Uzbekistan
Gunesh Khodjakuli
Culture manager, Tashkent
Gunesh built her career based on theatre projects in a variety of roles and mostly involved in international and regional projects. In 2006 having graduated from Tashkent State Institute of Arts, majoring in Theatre Critic, joined the Swiss Cooperation Office in Uzbekistan.In 2011 was selected as a fellow of the CEC Arts Link Residencies Program. Later on in 2015, was awarded grant for Independent Project. In 2012 gained scholarship for culture management courses KuMa-Competence Center for Culture Managers in Berlin supported by Goethe Institute. As a successful participant of the program was awarded grant by Goethe Institute for personal project “Zarathustra by Nietzsche” with collaboration of German and Uzbek partners.She has extensive experience managing artistic projects, including theatre, dance and performance art, in Germany, Central Asia, Iran, India, The United States and England.
Guzal Sultanova
Westminster International University, Head of Social Engagement Sector, Tashkent
She is a professional musician, opera singer, vocal teacher, project manager. Guzal has over 17 years of experience as an opera singer at The State Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre named after Alisher Navoi, 9 years of experience in WIUT Social Department. Guzal is a developer and organizer of the following projects: “Melodies of Kindness” Charity Concert, “Education for change” charity course; Annual WIUT Art/Photo Exhibition at the Tashkent House of Photography; Annual WIUT Culture week (Talent show, Culture Fair, KVN, Runway show); Annual WIUT video contest; Summer school “Art management” 2017 (coordinator); Organization of Regional Sport Day among universities female staff members.
Husniddin Ato
OXUS Culture, Director, Tashkent
Professional World music expert, musician, Culture and art manager. Press and Documentary photographer. Member of the Artists Union of Uzbekistan.One of consultant of International Music Festivals in Uzbekistan. He has devoted many years to the propagation of traditional, folk music of Uzbekistan. He has devoted many years to the promote of traditional, folk music of Uzbekistan. Author of many new musical experimental projects in Uzbekistan and can claim to be one of the few professional with extensive knowledge of the music heritage in the region. In 2013 he founded OXUS Culture LLC to develop Central Asian culture and art, organize crossroad projects and bund the bridge between east and west trough Central Asia. Also, he is a co-founder or "Central Asian Culture and Arts Network".
Irina Bharat
Ilkhom theatre, Deputy General Manager, Tashkent
Since 2003 till now has been working on the following projects:
Laboratory for young directors of Central Asia – producer, coordinator.
Theater Festival “IlkhomNewDrama” - Festival of contemporary drama of Russia, Israel, Germany, France, USA - producer.
New plays ( “Seven Moons”, “Alone together”, “Roberto Zukko”, “Plus – minus 20”, “Rain behind the wall”, “Tin drum”, “Phaedra”)- producer
2006-2010- The Ilkhom Theatre Award – Chair of the organizing committee
As an International Projects Manager she runs seminars, workshops, lectures of art professionals of Uzbekistan, Russia, USA, Germany, France.
Khasan Salikhov
Youth Theatre of Uzbekistan, Director and actor, Tashkent
Khasan joined the Youth Theatre of Uzbekistan in 2006 when he still studied at the Acting Department of the Tashkent State Institute of Arts. Over twelve years of his career, he played more than 50 roles. In 2009, he studied at the Moscow Summer Theatre School launched by the Theatre Union of Russia. Khasan participated in many theatre festivals in Russia, Korea, Belarus, Moldova, Israel, the Kyrgyz Republic and other countries. In 2015, he and his twin brother Khusan founded the Twins Creative Agency. The Salikhov brothers are authors and directors of popular musical comedies – The Snow Queen and My Tashkent. Since 2018, Khasan has been the director of the Youth Theatre of Uzbekistan.
Madina Badalova
Fund for the Development of Culture and Art under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Head of Education Department, Tashkent
Implemented projects: Summer School "Creative Entrepreneurship" in conjunction with the Garage Museum of Modern Art (Moscow) and MVUT (Tashkent) 2018, curator of educational programs during the preliminary opening of the Center for Contemporary Art in Tashkent, Museum Management Program in conjunction with the British Council and Goldsmith University (UK), Museum Research in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution (USA) as part of the Museum Renovation program, curator of the educational program as part of Samarkand Half Marathon 2019, Brit Project Creative Spark Council in collaboration with People's First 2018-2019 and Queen Margaret University, Creative Spark Project in conjunction with Goldsmith University.
Madina Kassymbayeva
Suzani embroiderer, Tashkent
She has been engaged in embroidery since the 1990s. From 2005 to 2012, she was a professional embroidery trainer at the Tadbirkor Ayol Association of Businesswomen of Uzbekistan. Madina is a member of the Hunarmand Association of Folk Artists, Crafters and Artists and the Creative Association of Artists of Uzbekistan (2016). She won the Best Crafter of the Year award at the Tashabbus 2016 Republican Competition and was awarded the State Shuhrat Medal for her significant contribution to the development of crafts. Madina participated in more than 30 national and regional projects, international festivals and exhibitions. She took part in masterclasses at many international and domestic craft festivals. She’s the only crafter in Uzbekistan who has revived and continues to promote the traditions of the Tashkent school of embroidery. Today, she continues to teach future crafters in traditional embroidery.
Magdalena Kowalewska
Culture Unit in UNESCO Office, consultant, Tashkent
She works on project focus on safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. She is a coordinator of the International Jazz Festival in Uzbekistan. Before her function at UNESCO, Ms Kowalewska was a project manager at Association of Common Europe in Gdańsk (PSWE, Poland), which the main aim was assisting local and regional authorities in the process of development of Pomerania as the most popular tourist regions in Poland. As the member of PSWE cycling team she took part in the following projects: OBIS (Optimising Bike Sharing in European Cities), PRESTO (Promoting Cycling For Everyone As Daily Transport Mode) funded from the IEE programme. Her career and experiences are mostly connected with international cultural and arts project in NGO’s sector. She was a member of the Sejny Teatre which was an extension of the “Borderland of Arts, Cultures and Nations” Foundation in Sejny.
