Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The main priority tasks of the Ministry of Culture are as follows:

• Implementing a unified state policy in the field of culture and art, coordinating the activities of state bodies involved in this direction, and overseeing compliance with legislation in these areas;
• Preserving and enhancing the national cultural and spiritual heritage, comprehensively developing art and artistic creativity, promoting the further elevation of the moral and cultural level of our people, and ensuring their access to the best examples of national and world culture through systematic measures;
• Conducting educational activities aimed at deeply instilling ideas of independence, high spirituality, commitment to humanistic traditions, and national identity in the hearts and minds of the population, especially the youth; strengthening immunity against alien ideologies such as radicalism and extremism; and organizing mass cultural events to meet the ever-growing intellectual, aesthetic, and cultural needs of society;
• Encouraging the development of artistic creativity, including theater, music, choreography, pop art, circus, and folk-applied arts; providing comprehensive support to creative teams, especially young artists, in producing works reflecting the most significant aspects of our nation's history, contemporary life, and the country’s democratic development;
• Strengthening the material and technical base of cultural institutions, including theaters, cultural centers, parks of culture and recreation, and other cultural-educational institutions; increasing their operational efficiency and fully utilizing their potential in shaping spiritually developed, intellectually mature, and culturally enriched individuals;
• Establishing strong cooperation with state authorities and management bodies, including local government bodies, public organizations, educational institutions, creative associations, and other organizations in implementing key tasks and directions, organizing cultural and educational events, and ensuring the effective operation of cultural and creative institutions;
• Improving the system of training and enhancing the qualifications of personnel in the cultural sector in the spirit of national and universal values, humanism, and high spirituality; providing material incentives; utilizing modern pedagogical and information technologies as well as advanced international experience; and ensuring cultural and educational institutions are staffed with highly qualified professionals;
• Expanding and strengthening interstate and international cultural relations, widely promoting the cultural heritage of our country, as well as the works of creative teams and authors abroad through conferences, exhibitions, cultural events, and forums; attracting foreign investments and grants into the cultural sector; and publishing mass literature, video, and film materials related to culture;
• Implementing a consistent state policy aimed at ensuring interethnic harmony and tolerance in society, strengthening the atmosphere of friendship and the feeling of a unified multinational family, and fostering young people in a spirit of respect for national and universal values;
• Assisting in organizing scientific research dedicated to the further development and harmonization of interethnic relations and friendship ties with foreign countries.

The Ministry performs the following functions in accordance with its assigned tasks:

a) In the field of implementing a unified state policy in culture and arts, coordinating the activities of state bodies involved in this direction, and overseeing compliance with legislation in these areas:

• Carries out state management in matters related to organizing and improving the activities of the cultural system;
• Submits proposals to the Cabinet of Ministers for consideration regarding the main directions of unified state policy, including state programs for the further development of the cultural system and their implementation mechanisms;
• Develops and defends drafts of normative-legal documents and other documents related to fulfilling the Ministry's tasks and functions before the Cabinet of Ministers;
• Coordinates the work of ministries, agencies, local government bodies, and other organizations in the field of culture and arts;
• Monitors compliance with legislative acts related to issues within the Ministry’s jurisdiction, develops proposals for their improvement, and submits them to the Cabinet of Ministers for consideration;
• Develops and implements necessary measures to ensure the timely execution of normative-legal acts;
• Ensures the dissemination of normative-legal documents and, in collaboration with other state bodies and organizations, organizes work to communicate their essence and significance to relevant executors and the general public;
• Organizes the training, retraining, and professional development of its personnel to ensure the proper and uniform application of normative-legal acts;
• Maintains a systematic record of normative-legal acts in accordance with established procedures;
• Forecasts the development prospects of departmental organizations within the Ministry’s system, develops state and regional programs;
• Coordinates the activities of regional cultural bodies and subordinate organizations;
• Establishes departmental oversight over the fulfillment of qualification requirements for specialists within the Ministry’s system;
• Provides methodological guidance for the activities of educational institutions within the Ministry’s system;
• Implements financial control in regional cultural bodies and subordinate organizations by introducing information technologies and internationally recognized financial control standards to prevent and eliminate budget law violations;
• Defines development trends and prospects, conducting comparative analyses of the state of the cultural sector;
• Analyzes the educational and social effectiveness of the network of educational institutions under the Ministry and develops proposals for its optimization;
• Implements state orders for the creation of dramatic, musical, musical-dramatic works, as well as works of visual and applied arts and sculpture;
• Develops targeted programs for the development of culture and arts, as well as program-methodological documents related to the cultural and artistic sector, ensures their proper implementation in accordance with established procedures.

