Creative Collaborations programme grantees

Allvalidation festival by Action Literally

Allvalidation is a festival that affirms everyone’s right to self-expression, regardless of their abilities or characteristics. The programme included a dramaturgical laboratory and several public events, such as the round table discussion with experts on inclusive society development in Kazakhstan and a public performance showcasing the laboratory’s outcomes. The artistic director of the Welsh theatre company Dirty Protest, Catherine Pascal, led the laboratory, with programme curation by educators from the Action Literally laboratory in Almaty: Elena Vovnova, Katya Dzvonik, Olga Malysheva and Eliza Molchanova.

Event dates: 15–20 February 2025

Event photos are available on our Flickr account.

Qyzqaras film festival

Qyzqaras hosted a women’s film festival, showcasing a selection of previous works alongside new films from an expanded geographical scope, including the UK and Central Asian countries. A special section was dedicated to feature films by UK-based female directors. The festival featured lectures on the historical role of women in cinema, the female gaze and contemporary female filmmakers by Laura Mulvey. An integral part of the festival was a pitching session for emerging Kazakhstan-based female filmmakers to support the creation of their first or second short films. This initiative aims to empower local female directors and contribute to the diversification of Kazakhstan’s film industry.

Event dates: 16–21 August 2024

Event photos are available on our Flickr account.

Bölme School

Bölme is a non-commercial multidisciplinary school for aspiring artists and architects that combines local and foreign academic approaches in art and architecture. It aims to adapt young professionals and beginners to the demands of the contemporary local context and to create an inspiring and supportive professional environment where experiments and innovations are possible.

Event dates: 10 June – 2 August 2024

Event photos are available on our Flickr account.

Groove Me Festival

Groove Me is a festival dedicated to fostering cross-cultural musical collaborations. An outdoor festival features performances by UK-based artists WheelUP and Afronaut (Orin Walters), along with a studio session with The Magic of Nomads to create new music. The event attracted over 750 visitors.

Event dates: 8 June 2024

Event photos are available on our Flickr account.

Sounds of Space: Revelation through Touch

Sounds of Space: Revelation through Touch is a project exploring the accessibility of art for all, particularly for visually impaired individuals. It introduced tactile avant-garde objects made from ceramics, allowing participants to engage with art through touch. The project also incorporated music as a guide to the sensory world of the visually impaired, culminating in the creation of the track White Space. Inspired by the music, participants translated their impressions onto canvases designed in the Suprematist style. The exhibition featured 15 tactile art objects, including 10 flat paintings, 15 sculptures and 13 paintings created by blind participants, drawing 80 attendees at the opening and 300 visitors overall. The programme also included two lectures with a museum curator and a music teacher, alongside a video documenting the creative process and participants’ reflections.

Event dates: 7 June 2024

Event photos are available on our Flickr account.

Five Films For Freedom at bULt

As part of the British Council’s Five Films For Freedom festival, the project featured film screenings, a panel discussion and a party with London-based DJ and visual artist LCY. The discussion, moderated by filmmaker Malika Mukhamadzhan, explored the intersection of art, activism and LGBTQIA+ issues, with LCY sharing their global experiences. At the bULt party, LCY’s experimental DJ set introduced the audience to their distinctive sound. Founder of the SZNS7N label, LCY has collaborated with boundary-pushing artists and performed at major festivals and clubs, including Unsound, Glastonbury, Fabric and La Machine du Moulin Rouge.

Event dates: 21–22 March 2024

üi küiı by Qazaq Indie and Tolk

üi küiı is a project designed to pause, listen, describe, record and express – using music and sound as ancient conduits to unseen worlds and unreachable perceptions. Hosted at the 101 Dump Gallery, the project featured a lecture series and film screening that explored Turkic culture, focusing on the role of music and the nomadic concept of ‘home’. Experts, including a musicologist and historian, led discussions, followed by a screening of a documentary on Inuit artist Tanya Tagaq. The programme concluded with performances by the supergroup Qazaq Indie and Galya Bisengalieva, a soloist with the London Contemporary Orchestra. The event was fully booked, drawing an audience of 150 attendees.

Event dates: 9–10 March and 23 March 2024

Event photos are available on our Flickr account.

ZVUK music event

This project explored the intersection of two niche cultures: UK’s grime music – a voice of marginalised communities – and modern Kazakh akyns, improvisational poets who document Kazakh society through their craft. The event brought together grime artists Kahn (DJ/producer) and MC Strategy from Bristol and Manchester with Kazakh performers U Edige and MC Tobe, creating a dynamic cultural exchange. A special collaborative set between Kahn and Tobemde blurred boundaries between performers and audience, deepening the immersive experience. Techno music was presented by local artists and ZVUK residents: Nazira, Kokonja and Mariya El.

Event dates: 8 March 2024

Event photos are available on our Flickr account.