Large-scale measures to develop culture and the arts have been defined

On June 1, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with representatives of the culture and arts sector.

The event was attended by poets and writers, actors, playwrights and directors, singers, musicians and composers, artists, sculptors, artisans and other figures in culture, art and literature, as well as art scholars.

The Head of State emphasized that culture and art play an invaluable role in shaping people’s spirituality and worldview, as well as in educating young people.

It was noted that today the struggle for influence over human consciousness is intensifying worldwide, and under these conditions, books, theater, cinema, music, and literature are becoming the most effective means of strengthening society’s spiritual immunity.

It was emphasized that, in preparation for the meeting, dialogues had been held with representatives of the arts, and the state of cultural and artistic facilities had been studied. The Head of State noted that the current meeting aims to find solutions to existing problems in the field and to create a new environment in literature, culture, art, and the creative economy.

First of all, a new incentive system for creative figures and support for young talent is planned. Creative associations will be established in 21 areas, including theater, cinema, choreography, opera, folklore, pop, academic and national instrumental art, and fine and applied arts. Their co-chairs will be masters of art, ministers, and heads of major companies.

These associations, in collaboration with music schools and artistic groups in the regions, will identify young talent, organize competitions at the mahalla, district, regional, and republican levels, and support winners through tours, festivals, and international competitions.

A National Kurultai of creative figures will be held annually. As part of the Kurultai, creative evenings will be organized for cultural figures who have achieved the best results during the year. They will also receive appropriate incentives.

In particular, in the field of music, incentive measures are envisaged for singers, musicians, and composers who have created new works, won international competitions, and whose works are performed on national and international stages. In the field of literature, they are intended for poets, writers, and playwrights whose works have gained wide recognition, been published in large print runs, and been staged in theaters and adapted for the screen.

Such creative figures will receive a monthly fee of 5 million UZS for one year. They will be able to use air, rail, and public transportation free of charge within Uzbekistan. Treatment expenses at specialized medical centers will be covered by the budget, and schools of excellence and creative centers will also be established.

Important measures have also been established to support young talent and their mentors. Starting September 1, winners of national competitions will receive rewards of 100 million UZS, and laureates of prestigious international competitions will receive up to 300 million UZS. Their expenses for participating in competitions will be covered. Teachers and mentors will receive a salary supplement of up to 100 percent.

Every year, 100 young men and women will be sent to study at foreign cultural and artistic institutions at the state’s expense. To identify young talent and support production initiatives, an Investment in Creativity Fund will be established, with 200 billion UZS allocated to it annually.

Special attention was given to protecting the copyrights of cultural figures. It was noted that every product created in the fields of literature, culture, and art is the intellectual property of its author, and that every work of art, musical composition, and song should generate income for its creator. Responsible officials were instructed to develop a system to ensure guaranteed copyright protection.

New opportunities will also be created for representatives of the literary sphere. Poets and writers will receive creative commissions for at least 50 of the best works each year. Each year, 10 of the best works of Uzbek literature will be translated into foreign languages and presented abroad, with the authors’ participation. The state will cover the cost of paper for publishing books recommended by the Writers’ Union.

Several benefits are also expected to support cultural figures socially. It is planned to cover 50 percent of the initial payment on mortgage loans for housing purchases annually for 1,000 poets and writers, representatives of culture and art, museum employees, and artists.

Representatives of the sphere from other regions will receive housing compensation: up to 2.5 million UZS per month in the city of Tashkent and up to 1.6 million UZS in the regions.

Every year, 1,000 workers in the sphere who have achieved good results in their work will receive free treatment at the expense of the State Health Insurance Fund, and another 2,000 cultural figures will be provided with a medical insurance package at the expense of the state. Employees with at least 10 years of work experience will receive free vouchers for sanatoriums.

To support song and dance ensembles, all employees’ salaries will double starting September 1. For dance masters, the required length of service for retirement will be reduced from 20 to 15 years. A proposal has been put forward to build a modern Palace of Dance in New Tashkent, next to the Center of Maqom, which is currently under construction there.

The system for financing and material incentives for composers and authors of musical works will also be revised. Each year, they will receive a state commission to create at least 20 new works in modern and classical genres, including opera and symphony.

The Head of State dwelled in detail on the importance of strengthening national identity in society. It was emphasized that the country today needs literature that inspires people, cinema that awakens a sense of pride among young people, music that touches the deepest strings of the soul, and theater that helps people more fully realize their belonging to the nation.

It was emphasized that, in an era when the Internet and social networks play an increasingly important role in our lives, the voice of the creative intelligentsia should be even louder in the digital space.

New mechanisms will be introduced to increase demand for cultural events. Each year, 500,000 teachers, doctors, civil servants, active schoolchildren and students, as well as 100,000 low-income families and children with disabilities, will receive free vouchers for theaters, cinemas, and concerts.