b) In the field of preserving and enriching national cultural and spiritual heritage, comprehensively developing art and creative activities, promoting the moral and cultural level of the population, and ensuring access to the best examples of national and world culture:

• Collaborates with other executive authorities to address issues related to the social protection of cultural and artistic figures;
• Supports state and non-state non-profit organizations in organizing and conducting cultural and concert events for the general public;
• Takes measures to preserve and enrich national cultural and spiritual heritage and comprehensively develop art and creative activities;
• Encourages the enhancement of the population’s moral and cultural level;
• Implements systematic measures to provide access to the best examples of national and world culture;
• Conducts an inventory of all existing state cultural institutions;
• Promotes the development of public-private partnerships in the cultural sector;
• Prevents the involvement of artists and performers in state and other events on a voluntary basis without proper remuneration;
• Ensures the publication of sheet music collections and specialized musical literature at the expense of the State Budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan and their full distribution to educational institutions;
• Develops proposals for establishing awards for outstanding achievements in culture and arts and for conferring honorary titles of the Republic of Uzbekistan, submitting them for approval in accordance with established procedures;
• Implements measures to introduce information and communication technologies into the cultural sector;
• Ensures the publication of journals, forms, educational-methodological complexes, bulletins, and teaching materials related to the activities of the Ministry, as well as the operation of the Ministry’s website.

c) In the field of conducting educational activities aimed at strengthening national identity, patriotism, and resistance to radical and extremist ideologies, as well as meeting the intellectual, aesthetic, and cultural needs of society:

• Enhances the role of theatrical arts in fostering loyalty to the ideas of national independence, respect for national and universal values, and love for the homeland, while strengthening immunity against destructive ideologies, particularly among the youth;
• Supports the activities of composers, musicians, and instrumentalists, organizing various competitions to identify talented amateur performers;
• Further develops the “master-apprentice” tradition to refine traditional musical genres under modern conditions;
• Promotes the works of national and international composers as part of humanity’s intellectual heritage, encouraging the creation of high-quality artistic works in contemporary styles, and supports the development of grand musical compositions, including operas, symphonies, concerts, and oratorios;
• Establishes dance schools based on the “master-apprentice” tradition, ensuring the preservation and advancement of the styles of distinguished dance masters and talented performers;
• Artistically develops national dance and choreography in harmony with national and universal values;
• Collects and enriches unique dance samples passed down through generations, instilling deep respect and admiration for these treasures among the population, especially the youth;
• Ensures the effective use of the “master-apprentice” tradition in preserving the unique styles of folk artisans and schools, fostering experience exchange with renowned cultural and artistic figures, and strengthening the activities of creative workshops;
• Creates favorable conditions for preserving and developing folk arts and crafts, supporting traditional handicrafts;
• Promotes national artistic achievements to the international community through large-scale exhibitions both domestically and abroad;
• Popularizes the works of great painters, folk artisans, artists, cultural figures, and talented young creators;
• Supports the development of folk amateur and performing arts in cultural centers, improving their forms and methods;
• Assists in the implementation of effective cultural and educational activities at the local level, summarizing and promoting best practices in this field.

g) In the field of promoting the development of artistic creativity, including theater, music, choreography, pop music, circus, and folk applied arts, and supporting creative teams, especially young artists, in creating works reflecting the brightest pages of our people's history and contemporary life:

• Develops cultural studies, theater studies, art studies, musicology, and other scientific fields related to the arts;
• Ensures the development of theater, music, choreography, pop music, circus, and folk applied arts;
• Provides comprehensive support to creative teams in producing works that reflect the brightest pages of our nation's history, its present life, and the experience of independent development;
• Takes measures to create images of historical figures and contemporary heroes, enhance the ideological and artistic level of theatrical works, improve their international competitiveness, and strengthen theater criticism;
• Expands opportunities and conditions for young composers, musicians, musicologists, and performers to engage in creative activities effectively;
• Preserves, restores, and creates new stage costumes that reflect the unique heritage of national dance and traditional values;
• Takes measures to preserve and protect regional dance traditions, establishing a modern Uzbek dance school that brings aesthetic pleasure to the public;
• Improves the system for identifying talented pop singers and supporting their creative activities;
• Conducts in-depth scientific studies on the stages of development of national dance art;
• Enhances the system for early identification and support of talented artists in visual and applied arts, design, and folk crafts, fostering their artistic potential;
• Coordinates work with the National Council for the Development of Pop Art to improve the thematic and repertoire planning of cultural and educational concerts held in the country’s concert halls, theaters, and stadiums;
• Ensures the participation of young artists studying and working abroad in national exhibitions, competitions, and festivals;
• Organizes creative trips for talented youth and cultural figures, ensuring their participation in national and international cultural and artistic events, including exhibitions, competitions, festivals, and other forums;
• Organizes tour and concert activities for cultural institutions and solo artists within the Ministry’s system, including international tours.

