NEWS

There is something special about museums. They are a place where time stops, plunging you in the magnificent world of art. All these beautiful moments spent at this art temple stay with you forever.

Azerbaijan National Art Museum has launched a new campaign to capture these wonderful memories.

Museum lovers are invited to share their most memorable moments at the museum, under the hashtag #incəsənətxatirələri (memories of art).

National Art Museum invites its visitors to share their impressions about works of art, stored at the museum.

Founded in 1937, the National Art Museum consists of two buildings standing next to each other.

Over 3,000 items in 60 rooms are on permanent display at the museum. Moreover, about 12,000 items are kept in storage.

Art connoisseurs have a chance to enjoy the best examples of decorative-applied arts of Western Europe.

Art works of Italian, French, German and Polish painters are displayed at the museum.

The second edifice built in 1885 houses Eastern art, represented particularly by Persian, Turkish, Chinese and Japanese art.

Russian art is represented by paintings of Karl Briullov, Alexey Venetsianov, Vasily Vereshchagin, Isaac Levitan, Vladimir Makovsky, Valentin Serov, Vladimir Borovikovsky, Vasily Tropinin, Konstantin Korovin and Ivan Shishkin. There are also restored samples of Russian avant-garde.

The works of Azerbaijani artists Mir Mohsun Navvab, Bahruz Kangarli, Tahir Salahov, Azim Azimzade, Salam Salamzade, Vidadi Narimanbeyov, Mikail Abdullayev, Togrul Narimanbeyov and sculptor Omar Eldarov are also kept in the museum halls.

Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum has launched a new project in cooperation with Italian partners.

The museum has strong ties with Italy, where a huge number of rare and ancient Azerbaijani carpets are stored in museums and private collections. 

The museum works closely with famous Italian museums and galleries. As part of this cooperation, scientific research is being carried out on Azerbaijani carpets stored in museums and private collections in Italy, publications are being issued based on the results of this work, and joint exchange exhibitions are being organized.

The Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum has close ties with its Italian friends, including prominent carpet experts, collectors and philanthropists, who are fascinated by the Azerbaijani carpets. Thanks to their contributions, the museum`s collection has been enriched replenished with rare examples of Azerbaijani carpet weaving art. These famous Italian carpet specialists include Alberto Boralevi, Stefano Ionescu, Mirco Cattai, Andrea Cohen, Andrea Pacciani. 

In this regard, the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum shares a series of print and video publications dedicated to Italian partners on social networks. 

The museum presents personalities who contributed to the replenishment of the museum`s collection, as well as  those ones whose carpets are stored at the museum. 

In the following video, prominent carpet art expert, carpet collector Mirko Kattai shares his impressions of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum. Here you can also learn more about the Guba carpet “Hajigaib” donated to the Mirko Kattai Museum. For more information, please visit, the museum`s Facebook.

The ceramic products allow us to gain insight into the economic life and various craft industries in ancient and Middle Ages Azerbaijan. The variety of their types, shapes, and colors, and the complexity of ornaments and narrative scenes, reflect not only the artistic tastes of the local people, but also their religious views, rituals, and mythology. Among the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum’s ceramic products of the Seljuk period, the ceramic fragments with narrative motifs spark interest. An example is a fragment of a dyed ceramic dish from the 12th – 13th centuries from Oren-Gala (Beylagan). Through the constructive and artistic features of this product, folk masters achieved a harmonious combination of content and form. There is a hunting scene featuring a young horseman wearing a characteristic aristocratic costume of the period: A green abe (a coat) and crown. The young man is accompanied by a tamed leopard, a loyal companion of hunters (Inv. No. 1718). Another polychrome glazed dish fragment, found during archaeological excavations in Beylagan, depicts a delightful scene of the ancient game chovgan (a horse polo). The ancient ceramist presents a young rider, sitting upon a horse and holding a chovgan-stick in his hand, against a green backdrop surrounded by plant elements. This dish fragment is a fine art masterpiece of that period and is one of the most outstanding objects in the museum (Inv. No. 1719).

Initiated by the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall, "Gənclərə dəstək" project has joined #evdəqal #gəncləridinlə campaigns, calling for self-isolation amid coronavirus outbreak.

As part of the actions, laureates of international and republican competitions Nargiz Huseynzade, Elmira Dadasheva, Ali Hasanli, Ayten Rustamli and Sevinj Mirzali delighted the listeners with their home performances.

Notably, "Gənclərə dəstək" project aims at discovering and supporting young talents in Azerbaijan.

The project is headed by the director of the State Philharmonic Hall, People's Artist of Azerbaijan Murad Adigozalzade, project coordinator - Ayla Karimova Zaharia.

