EMBASSY OF TURKMENISTAN
SWISS CONFEDERATION - GENEVA
Year 2024 - Fount of Wisdom
Magtymguly Fragi
Consistent work is being carried out to expand the range and improve the quality of cultural services, improve their coverage of the population, update the repertoires of creative teams, museum and library funds, and coordinate the activities of cultural institutions. Today, there are 10 state theaters in the country, six of which are located in the capital, one circus, two film and concert centers, 36 state museums, state libraries: State Library of Turkmenistan, State Children's Library named after B. Amanov, Library for the blind and deaf (3 branches and 1 collection point for books), Network of centralized libraries of Ashgabat (1 center, 21 branches). Also, in each region there are main regional libraries and several libraries under the Ministry of Culture.
Work was carried out to prepare documents for the inclusion of national values of global importance in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In this series - documentation and videos demonstrating the process of making a dutar (national musical instrument with two strings) and the features of playing this musical instrument.
In addition, the necessary information was collected to be included in the respected List of UNESCO of the nomination “The Cultures of Growing and Breeding Akhal-Teke horses”. And at present, the relevant organizational work is being carried out to include the “National experience of the upbringing of the Turkmen Alabai dogs” in this List.
Along with archaeological expeditions organized by the National Directorate for the Protection, Study and Restoration of Historical and Cultural Monuments of Turkmenistan, the search for unexplored objects is underway. As a result, many unregistered monuments were discovered, which are now recorded. Thus, if earlier the total number of monuments that are in the State Register of National Historical and Cultural Heritage of Turkmenistan was 1397, now there are 1422 of them.
The last decade of June is the time of honoring the representatives of national culture, celebrating their professional holiday. Traditionally, the Week of Culture was timed to coincide with the Day of Workers of Culture and Art, as well as the poetry of Makhtumkuli Fraghi, which is held annually in different regions of the country. Cultural Week of 2022 was held in the Mary region.