Beginning July 1, up to 20 percent of the expenses for hosting concerts and entertainment events in each district and mahalla will be covered by the budget. Concert and entertainment organizations, private theaters, cinematography, the production of children’s content, and private educational organizations in the field of culture and art will be exempt from several taxes. Charitable funds allocated to the development of literature, culture, and the arts will also be exempt from taxation.

Separate directorates will be established under regional hokimiyats to ensure the effective use of concert and theater halls and palaces of culture and to organize daily cultural events.

Broad opportunities will also be created in the theater sector. It was noted that granting the Alisher Navoi Theater the authority last year to independently resolve financial, creative, and organizational issues produced good results. In one year, the number of performances increased by 1.5 times, while the number of spectators doubled. This experience will now be introduced at the Muqimi and Berdakh theaters, as well as at the National Puppet Theater.

To support private theaters and theater studios, starting September 1, the state will annually compensate the cost of producing 50 stage productions. They will be provided with state cultural facilities free of charge, and when renting private premises, their expenses of up to 20 million UZS per month will be covered by the budget. A system will be introduced to pay performance fees from the budget for each ticket sold.

Important tasks have also been defined to develop the film industry. Uzbekfilm will receive national status and be transformed into a central film concern serving domestic and international filmmakers. Cooperation with global film platforms will be strengthened to promote national films in international markets.

When films are created under state commission, up to 30 percent of the film’s budget will be allocated to promotion and advertising expenses. In addition, 50 percent of box office revenues from screenings of films created under the state commission will be paid to the producer and the creative team. To enhance the prestige of the Oltin Humo national film award, 5 billion UZS will be allocated annually.

The development of the creative economy has been identified as a distinct area of focus. In the coming years, the creative economy is expected to reach 145 trillion UZS by increasing value added in the cultural and artistic sectors. To this end, a legal framework for the sector has been established, and a separate tax regime has been introduced for residents of the Creative Industries Park. Construction of large creative parks has begun in Shaykhantakhur district and the city of Nukus.

Projects will be implemented to increase the added value of handicraft products by 5-10 times through the introduction of modern design. Plans include expanding cooperation with international designers and increasing the number of exhibitions in European countries, the United States, South and East Asia, and the Middle East. A program will be developed to organize mega-events in each region throughout the year.

During the meeting, the issue of improving the education system in the fields of culture and the arts was also discussed in detail. The teaching of music, fine arts, and technology in general education schools will be updated to align with the “Art” curriculum. Starting with the new academic year, the subject “Art” will be introduced on an experimental basis in 10 general education schools in each region.

Thus, in primary grades, children’s creativity is expected to be developed through drawing, music, and game-based learning, while in senior grades, skills in design, graphics, artificial intelligence, and creative projects will be developed.

It was noted that 95,000 children study at 326 music and art schools and at 29 specialized schools across the country. Specific performance indicators will be developed for these institutions. Graduates of music schools will be required to master at least one more national musical instrument in addition to their main specialty.

Beginning with the new academic year, the salaries of teachers at 326 music and art schools will be aligned with those of teachers at general education schools. Teachers in general education and music schools will receive a salary supplement of up to 20 percent, depending on students’ proficiency with musical instruments. The goal is to involve at least 1.5 million students in music and art classes.

At least four music and art clubs will be organized in each general education school. When national musical instruments are purchased, 30 percent of their cost will be compensated by the state. “Inclusive creative workshops” will be established in the regions for young men and women with disabilities, with 30 billion UZS allocated annually for them.

The personnel training system will also be revised. Starting with the new academic year, students will be admitted to specialized schools in music from the 5th grade and in dance, theater, and art from the 9th grade. Colleges of music and art, pop art, and circus will be transferred to the Ministry of Culture system and will receive the status of higher schools. Their education will be organized through three-year programs.

A dual education system will be introduced in higher education institutions in the field of culture and art. Well-known cultural figures will be assigned to each student and will prepare young specialists for the big stage by participating in concerts, theatrical productions, and other performances. Modern disciplines such as art management, creative industries, and project commercialization will be included in the curricula. A total of 50 billion UZS will be allocated to 10 universities for students’ startup projects.

A unified system for advanced training and retraining of field workers will be created. Based on existing centers, an Institute for Advanced Training and Retraining will be established within the Ministry of Culture system and will also be responsible for upgrading the qualifications of music teachers in general education schools.

“Today, we see a difficult situation marked by contradictions and conflicts in the world. In such a situation, national unity and solidarity are more important to us than ever. I am confident that, by playing a leading role in this cause, you will become an example for our youth and the entire people through your true patriotism, loyalty to the Motherland, and selflessness”, the President of Uzbekistan noted.

The Head of State also held a sincere dialogue with representatives of the sector, listened to their opinions, proposals, and initiatives.

UzA