Today, on April 15, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev congratulated representatives of the sector on the occasion of Culture and Art Workers' Day. The head of state's press service reported on this.
"First of all, I sincerely congratulate you, dear ones, and through you our entire art-loving people on April 15 – Culture and Art Workers' Day. On this blessed day, we express our sincere gratitude to the masters of art and young performers, and all sector workers who have been serving our nation with their tireless talent, knowledge and skill," the congratulatory message states.
In recent years, along with all sectors in the country, large-scale reforms are being implemented to develop the culture and art system based on modern requirements. As a result, the material and technical base of the sector is being strengthened, the qualifications of personnel are being improved, and the creative work of employees is being duly encouraged.
The quality of theater, cinema, museums, cultural events, and services provided to the population is consistently improving.
The introduction of modern management mechanisms, the implementation of new creative projects, digital technologies and advanced practices based on public-private partnership, and the expansion of cultural content creation are serving to further increase the efficiency and attractiveness of cultural institutions' activities.
In recent years, 2 theaters, 19 cultural centers, 16 museums, 20 music and art schools, and 5 higher education institutions in this direction have been established in our country, many institutions have been equipped with modern equipment, and necessary work on preservation and restoration has been carried out at 125 historical and cultural heritage sites.
Last year, we adopted a special resolution on further developing the fine and applied arts sector. Construction of the Uzbekistan National Museum building began in Tashkent.
This year, construction and renovation work will be carried out at the Central Exhibition Hall, the building of the Fine Arts Exhibitions Directorate fund, and the Pavel Benkov Art School, and necessary measures will be taken to support sector workers.
Another important process – Uzbek cultural diplomacy is steadily developing. Prestigious international forums, competitions, festivals, and cultural days are regularly held. In particular, last year, the session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, the First International Modern Art Biennale in Bukhara, the Aral Culture Summit in Nukus, the Turkic World Culture Forum in Khorezm, and the first meeting of the Ministers of Culture of Central Asia and Azerbaijan in Tashkent were organized at a high level.
Most importantly, our Homeland's participation in international events in the art sector is expanding, and its prestige is growing.
Performances by Uzbek artists at prestigious cultural venues in Europe are arousing great interest among foreign art enthusiasts. Speaking of this, it is necessary to emphasize that the ballet "Lazgi. Dance of Love and Heart" was performed by the Uzbekistan National Ballet troupe on the stage of the Grosses Festspielhaus in Salzburg, Austria.
On April 9 this year, another major art venue – the Musikverein stage hosted a presentation of a musical opera work dedicated to the 690th anniversary of our great ancestor Amir Temur.
Efforts to develop our national cinema art, especially to create ideologically and artistically high works in the "Living History" series, are yielding initial results. Last year, based on state orders, 123 films were prepared and presented to the attention of viewers.
Last year alone, 35 workers who have been laboring in the sector for many years were provided with housing. The salaries of employees of cultural institutions were increased by an average of 35 percent. The Mahmudkhoja Behbudi Prize for playwrights, the Bahodir Yuldoshev Prize for young directors, the Botir Zokirov Prize for young singers, and the "Legacy of the Future" international prize for local and foreign creators continue to be awarded.
Today, developing the culture and art sector as a means of spiritual education and an important branch of the creative economy, supporting the creative industry, developing the cultural services market, and expanding the export of art products remain urgent tasks. The newly established Creative Industry Park will serve these very purposes. We have set a major goal in this regard: to increase the share of the creative economy in the gross domestic product to 5 percent by 2030.
