― 28 июня 2025 г.
International Handicrafts Festival ‘The Voice of the Steppe: Traditional Arts’ in Aktau
The International Handicrafts Festival held under the motto ‘The Voice of the Steppe: Traditional Arts’ along with a fair of handcrafts in ‘Aktau – The Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2025’ has begun. This is the first festival of its kind in the region's history, bringing together numerous artists from the Turkic World and related communities.
The event introducing works by forty-five craftsmen from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Hungary, Türkiye, Bashkortostan, Mongolia, Kalmykia, Tuva, and Chuvashia showcases items of traditional crafts along with workshops and masterclasses for visitors.
At the festival, introducing traditional ornamental arts and contemporary creative industries, participants also had the opportunity to share knowledge and experience with one another.
Mrs. Akmaral Zeyilova, the Director of the Regional Scientific and Methodological Cultural Centre of Mangystau who stated that artists participating in the festival brought works adorned with precious and semi-precious stones featuring traditional patterns of their countries and regions further said: “The International Handicrafts Festival is being held for the first time in our region on the occasion of the declaration of Aktau as Cultural Capital of the Turkic World. This event features 15 foreign and 30 Kazak artists. The primary aim of the festival is to promote ethnotourism, support national handicrafts, and expand cooperation in the field of creative economy. In addition to exhibiting their works, participants also had the opportunity to show how they actually manufacture their crafts."
In the congratulatory message he sent on the occasion of the opening of the festival TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev said: "Our traditional handicrafts, which are a legacy from our ancestors, are among our most valuable assets that connect us to our past and keep our cultural identity alive. This beautiful festival in Aktau not only makes the common heritage of Turkic peoples visible, but also showcases the hard work of master craftsmen and the shared language of our hearts to the whole world. TURKSOY will pursue its efforts to preserve our intangible cultural heritage and inspire future generations with determination. I do sincerely congratulate everyone who contributed to the organisation of this festival."
Within the framework of events to celebrate the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2025, TURKSOY plans to carry out many more events in Aktau which holds this prestigious title this year.
