President Shavkat Mirziyoyev delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the third International Makom Art Forum. The head of state welcomed renowned figures of art and culture who arrived in Uzbekistan from different countries and continents, calling art a spiritual bridge that connects people's hearts and opens the path to goodness.
According to the president, the traditional forum has turned into a global platform that enhances the universal significance of makom. The event's special status is underscored by the participation of leaders from UNESCO, ISESCO, CIS, SCO, the Organization of Turkic States, and other authoritative international structures, as well as ministers of culture, ambassadors, and about 250 representatives from over 80 countries.
This year, the large-scale forum is hosted by the Namangan region. The president congratulated the region's residents on the 65th International Namangan Flower Festival, which has become a bright national brand. This year, more than 150 million flowers were planted in Namangan, and this impressive fact has been officially recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. The head of state also respectfully listed the names of great Namangan poets, thinkers, hafizes, and musicians, whose rich creative heritage serves as a school of mastery for new generations of artists.
The president recalled that makom has been included by UNESCO in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, calling it the memory of the nation, the heart of the people, and the voice of their soul. In New Uzbekistan, raising the status of this art at the national and international levels has become a priority of state policy in the cultural sphere. Scientific councils on makom studies are actively developing, the system of continuous education is being improved, and creative associations in 21 areas of culture and art have recently been established, with competitions for young performers to be held at all levels, starting from the mahalla.
To bring this work to a fundamentally new level, Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced a number of important initiatives. In particular, construction has begun on a unique Makom Center in New Tashkent, which is proposed to be called the World Makom Center, with the establishment of an International Makom Academy under it. It will teach Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Tajik, Indian, and other directions of Eastern classical music, and internships for youth from around the world will be organized on a mentor-student basis using special grants.
The center will also house an International Digital Library and a laboratory with unique musical manuscripts. In addition, the president called on scientists and artists to join forces to create a World Anthology of Makom on a single digital platform and launch a thematic mobile application with a constantly updated phonotheque.
For comprehensive support of the field, the head of state proposed establishing a special international fund, the grants of which will finance scientific research, study rare sources, and provide material incentives for specialists. Every two years, the fund plans to award an International Prize to scientists and artists who have made significant contributions to the development of makom. Another bright initiative is the creation of a cultural-tourism route "Path of Makom" in the regions along the 6 directions of "Shashmakom".
As part of the project, specialized tourist-themed streets will appear in Bukhara, Samarkand, Khiva, Kokand, Shakhrisabz, and Tashkent, where classical melodies will constantly play in parks, squares, and catering establishments. The president called on foreign ensembles to actively participate in the formation of this route. Finally, Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that the Yunus Rajabi ensemble "Makom" has been granted the high status of a National State Ensemble, expressing confidence that the forum will serve to strengthen friendship and brotherhood between peoples.
Source: podrobno.uz