Forty years after its establishment, the legendary Issyk-Kul International Forum is returning to Kyrgyzstan. The 40th-anniversary Issyk-Kul International Forum will take place from June 18 to 21 in Bishkek and on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. Founded in 1986 by legendary writer Chingiz Aitmatov, the forum has brought together outstanding scientists, writers, philosophers, public figures
The English-language edition of an anthology of poems and ballads, “God and Love,” by Kyrgyz poet and composer Atantai Akbarov was presented at the MEGA Fest 2026 international festival in London. The book was published and brought to an international audience by the British publisher Hertfordshire Press. “God and Love” introduces English-speaking audiences to one
British publisher and public figure Marat Akhmedjanov has been awarded a medal from the International Organization of Turkic Culture, TÜRKSOY, which unites the states of the Turkic world and is dedicated to preserving their shared historical and cultural heritage. The award was presented in recognition of Akhmedjanov’s long-standing contribution to the development of literature, culture,
The first concert of Aseman band and the come-back of its establisher Arash Barez took place in Paris on June 5, introducing Afghanistan music to Europe. Aseman is a multicultural ensemble formed by distinguished artists from Afghanistan and Japan, who live in Paris, created to bring Afghan music (silenced in the only country where music
A traditional Kazakh chapan presented to British publisher and cultural entrepreneur Marat Akhmedjanov, founder of Hertfordshire Press and co-founder of the Eurasian Creative Guild (ECG), during commemorative events marking the 275th anniversary of the renowned spiritual leader Beket Ata in Kazakhstan’s Mangystau region, has become an unexpected symbol of cultural diplomacy in the United Kingdom.
After many years of working with writers, artists, filmmakers, musicians, and creative professionals from across the world, I have noticed one thing: the most inspiring discoveries often come from the most unexpected places. Imagine this. A public servant from Kyrgyzstan. A member of the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) for two terms. An engineer by education, later
The MEGA Fest 2026 international cultural forum, a joint effort between the Open Eurasia Literary Festival & Book Forum and the ECG Eurasian Film Festival, concluded in London last week. The festival brought together writers, filmmakers, artists, poets, publishers, and public figures from dozens of countries, becoming one of the largest international platforms for promoting
In recent years, the international film industry has increasingly talked about diversity, cultural multiplicity, and the need for new voices. However, in reality, the global screen remains quite hierarchical: some countries are automatically considered “providers of great cinema,” while others are still relegated to the cultural periphery. When Western audiences hear about films from Central
When we watch a cult movie, we usually remember the actors, the director, or the studio behind it. But behind every great film stands an entire team of professionals without whom real cinema simply could not exist. A few years ago in Hollywood, I had the chance to meet exactly such people. In this photo
Kazakhstani artist Asel Kadyrkhanova’s installation “Machine,” dedicated to the Red Terror and Stalinist repressions, was removed from the Kazakhstan pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale. The Kazakhstan National Pavilion at the Venice Biennale opened on May 6. The Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Information removed the installation from the exhibition one day before the opening.
Buenos Aires once again reminded me how important personal meetings remain today. Especially when the conversation is not only about diplomacy, but also about culture, books and human connections between continents. It was a great pleasure to meet with Yulia Ilyina, Chargé d’Affaires of the Republic of Belarus in Argentina, who is actively involved in
The 2026 Venice Biennale exposed an uncomfortable truth once again: Central Asia is increasingly becoming a beautiful exotic backdrop for the Western art world rather than an equal intellectual voice within it. Uzbekistan is now investing heavily in building its cultural brand. The pavilions are more polished, visually stronger, conceptually cleaner. The Aral Sea, memory,
Uzbek cuisine in Latin America. Who would have thought it was even possible? Some would say, “Uzbeks are everywhere.” Others would shrug, “Who needs it there?” I’ve always been on the side of the first. But to my surprise, Uzbek cuisine had been almost absent across the entire American continent, home to nearly 700 million
Sometimes it is not just people who leave. Entire eras pass away with them. Today we think of Mukhtar Shakhanov (born in 1942) with deep sorrow. Mukhtar-aga was someone who could never be seen simply as a poet or a public figure. He was a phenomenon. A voice of his time. And for Kazakhstan, a
In March, as part of a tour of Latin America, Marat Akhmedjanov, the founder of the British publishing house Hertfordshire Press and the Eurasian Creative Guild (London), had an important meeting in Montevideo with the Ambassador of Armenia to Uruguay, Mariam Gevorgyan. The conversation was lively and to the point, focused on real opportunities and
Sometimes history comes full circle. In the year marking the 690th anniversary of Amir Timur, born on 9 April 1336, it feels especially meaningful to reflect not only on the great commander and empire builder himself, but also on how his image continues to live on in world literature, translation, and publishing. Back in 2010,
Construction of a world-class film studio, Dala Stage, has begun in the town of Kaskelen in the Almaty region. According to the press service of the Almaty region’s governor, one of the most notable moments at the project’s groundbreaking ceremony was the delivery of a time capsule from Jackie Chan, which was transported by helicopter.
Some meetings happen exactly where different worlds meet. That was the feeling of a meeting in Montevideo between Marat Akhmedjanov, the founder and patron of the Eurasian Creative Guild (London), and the Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in Uruguay, Martín Soca. Latin America knows how to surprise, and Uruguay in particular. The country is often called
French Alliance in Bishkek is holding the Francophonie Spring in Kyrgyzstan, from 25th March to 12th April 2026. The program includes educational, cultural and entertainment events, dedicated to the diversity and creativity of French language and francophone cultures, according to the Delegation of the European Union to the Kyrgyz Republic. This year’s festival theme is “Women and Francophonie”.
Following a long-standing tradition, a gathering of members and friends of the Eurasian Creative Guild (ECG) and Hertfordshire Press took place in London, celebrating the spring festival of Navruz. The evening began with a guided tour of Fitzroy House Museum and, under the leadership of ECG Chair Francesca Mepham, smoothly transitioned into a traditional English