NEWS

Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Anar Alakbarov has met with a group of culture and art figures at the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art. Head of the Humanitarian Policy, Diaspora, Multiculturalism, and Religious Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Farah Aliyeva, Acting Minister of Culture, First Deputy Minister of Culture Anar Karimov also attended the meeting. The presidential assistant highlighted the reforms implemented in various fields in Azerbaijan, including in promoting development of culture, addressing the problems of citizens and strengthening support for projects in this regard. He said although due to the widespread transmission of COVID-19, mass gatherings are banned in Azerbaijan like in the rest of the world, numerous cultural projects continued to be implemented in the country in accordance with the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev. Anar Alakbarov said the main goal of the meeting was to conduct exchange of views with culture figures, listen to their proposals and convey them to the country's leadership. The assistant to the president also highlighted the projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation under the leadership of First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva aiming to develop and promote Azerbaijani culture worldwide, reconstruct cultural facilities and promote the world community`s awareness about the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. During the meeting, the culture and art figures discussed the works to be done in the country in various fields, including in the sphere of culture. They also made proposals on preservation and promotion of the country’s cultural heritage. The meeting participants emphasized the importance of holding such meetings, noting that the format of this event was necessary for effectively addressing the future tasks.

YARAT Contemporary Space has presented a virtual lettuce of Russian art expert and historian, Honored Cultural Worker of Russia Leonid Aleksandrovich Bazhanov.

The art expert provided insight into the history of the Russian underground culture, new influences and the disappearing of socialist realism. 

Leonid Bazhanov specializes in the 20th-21st centuries contemporary art. He is a corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Arts (2011). 

Bazhanov is the founder of the Hermitage Creative Association (1986) and the Center for Contemporary Art on Bolshaya Yakimanka (1991). 

Since 1994, he serves as an artistic director of the Russian National Center for Contemporary Art (NCCA). He is also a full member of the Russian Academy of Art Criticism (2001).

Students of Baku Higher Oil School have become national finalists of the global competition ClimateLaunchPad.

The project Escanergy, developed by students of Process Automation Engineering Department (Aytan Sadirova, Aghamirza Fataliyev, Gulai Akbarova, Fazil Mammadli), took second place among 10 local projects.

Thus, these students gained the right to participate in the international final of the competition.

The Escanergy project helps reduce energy consumption in escalators. The device is a 3-wheel system that connects two parallel escalators moving in opposite directions. This device, the operation principle of which is based on a fixed locking system, drives the escalator using energy from the mass of passengers of the other escalator.

ClimateLaunchpad is the world's largest cleantech program (clean technology) operating in over 50 countries, and this year more than 2,000 startups are participating in the competition. The program opens up new opportunities for startups and idea authors through its educational structure and scope.

The competition is organized by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology with the financial support of the European Union. Sil Laboratory is the main organizer and official partner of ClimateLaunchpad in Azerbaijan.

At the World Finals, teams selected from each participating country will make presentations before leading European investors and entrepreneurs.

The winning team of the Grand Final will receive € 10,000, while the second and third place teams will receive € 5,000 and € 2,500 respectively.

At the same time, start-up projects that take the top10 places in the world finals will be accepted into the 18-month Climate-KIC Accelerator programme, which turns small ideas into big business.

Within this accelerator program, each project will receive financial support in the amount of € 95,000 in three stages.

In the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous appeals came from Azerbaijani citizens in Turkey on their coming back by cars, and during that time, special permits were issued and bus services were organized to bring them back, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said.

Hajiyev made the comment during the briefing of the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers on August 15.

"Currently, no appeals on the subject have been received by the operational headquarters. If citizens wish to return to the country in their own cars, they should contact the embassies and the operational headquarters," he added.

Khatai Library System in Baku has released a video slide on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of prominent representative of the anti-fascist Resistance movement during the Second World War Ahmadiyya Jabrayilov.

The video slide was prepared in accordance with the relevant decree signed by the President on the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the partisan.