The concert programs, organized as part of this initiative, address the wide audience with different preferences and tastes. 

Baku Children's Theater has came up with a new initiative. Viewers can watch theater's performances without leaving home.

The plays “House of the Hare", The Magic Flute, "Crooked Eared Hare", "Tea Ceremony" and other will be aired on the theater's social networks until May 5.

Founded in 2001, Baku Children's Theater has successfully presented many artistic performances.

The theater has organized national and international festivals, including the "Our Theatre" festival with the Union of Theatre Workers of Azerbaijan and the Turkic Peoples' Theatre in collaboration with Turkish performers. 

It also successfully cooperates with relevant international organizations including International Committee of the Red Cross and the Office of the Council of Europe.

In November 2009, a theater studio for children with special needs in Baku Children's Theater was established.

The theater studio performed within the framework of the 4th National Festival of Contemporary Performances of Children's and Youth with Disabilities which was held in Azerbaijan at the 2nd International Youth Festival for People with Disabilities in Moscow, where it was awarded a diploma.

The weather will be changeable cloudy, occasionally gloomy, and mainly rainless in Baku and Absheron peninsula on April 3, Report says citing the National Hydrometeorology Department of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.

Mild north-west wind will be replaced with the north-east wind. The temperature on the Absheron peninsula will be +6 0+9 C at night, +12 to +15 C in the daytime. In Baku, + 7 to +9 at night, +13 to +15 C in the day. Atmospheric pressure will rise from 760 mm. to 764 mm. The relative humidity will make up 75-85 %at night and 50-55%in the daytime.

In the country’s regions, the weather will occasionally be rainy and snowy in mountainous places. It will be foggy in some places at night and in the morning. West wind will intensify in some areas, be replaced with the east wind in the daytime.

The temperature will be +5 to +10 C at night, +15 to +20 C in the daytime, in the mountains from -2 C to +3 C at night, +5 to +10 C in the daytime.

Azerbaijan National Library is temporarily closed to prevent the spread of COVİD-19.

Despite the temporary building closure, the library will continue to provide the maximum level of services and informational resources through online.

The following online services are active for readers: bibliographic survey; ordering documents and electronic delivery; virtual exhibition; methodical service (for libraries). In a virtual library, readers  have access to thousands of electronic resources.

The Mirza Fatali Akhundov National Library is a central state library of Azerbaijan. The library`s faсades feature the statues of eminent poets and writers like Nizami Ganjavi, Mahsati Ganjavi, Uzeyir Hajibeyov, Shota Rustaveli, Alexander Pushkin and several others.

Founded in 1922, the library houses books, printed materials, newspapers, maps, dissertations and various records.

The hall has been provided with alphabetical catalogs of the books in different languages. The rare books, as well as the books about Azerbaijan covering the period until 1920 are stored in the rare book and library museum.

Azerbaijan's talented violinist Elvin Hoxha Ganiyev has successfully performed a home-concert as part of #senetinledestekle (support art), #evdeqal (stay at home) campaigns, calling for self-isolation due to coronavirus pandemic.

The concert featured works of such great composers as Johann Sebastian Bach, Niccolo Paganini and Jules Massenet. The performance of young musician aroused great interest among viewers. 

Elvin Hoxha Ganiyev has successfully participated in many competitions and festivals. His name is included in the Golden Book of Azerbaijan's young talents.

The musician was born in Ankara in a musical family. Elvin started playing violin, when he was 5 years old, and when he was 6 years he was sufficiently proficient to join the Music Preparatory Primary School at the Bilkent University. At the age of eight, he gave his first orchestral concert with his grandfather, famous conductor and violin player, Server Ganiyev.

In 2005, Elvin became a member of Cihat Askın and Young Friends (CAKA) and in 2006 he was awarded 1st prize in the International Classical Culture Heritage competition in Moscow.

The musician has performed with renowned conductors, such as Zubin Mehta, Yuri Bashmet, Vladimir Fedoseyev, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Zakhar Bron, Sasha Goetzel, Gürer Aykal, Rauf Abdullayev, Server Ganiyev, Rengim Gokmen, Naci Ozguuc, Valery Vorona, Klaus Weise, Placido Domingo ,Erol Erdinc, Jules van Hessen, Ender Sakpınar, Nikolay Lalov, and David Bernard. He has worked with masters, such as Zakhar Bron,Vadim Repin, Maxim Vengerov, Ivri Gitlis, Cihat Aşkın, Fazıl Say, Viktor Pikayzen, Yusif  Eyvazov, and Güher-Süher Pekinel.

The talented violinist is the winner of different international festivals, including the 11th International Young Violinist Competition after Wieniawski and Lipinski (Poland), International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians (Switzerland), "Classical Heritage" International Competition (Russia), etc.