d) In the field of strengthening the material and technical base of cultural institutions, including theaters, cultural centers, parks, and other cultural and educational institutions, enhancing their efficiency, and fully utilizing their potential to nurture morally mature, intellectually developed, and highly cultured individuals:

• Provides overall leadership in strengthening and developing the material and technical base of the Ministry, regional cultural authorities, and affiliated organizations;
• Coordinates the management and use of buildings and facilities under the Ministry, regional cultural authorities, and affiliated organizations;
• Organizes and oversees repair, restoration, and construction work, including preparations for autumn-winter seasons and the maintenance of facilities under the Ministry, regional cultural authorities, and affiliated organizations;
• Identifies the needs of the Ministry, regional cultural authorities, and affiliated organizations and develops annual programs for their equipment and re-equipment;
• Participates in the development of projects for constructing modern regional cultural institutions in collaboration with relevant organizations;
• Conducts systematic monitoring of annual construction and repair work at cultural facilities included in Uzbekistan’s investment programs;
• Aligns the quality of services provided by cultural and artistic institutions with modern requirements and international standards;
• Establishes new entertainment centers, cultural parks, and recreational areas that meet modern standards;
• Ensures the integration of local cultural and artistic institutions into the global cultural space;
• Effectively utilizes Uzbekistan’s rich historical and cultural heritage, as well as contemporary cultural and artistic trends, to shape the country’s positive image;
• Organizes public opinion research to identify and address issues in the cultural sector.

ye) In the field of establishing strong cooperation with government authorities, including local administrations, public organizations, educational institutions, creative associations, and other organizations to implement key objectives, cultural and educational events, and ensure the effectiveness of cultural and creative institutions:

• Develops long-term theater repertoires based on modern plays, national classics, and world literary masterpieces, systematically organizing local and international tours for theaters;
• Works on preserving and developing the national musical heritage across generations, creating broad opportunities for the public to enjoy it in modern contexts;
• Enhances and promotes pop singing art based on national values;
• Systematically organizes cultural and mass events, concerts, and tours aimed at meeting the cultural needs of the population and educating young people through high-quality national pop music;
• Develops the "master-apprentice" tradition in music and art schools and arranges creative meetings with renowned artists;
• Works on improving the ideological and artistic level of creative associations, groups, and solo performers, including their repertoires and scripts;
• Ensures the comprehensive protection of intangible cultural heritage by identifying, registering, digitizing, promoting, and preserving its examples with public involvement;
• Strengthens the material and technical base of cultural parks and cultural centers, including through public-private partnerships, and improves their operations;
• Revises the concept of cultural parks, establishing a system for regular folk festivals and ensuring that amusement rides and attractions align with the natural and landscape characteristics of cultural parks;
• Expands tourism opportunities related to various cultural fields;
• Develops and promotes new cultural tourism routes, considering the unique characteristics of different regions of the republic within tourism development projects;
• Adopts a comprehensive approach to creating national brands in culture and the arts, facilitating their entry into international tourism markets, and supports the organization of international cultural competitions and festivals;
• Implements measures for training scientific and academic-pedagogical personnel in educational and research institutions;
• Collects and integrates advancements in global scientific and technological progress, as well as best practices in cultural and artistic development from foreign countries, into the sector;
• Establishes specialized information and library services for visually impaired individuals, expanding their access to alternative reading materials to enhance their educational opportunities;
• Supports the development of scientific research in culture and the arts in collaboration with relevant ministries, agencies, and organizations;
• Applies scientific research findings in practice and coordinates related activities.

j) In the field of culture, regarding the training and professional development of personnel:

• Improving the process of training and enhancing the qualifications of cultural personnel in the spirit of national and universal values, humanism, and high spirituality, with material incentives and the use of modern pedagogical and information technologies as well as advanced international experience.
• Ensuring the provision of highly qualified personnel for cultural and educational institutions.
• Supplying the central apparatus of the Ministry, regional cultural organizations, and affiliated institutions with qualified staff.
• Annually formulating proposals regarding the admission of students to higher education institutions in the fields of culture and arts.
• Engaging educational and research institutions and the pedagogical community in the development of educational and methodological materials and the integration of pedagogical technologies into the teaching and educational processes within the Ministry’s educational institutions.
• Organizing professional skill competitions for specialists in the cultural sector and defining relevant measures for their moral and material encouragement.
• Developing and implementing long-term programs, projects, and plans in collaboration with educational, research, foreign, and international organizations.
• Organizing the training process in a way that upholds national and universal values, humanism, and high spirituality.
• Encouraging the population to enhance their cultural awareness.
• Providing access to the best examples of national and world culture and arts for the general public.
• Ensuring the professional development, retraining, and certification of personnel within the Ministry’s system.
• Inviting prominent performers, cultural and artistic figures, and highly skilled pedagogical specialists from Uzbekistan and abroad to teach and conduct masterclasses in the country's educational institutions.
• Participating in the development and approval of educational programs, manuals, and other scientific-methodological literature related to culture and arts.
• Enhancing the system of professional training, retraining, and skill improvement of personnel in the sector, including increasing the potential of pedagogical staff.
• Ensuring the creation of special literature for preschool educational institutions that introduces children to basic musical concepts (folk music, academic classical music, and pop music) and forming children's performance repertoire.
• Taking measures to ensure the continuity and progression of education in primary, secondary specialized, and higher education institutions within the sector, ultimately fostering talented artists.
• Supporting scientific research in the field, implementing scientific findings in practice, and improving the working and creative conditions of cultural and artistic professionals.
• Expanding opportunities for experience exchange and professional development with renowned cultural and artistic institutions worldwide.
• Actively utilizing the best achievements of foreign and national traditional education systems, as well as educational technologies aimed at the sector's development.
• Developing proposals to improve the system of material incentives for employees of the Ministry's central apparatus, regional cultural organizations, and affiliated institutions.
• Assisting affiliated institutions in developing their material-technical base, providing them with information, offering advisory services, and supporting personnel training and retraining, as well as other forms of assistance.

z) Expanding and strengthening interstate and international cultural relations:

• Promoting Uzbekistan's cultural heritage, the works of the country’s creative teams and authors, and organizing conferences, exhibitions, cultural events, and forums abroad.
• Attracting foreign investments and grants to the cultural sector.
• Publishing mass literature related to culture and preparing video and film materials.
• Supporting the expansion and effectiveness of international relations in the cultural sector, establishing connections and collaborations with foreign and international organizations on cultural issues.
• Developing international projects in the fields of culture and arts and ensuring the fulfillment of Uzbekistan’s international agreements.
• Organizing professional and amateur art festivals, competitions, and exhibitions both domestically and internationally.
• Facilitating the participation of creative teams, cultural and artistic specialists, and figures—regardless of their institutional affiliation—in international competitions, festivals, and other foreign events.
• Assisting in the widespread promotion of national film productions and their recognition at international film festivals.
• Contributing to the improvement of the system for creating documentary and popular science films that vividly reflect historical truth and real events.
• Supporting the strengthening and equipping of cinema institutions in accordance with modern requirements.
• Establishing and developing international cultural relations.

i) Implementing state policy aimed at ensuring interethnic harmony and tolerance in society:

• Supporting the noble traditions of interethnic harmony, preserving the atmosphere of friendship and unity in society, and fostering a sense of a single multinational family among citizens, regardless of nationality, race, or religious beliefs.
• Educating young people in the spirit of national and universal values, encouraging them to preserve and develop national traditions and customs passed down through generations, and shaping a spiritually rich and well-rounded generation that is resistant to nationalist and extremist ideologies and loyal to the ideals of independence.
• Helping to create an accurate perception of Uzbekistan’s rich historical past and its positive achievements in the modern era within the international community.

k) Assisting in the organization of scientific research related to interethnic relations and the development of friendly relations with foreign countries:

• Directly participating in the development and implementation of programs aimed at strengthening friendly relations with foreign countries.
• Allocating grants for scientific research projects on interethnic relations in collaboration with relevant ministries and institutions.
• Participating in international scientific conferences on interethnic relations and exchanging experiences with foreign partners.
• The Ministry carries out its assigned tasks and functions directly as well as through its regional cultural organizations and other affiliated institutions.
• It may also perform other functions in accordance with legislative acts.