Ahmadiyya Jabrayilov received the Legion d’Honneur, one of the highest official recognitions. He was also declared National Hero of France.

As one of the 240,000 Soviet soldiers taken prisoner whilst launching an offensive against the Nazis near the Izyum Bridge over the Don, Ahmadiyya was transferred to many camps, eventually ending up in a camp in Frankfurt-an-der-Oder.  Refusing to join the Nazis, he decided to escape and rejoin the Red Army. 

Nicknamed ‘Kharko’, Ahmadiyya joined the Maquis of Cabertat in 1944. Following the liberation of Toulouse in September 1944, Ahmadiyya Jabrayilov met General Charles de Gaulle, and after the liberation of the Midi–Pyrénées, he joined the Third Hussars Regiment, with whom he participated in the Battle of the Vosges and the liberation of Mulhouse and Belfort. Thereafter, he was forcibly repatriated to the Soviet Union, following the Franco–Soviet Pact.

His bravery was belatedly recognised in 1966, when President General de Gaulle made his second visit to the Soviet Union. By this time, he had returned to Sheki, but General de Gaulle’s request to see him resulted in overnight fame.

He became a National Hero of France, and received the Croix de Guerre, the Cross of Military Valour and the Medal of the French Resistance, amongst other acknowledgements.

Ahmadiyya also toured the regions of France that he helped to liberate, and met many of his Resistance friends. His life was ended at the age of 74 by a car accident in Sheki.

The story of Ahmadiyya Jabrayilov was highlighted in man books and documentaries. One of the streets in Sheki is named after him. There is also a house-museum of Ahmadiya Jabrayilov in Shaki, opened by his son, Javanshir Jabrayilov.

In November 2007, the French embassy in Azerbaijan, Baku French Cultural Centre and Sheki Museum organized the exhibition "He was called Armed Michele in France" dedicated to the hero. Photos, documents and  film about  the life of Ahmadiya Jabrayilovwere presented at the exhibition

Embassy of Hungary in Azerbaijan invites you to join an art contest for children.

The event is timed to the 100th anniversary of the death of the Hungarian painter Gyula Benczur. 

The contest is open for young talents aged between 6 and 17 years. The main goal of the project is to focus the interest and creativity of young generation on fine art. In this difficult period of pandemics, the organizers intend to motivate the Azerbaijani children with a safe and beneficial activity as well as to find talented followers to Gyula Benczur among young Azerbaijanis.

Those wishing to take part in the competition should present their Hungary-themed paintings that feature its historical buildings, native animals, geographical places, prominent figures or fairy tales.

The artwork can be done in any traditional genre of painting. Photographs, sculptures, and digitally-created artworks are not eligible for entry. The painting must be your own original work, with a short description how it connects to Hungary.

The jury includes Ambassador of Hungary Viktor Szederkenyi, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Hungary Vilayat Guliyev, Honored Artist Asmar Narimanbayova, founder of Nargiz Studio Nargiz Guliyeva and Member of the Art Found of Hungarian Republic and the Association of Hungarian Fine and Applied Artists Ms. Eszter Kneisz.

The best 5 artworks will be rated in the following age categories: 14-17 years, 10-13 years, children under 10 years. Artworks should be submitted via the participant's parent or a legal representative.

All winners will receive certificate from the Embassy of Hungary and prizes from the organizers. They will also take part in the exhibition, to be held by the Embassy of Hungary in Azerbaijan and the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Budapest after the pandemic.

The art competition will last until 5th of September. Participants should send 3 photos about their artwork (minimum size 1200*800) to the following e-mail address: sh5photocompetition@gmail.com. 

The winners will be announced till 13 of September on the embassy's official Facebook page. After announcing the winners, they should send the originals of their works to the Embassy of Hungary until 25th of September.

Azerbaijan Cinematographers Union has announced a screenwriting contest for a feature film "Karabakh. Man. Victory".

The contest was announced taking into account the positive role of cinema in spreading the realities of the Karabakh war and the importance of displaying human tragedies.