He has received many honours and awards,  including a medal from the Pope.

In 2018, Elvin Hoxha Ganiyev was presented with the certificate and badge of the honorary title of the Honoured Artist of Azerbaijan.

The musician was awarded with the title of Honoured Artist  for his merits in the development of Azerbaijani culture.

Still sad that Eurovision 2020 is cancelled? Then leave all your worries behind!

Music lovers have a chance to enjoy a spectacular show on May 16, the contest’s official website reported.

"Sadly there will be no Eurovision Song Contest this year. Instead, we intend to unite Europe on 16 May with a unique prime-time TV programme. We are encouraging all broadcasters who were due to take part in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, and EBU Members in other countries, to air this show in the spirit of unity and togetherness," said Jon Ola Sand, Executive Executive Supervisor of the contest.

Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light will feature 41 songs from the countries that announced their intention to compete in 2020 as well as participants from previous years.

The show is expected to run for two hours. The full list of singers and broadcasters will be revealed in the coming weeks. It is already announced that Eurovision’s YouTube channel will live stream the show.

Notably, Eurovision Song Contest 2020 has been cancelled over coronavirus for the first time in 64 years in the contest's history. The event was due to take place in Rotterdam on May 12-16.

"Over the past few weeks, we have explored many alternative options to allow the Eurovision Song Contest to go ahead. However, the uncertainty created by the spread of COVID-19 throughout Europe – and the restrictions put in place by the governments of the participating broadcasters and the Dutch authorities - means the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has taken the difficult decision to not continue with the live event as planned. The health of artists, staff, fans and visitors, as well as the situation in the Netherlands, Europe and the world, is at the heart of this decision," the message said.

Samirara Efendi, who supposed to represent Azerbaijan at Eurovision 2020,  shared her thoughts about the situation.

"In view of the current situation with COVID-19 Eurovision 2020 had to be rescheduled to the next year. I will keep you posted on updates as they come in. Thank you for your support and stay tuned!," she said.

Azerbaijan officially confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2020 on September 16, 2019.

Samirara Efendi had to represent Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song "Cleopatra", written by Luuk van Beers, Alan Roy Scott and Sarah Lake.

The singer was selected based on the votes of an international group of musical experts.

The 28-year-old Samira has taken part in the popular musical projects, such as "The New Star", "The Big Stage" and "The Voice of Azerbaijan".  In 2017, she performed at the Silk Way Star, an international singing competition aired in Kazakhstan (3rd place). Last year, the singer successfully represented Azerbaijan at the Voice of Nur-Sultan. 

Azerbaijan debuted at Eurovision Song Contest in 2008 after the Azerbaijani television channel ITV joined the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and received the official right to broadcast the competition. 

Azerbaijan marked its debut in 2008 with the duo of Elnur and Samir, who managed to become eighth in the final with their song "Day after day".

The brilliant duet of Aysel and Arash, which represented Azerbaijan next year, took the third place at the song contest, while Safura Alizada, who represented the country at Eurovision 2010 in Oslo, became fifth.

On its fourth attempt with Ell and Nikki's "Running Scared" song, the Land of Fire won the event, bringing the contest to Baku’s Crystal Hall in 2012. Ell and Nikki were the first mixed-gender duo to win the contest since 1963 and the first winners from Azerbaijan.

It is noteworthy that Azerbaijan reached the Top 5 in five consecutive contests - 3rd in 2009, 5th in 2010, 1st in 2011, 4th in 2012, and 2nd in 2013.

In 2018, Aysel Mammadova brilliantly performed at Eurovision 2018 semi-final, but she couldn't make it to the final. The singer represented Azerbaijan with the song "X My Heart".

Azerbaijan's Chingiz Mustafayev impressed all Eurovision fans with his stunning performance last year.  The singer finished in the eighth place at the song contest.

Icherisheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve invites you to join a new challenge to support the older generation amid coronavirus pandemic.

As the virus can be especially dangerous for old people, it is they who most of all need your love and support.

To participate in the challenge, all you need is to post the photo of one of your parents or grandparents with the following hashtags: #evdeqal #valideynleriqoru.

Tell shortly about your parents, how they are getting through these hard times and how they inspire you. Nominate and tag minimum five friends to continue the challenge on Instagram and Facebook.

Notably, all challenge participants should follow @icherisheher_living_history, @icherisheher_museum_center.

People who has the most-liked posts will receive special gifts from souvenir shops of Icherisheher Museum Center.

As COVID-19 spreads across the world, Azerbaijan has taken a number of measures to protect public health.

All citizens are required to observe the self-isolation measures and strictly follow the special quarantine regime.

Take care of your parents and loved ones!