A new creative space was presented in Almaty on the Day of the City
The creative hub, which includes the Museum of Modern Art, a park area, a creative quarter and a ballet theater under construction, will become a new place of attraction for the citizens and guests of Almaty. The presentation of the projects took place within the framework of the City Day.
Akim of Almaty Bakhytzhan Sagintayev got acquainted with the projects. The creation of a unique public space - a park zone - corresponds to the general concept of the development of the metropolis as a "Green City" and the creation of recreational areas for residents of the metropolis. The existing green fund will be revitalized and green spaces will be planted to transform and decorate the future park. There are no park zones within a radius of 1.5 km from this place at the intersection of Al-Farabi and Nazarbayev avenues.
One of the dominants of this space will be the Almaty Museum of Arts.
The main task of the architects was to create space for exhibitions of various types of art and create a new architectural landmark of Almaty. According to the project, the museum will consist of two intersecting L-shaped buildings, symbolizing mountains and the city, which create an internal closed space and form a connection between the main entrance to the museum from N. Nazarbayev Avenue and the entrance from the side of the new Ballet Theater. This space, reminiscent of a mountain gorge, is the main "artery" of the museum.
The building has a total area of over 10 thousand square meters. m will include halls for temporary and permanent exhibitions, a library, a platform for theatrical performances and concerts, halls for educational programs for children and adults, a cafe, a restaurant, lecture halls and, of course, a professional storage for works of art.
The exhibition halls will meet all the requirements of world museums, which will allow them to host their exhibitions in Almaty. For example, the area of the hall for temporary exhibitions will be 1000 sq. m, and the ceilings are 12 m high, which will allow exhibiting monumental exhibits in it.
The construction of the museum, which is financed by the philanthropist Nurlan Smagulov, will begin in November 2021, and its opening is scheduled for 2023. The basis of the museum's exposition will be the works of Kazakhstani and world art of the 20th century from the personal collection of the patron.
“We are building a museum to give the general public an opportunity to get acquainted with the works of Central Asian, international artists and to popularize contemporary art. I would like to thank the Akimat represented by Bakhy Sagintayev for their support, ”N. Smagulov said.
Along with the Museum of Contemporary Art and the park area, there will be access to the creative quarter, where projects for the development of creative industries will be implemented. There will be residences for art galleries, fashion bureaus, artisan marketplaces, master class venues, events to promote products and services of creative industries and other creative spaces.
Famous architects and designers, art critics and cultural figures took part in the presentation. Among them are the curator of the museum, art critic Meruert Kalieva, architect, designer Zhanna Spooner, curator of the Eurasian Cultural Alliance Olga Veselova, architect, founder of Urban Forum Kazakhstan, Asel Eszhanova, curator of the State Museum of Arts named after A. Kasteeva Ekaterina Reznikova, blogger Beibut Alibekov, architect Nurlan Kamitov, landscape architect Nelly Lapteva, landscape architect Tatyana Antonenko, as well as members of the Council of Creative Industries and creative entrepreneurs.
Architect, founder of Urban Forum Kazakhstan Asel Yerzhanova emphasized the environmental friendliness of the project as an important component of the harmonious development of the metropolis.
“We are engaged in projects all over Kazakhstan, but Almaty is our favorite city. This is a wonderful project of contemporary art that the metropolis needs. Here high environmental standards will be applied during the construction process, which is very important. Environmental trends have been launched, which is great. It is cool that there is a pedestrian road, there is a connection between green areas with the Botanical Garden and further with the Park of the First President, the scale of the green belt has been preserved, ”A. Yerzhanova shared her opinion.
The curator of the "Eurasian Cultural Alliance" Olga Veselova expressed the opinion of representatives of the field of art, for whom a new creative space will be created.
“I am very glad that we will have a new museum of contemporary arts, such an advanced platform in a worthy place in Almaty. We will be the first in Central Asia to create such a project. On behalf of the artistic community engaged in contemporary art, I express my deep gratitude to the city and the patrons for the project, ”O. Veselova noted.
Tatyana Antonenko, President of the Gardening Association of Kazakhstan, expressed her readiness to participate in the development of the project for the park of the creative quarter and at the stage of its implementation as an expert.
"With pleasure, I congratulate everyone on the Day of our city of Almaty and, as a representative of the landscape community, I wanted to focus on creating an expert community at the design stage so that we create competent landscapes", - said T.Antonenko.
Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan, artist Baitursyn Umorbekov noted the timeliness and necessity of the project, since the city is dynamically developing and growing.
“I am very pleased that such a holiday for artists was organized on the day of our city of Almaty. The city is growing and developing, it needs new creative spaces. Today I saw how the squares were restored in Almaty, the fountains are being opened at the NATOB named after Abai and the Museum of Arts named after A. Kasteeva. That is, the history of the city is being restored and preserved. At the same time, parks and creative districts are being created in the city. The city needs such breakthrough projects for the development of the creative direction, this is the great strength of the creative people living here. It is gratifying that they do not forget the venerable artists and give way to the young generation of workers in the fine arts, ”shared B. Umorbekov.
By the way, a number of creative spaces are already operating and under construction in Almaty. As part of the implementation of the Almaty Creative Strategy, the Alatau Creative Hub was opened in December 2020 in the Alatau district. The hub includes a coworking space, 25 free creative circles for children, and a site for master classes. The total number of visitors since the beginning of the year has already reached more than 100 thousand people. It is planned to open a youth center with an emphasis on the art of music Medeu Creative Hub. The construction of DEPO Evolution Park continues, where a platform for the implementation of projects of creative industries will be created.