To participate in the competition, send your script  in electronic form on a CD-ROM and in a printed version  (Courier New font, size 12)until November 15 to the office of Cinematographers Union. The rights to the script must belong to the author. Scripts must be original and unscreened.

The winners will be awarded with diplomas and cash prizes. The author of the best script will receive 5,000 AZN. Two incentive prize winners will get 2,500 AZN. The best script will be presented to the Ministry of Culture. 

Every year, music lovers from all over the world flock to the Caspian Sea shore to enjoy spectacular shows at Zhara Music Festival. One of the most long-awaited summer festivals offers an unforgettable experience for everyone.

Russia's First Channel will present the festival's most spectacular performances on August 14. The show will be aired at 21:30 (Moscow time). 

Zhara Music Festival in Baku 2020 was postponed amid COVID-19 pandemic. The list of celebrities will remain the same. All tickets purchased this year will be valid next year! No additional fees will be required, even if the price increases in 2021.The festival will take place from July 28 to 1 August, 2021.

Zhara Music Festival is co-organized by People's Artist of Azerbaijan Emin Agalarov, Honored Artist of Russia Grigory Leps, founder of Russkoye Radio and Zolotoy Grammofon Award Sergei Kozhevnikov.

More than 200 singers and bands like Chingiz Mustafayev, Monatik, Philipp Kirkorov, A’Studio, Vera Brezhneva, Bosson, Rita Dakota, Dmitry Matatov, Glyuk’oza, Nikolay Baskov, Kristina Orbakaite, Burito, Aleksandr Panayotov, Ani Lorak and others took part in the last year’s festival.

Azerbaijani film director Shamil Aliyev has been invited as a member of the jury to the 7th Art Independent International Film Festival in India. 

The festival has already accepted a group of entries which will be evaluated by the jury members which include Bouhaik Yassin (France), R. Sarath (India), Suresh Unnithan (India) and the festival's artistic director Venu Nair (India).

The 7th Art Independent International Film Festival is an international live screening monthly film festival aimed at promotion of filmmakers. 

Every month, the selected works will be screened and the winners will be awarded a digital laurel, certificate and trophy. The best film of every month from July 2020 to July 2021 will be automatically nominated for the prestigious Golden Conch Award.

This year is especially successful for Shamil Aliyev as his film "The Steppe Man" continues to enjoy a global success. The film was named best at Rome International Movie Awards 2020. 

The film also won prizes in several nominations at Falcon International Film Festival (UK), Rosebud International Film Festival (India), Panjim International Film Festival (India), World Film Carnival (Singapore), Twilight Tokyo Film Festival (Japan),Vesuvius International Monthly Film Festival 2020 (Italy), etc. 

"The Steppe Man" tells a story of a young steppe man who lives in remoteness from the city, closely tied to nature. His father teaches him the subtleties of life in the steppe. Soon after his father's death the young man meets a girl from a city. Their meeting becomes a new page in his life, a step to a big life unfamiliar to him before.

"Creative Azerbaijan" online portal has launched a new project to support local artists during coronavirus pandemic.

The of talented artists are put up for sale on the portal's social network.

The art buyers will be awarded with the Cultural Ministry's special diploma of appreciation after the end of quarantine restrictions.

The online portal has already presented incredible paintings of Farida Garayeva. 

Farida Garayeva graduated from the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts. 

She has taken part in many group exhibitions, plein airs and festivals. 

In 2014, she won the first place in the carpet weaving competition "Nakhish" held by the Youth Foundation under the President of Azerbaijan.

The artist successfully participated in the 5th International Symposium on Azerbaijani Carpets. Her personal exhibition opened at Art Tower Gallery as part of the traditional Festival of Decorative and Applied Arts 2018.

"Creative Azerbaijan" is a web portal, created for the Ministry of Culture to promote the country's rich cultural heritage. 

The web portal features various news, information about events, companies and individuals working in the field of the creative industry.