Bishkek, May 20, 2026 /Kabar/. On May 19, the Union of Artists of Kyrgyzstan held its grand opening ceremony for an international exhibition of decorative and applied arts at the Oak Park exhibition hall in Bishkek. The event was part of the international scientific and practical conference "Handicrafts as a Carrier of Cultural Code: National Clothing—the Spirit of Ancestors," the Ministry of Culture, Information, and Youth Policy reported.
The event was organized by the Art Arba public foundation with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation of the CIS Member States. Deputy Minister of Culture Askaraly Madaminov attended the opening, noting the important role of traditional handicrafts in preserving cultural memory, national identity, and spiritual values.
The exhibition features handicrafts by folk artists, national clothing, and examples of decorative and applied arts from the participating countries.
The conference also includes an ethnic music concert, scientific discussions, master classes, exhibitions of folk artists, and an international show of ethnic collections titled "National Clothing—the Spirit of Ancestors."
Representatives from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and several republics of the Russian Federation are taking part in the event.