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
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has included the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan in its list of the six most anticipated museum openings of 2026. The opening of this grand museum complex in Tashkent is scheduled for March. According to the BBC, the Center’s building itself is a stunner, topped with a monumental turquoise mosaic
On the eve of Nowruz, the British Library will receive copies of the new Voices of Friends Poetry & Art Almanac 2026, published by Hertfordshire Press. This edition is dedicated to the 180th anniversary of Kazakh thinker Abai Qunanbaiuly and the 110th anniversary of artist and collector Igor Savitsky (Uzbekistan). On that day, Burabay,
The prestigious business magazine Business Holistic in Uzbekistan has published an article entitled “Marat Akhmedjanov: Building bridges between Eurasia and the world.” The article features Marat Akhmedjanov, a publisher, public figure, cultural diplomat, and the founder and head of the British media holding Silk Road Media – the only media group in the UK that
Saltanat Khamzeeva is a remarkable woman who has successfully merged a creative nature with a practical mindset. During a difficult period of her life, it was precisely this combination—talent, inner discipline, and marketing intuition—that helped her not only find her footing and confidence but also forge a path that today allows her to support other
One of the highlights of the departing year for Marat Akhmedjanov, the founder of the British publishing house Hertfordshire Press, was his participation in the official launch and inaugural forum of Eurasia Policy Council in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster in November. Hertfordshire Press is the only British publishing house dedicated
Hertfordshire Press, the UK’s leading publisher dedicated to translated literature from the post-Soviet space, announces the release of Imprisoned Souls: Poems of Uyghur Prisoners in China, a powerful new anthology translated and compiled by acclaimed Uyghur poet, scholar, and human rights advocate Aziz Isa Elkun. At a moment when Uyghur cultural expression faces systematic erasure,
An event dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the prominent Uzbek art collector Igor Savitsky took place in London on December 16. Organized by the British publishing house Hertfordshire Press, which has specialized in translating and publishing works of classic and contemporary authors from Central Asia for nearly 20 years, the event was attended by
On December 16, London hosted an event commemorating the great Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov. Organized by the British publishing house Hertfordshire Press, which has specialized in translating and publishing works of classic and contemporary authors from Central Asia for nearly twenty years, the event was attended by over 80 guests from England, Kyrgyzstan, Scotland, Australia,
On December 16 in London, the British publishing house Hertfordshire Press organized an international event dedicated to Kazakhstan’s Independence Day and the 180th anniversary of Abai Qunanbaiuly’s birth. More than 80 guests from around the world, from the UK to Australia, participated, expressing their support for Kazakh culture. Hertfordshire Press, which has specialized in translating
The cover story of the latest issue of OCA Magazine’s special edition, OCA People, features Mariiam Tobokelova, an outstanding Kyrgyz musician and komuz player, and a veteran member of the Eurasian Creative Guild (London). OCA Magazine is a quarterly magazine published in London since 2009 by Silk Road Media Group with the support of the Eurasian Creative Guild. After
The 5th Voices of Friends: Poetry & Art festival transformed the popular Kazakh resort of Burabay into a key cultural hotspot in Eurasia. From November 29 to December 2, the festival brought together more than 70 authors, artists, musicians, filmmakers, and intellectuals from 20 countries, serving as a platform for international dialogue and creative exchange.