cultural heritage“, and “Culture guide“ sections, along with the “Voice of Art“ program, to listeners The “Cultural Heritage“ aired on “Retro FM“ radio station (93.3 FM) offers information about our cultural heritage handed down through generations, and highlights historical-architectural and cultural landmarks and buildings found in Baku and other regions of Azerbaijan. The “Culture Guide“ segment aired on “Avto FM“ (107.7 FM) and “Retro FM“ (93.3 FM) provides information about upcoming performances at the Academic National Drama, Academic Opera and Ballet, Academic Musical, Academic Russian Drama, National Young Spectators, Puppet, Pantomime, Yugh, and Shusha State Musical Drama theaters. The “Azerbaijani language“ segment aired on “Avto FM,“ “Retro FM,“ and “Hit FM“ (97.7 FM) radio stations discusses correct spelling and pronunciation based on the lexical and grammatical rules of the Azerbaijani language. The “Voice of Art“ program, broadcast live on “Retro FM“ five days a week from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., features interviews with composers, singers, pop and opera performers who have played an important role in shaping our national music, as well as researchers of their heritage, their family members and students. These four projects support the promotion of Azerbaijani culture to a wider audience and aim to increase interest in cultural events, theater and performances. ..

24.06.2024 17:59

Days of Russian Culture Kick off in our CountryAs it is known, on January 22, 2024, the Intergovernmental State Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation signed the “Roadmap of the Key Directions of Development of Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia for 2024-2026“. According to the relevant paragraph of this document, the Days of Russian Culture will be held in Azerbaijan from June 22 to 26. A large delegation, including famous masters of art from the neighboring country, visited Azerbaijan during the Days of Culture. On June 24 at 19:00, a gala concert with Russian artists will be held at the Heydar Aliyev Palace. The next day, on June 25, at 11 a.m., Azerbaijan State Academic Russian Drama Theater will host acting master classes by Russian experts Alexandrina Kologriva and Nataliya Kulikova, as well as vocal master classes by Alina Ivakh. Art lovers can watch the performance of the play “Family Picture“ (1847) by Alexander Ostrovsky at the Academic Russian Drama Theatre on the same day at 8 pm. ..

24.06.2024 14:57

Media Representatives Observe Music and Art School Admission ExamsAs reported earlier, admission exams for the 2024/2025 academic year at music and art schools and centers under the Ministry of Culture are currently in progress. This year, for the first time, exams are being centrally administered for the convenience of citizens. The exam stage from June 20-30 is taking place at the Baku Choreography Academy in our capital. On June 24, a media tour was organized at the Baku Choreography Academy to acquaint journalists with the examination process. In addition to media representatives, Deputy Minister of Culture Murad Huseynov, Advisor to the Minister Jasarat Valehov, Chairman of the Union of Composers of Azerbaijan People's Artist Firangiz Alizadeh, People's Artists and tar performers Ramiz Guliyev and Elchin Hashimov, and other guests, participated in the event. They were informed about the progress of the exam stage and given details about the admission exam. It was mentioned that from June 20 onwards, candidates registered with the single electronic admission system for the first time are participating in in-person exams. A total of 16,280 individuals registered electronically, and 4,167 of them are applicants from Baku city. This newly implemented method was highlighted as a key component of the ongoing cultural education reforms. The transition to electronic admissions for music and art schools and centralized aptitude tests provide transparent assessment, increase citizen satisfaction, and saves time. Moreover, the selection of students at this level is important for evaluating the actual capabilities of the schools and for accurately assessing the educational performance of the students. A group photo was taken at the end of the tour. After all the exams are completed, the candidates (or the parent/legal representative for those under the age of 18) will be notified of the results within three working days via personal office, e-mail, or SMS notification service. ..

24.06.2024 12:55

Russian Pianist Conducts a Master Class at the Baku Music AcademyAs part of the Days of Russian Culture held in our country from June 22 to 26, Russian pianist Alexey Melnikov conducted a master class, organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan. On June 23, A. Melnikov shared his knowledge and experience with piano students at the master class held at the Baku Music Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibeyli. The well-known pianist responded to the young people's questions and shared his recommendations. ..

24.06.2024 12:36

Azerbaijani Language Weekend School Opened in BerlinThe opening ceremony of the Azerbaijani Language Weekend School “Kharibulbul,“ jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, the State Committee for Work with Diaspora, and the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Germany, was held at the Azerbaijani Cultural Center in Berlin. The ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Minister of Culture, Farid Jafarov. During the speeches, the importance of the Azerbaijani language weekend school was emphasized, and it was mentioned that the school will support the promotion of our language. The establishment of Azerbaijani language schools on the initiative of First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva was emphasized as extremely important for maintaining ties with the historical motherland and teaching the mother tongue to the young generation. The Azerbaijani diaspora in Germany also makes an active contribution in this field. After the opening ceremony, the rhythm courses that are newly organized at the Azerbaijan Cultural Center were introduced to the guests. At the end, the gifts of the Ministry of Culture and the State Committee for Work with the Diaspora were handed over to the students of the Mother Tongue School. ..

24.06.2024 12:32

Delegation of the Ministry of Culture Cisits GermanyThe delegation of the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan visited the Federal Republic of Germany. On June 21, they visited the Dresden State and University Library, where they were informed about its historical background and activities. After that, they held talks with the management of the library on the prospects of cooperation. The delegation also examined a handwritten copy of the epos “Kitabi-Dada Gorgud,“ a remarkable cultural and literary relic of the Turkic world, which is kept in the library. The study of the epos began with the discovery of a manuscript in the Dresden Library in 1815, written in the 15th century by the German Orientalist Heinrich Friedrich von Dietz. This manuscript contains an introduction and 12 sagas. The second copy of the epos is kept in Vatican. In this copy, published by the Italian scholar Ettore Rossi in 1952, the epos contains six sagas. More recently, other manuscripts of this epic have been found. The 1300th anniversary of the epos “Kitabi-Dada Gorgud“ was officially celebrated in 1999. Readers are presented with facsimiles of the Dresden and Vatican manuscripts in the two-volume encyclopedia “Kitabi-Dada Gorgud.“. ..

24.06.2024 12:25

Meeting Held on the Translation and Publication of Azerbaijani and Chinese classicsThe Azerbaijani delegation met with the Chinese side on June 21 at Beijing Language and Culture University. In the meeting, discussions were held about the current status and future tasks concerning the translation and publication of classical works from both countries, based on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2022 between the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the General Administration of Press and Publication of the People's Republic of China. Zhao Haiyun, a first-category inspector of the General Administration of Press and Publication and Deputy Director-General for SAPPRFT Import Administration Department, welcomed the delegation and highlighted the significance of the translation project in the continuing cultural cooperation between China and Azerbaijan. He mentioned that this project will support the study and promotion of the cultural heritage of the two countries. The official delegation of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan expressed their gratitude for the support in organizing Azerbaijan's participation in the Beijing International Book Fair, as well as for the attention given to Azerbaijan's cultural heritage. The Chinese side was informed about the progress of the translation project, and the possibilities for enhancing cultural cooperation between the two nations were discussed within the framework of the Baku International Book Fair. The Chinese side confirmed that a number of Chinese publishing houses would join the 10th Baku International Book Fair. The meeting concluded with the presentation of the promotional video of the Baku International Book Fair. ..