Developing cultural links with European countries, the Fund Forum accords special attention to the broadening of a cultural dialog between Uzbekistan and Spain. Several culture and art professionals, artists, musicians and celebrities from Spain have attended events organized by the Fund Forum.
The youth in Uzbekistan have been showing a keen interest in learning Spanish. With this in mind, the Fund Forum is working actively to promote not only Spanish culture, but also the Spanish language. The first step in this direction was the establishment of free Spanish language courses at “Kelajak lingvo” Language Center set up at the initiative of the activists of Kelajak ovozi (Voice of the future) Youth Initiative Center. With an eye to further improving Spanish language courses, the Fund Forum is setting up collaborative ties with organizations such as Cervantes Institute and the Autonomous University of Madrid, which have shown an interest in developing the study of Spanish in Uzbekistan.
Moreover, the Fund Forum is planning to sign memorandums of understanding with these organizations in an effort to strengthen and further boost cultural links with Spain and organize a series of joint events representing Uzbek and Spanish culture.
In 2010, the Fund Forum`s Madrid representative office was opened.
Major events
In 2007, the 4th International Biennale included an exhibition of video installations by the Spanish artist David Marotto.
In October 2008, the legendary Spanish singer Julio Iglesias gave a concert in Tashkent on the opening day of Style.uz Fashion and Art Week.
In May 2009, “Asrlar Sadosi” Festival of Traditional Culture which was held in Tashkent region was attended by a representative of the Spanish company ASAP Luis Gibert.
In October 2009, Style.uz Fashion and Art Week was attended by Spanish Catalan operatic singer Montserrat Caballé.
In October 2009, Tashkent hosted the fifth International Biennale of Contemporary Art involving over 100 artists from across the world. Among the Spanish guests were artist Carolina Piris and a Professor of Valencia University Maria-Teresia Biguristein, who was a member of the international jury for the project.
In March 2010, Casa Asia, a public institution dedicated to raising awareness among the people of Asia, the Pacific and Spain in all spheres, visited Tashkent and met with representatives of the Fund Forum.
On March 24-28, 2010, representatives of “EUROPA DONNA-Uzbekistan” participated in an International Breast Cancer Conference in Barcelona.
In May 2010, Eva Soms Bach of Casa Asia, Ignasi Miro Borras, the director of Caixa Foundation’s cultural department, and Isabel Salgado Gispert, deputy director of the department, attended Asrlar Sadosi Festival of Traditional Culture organized by the Fund Forum. These visits resulted in agreements concerning collaboration in science, culture and education. The Fund Forum is also working actively to further collaboration with other Spanish organizations.
From January 19 to January 23, 2011, “Kelajak-Tour” Bureau for International Youth Tourism and Cooperation participated in FITUR 2011 International Tourism Fair held in Madrid, the capital of Spain.
On March 18-19, 2011, Spanish cultural organization Casa Asia, together with the embassies and cultural associations of Central Asian countries, organized a celebration of Navruz, one of the most ancient festivals, with the Uzbek Embassy and the Fund Forum among the organizers.
On April 12, 2011, Madrid hosted Uzbek Culture Evening “Samarkand: Silk Road Rarities” organized by the Fund Forum and the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Madrid with support from Repsol company.
On May 1, 2011, prominent Spanish actress Irene Visedo attended “Asrlar sadosi” (Echo of Centuries) Festival of Traditional Culture in Bukhara. Visedo was among the invitees to the roundtable “Film festivals - a phenomenon of contemporary global culture” which was held as part of the Festival as a run-up to the First Tashkent International Festival of Contemporary Cinema.
On June 30 – July 1, 2011, the Fund Forum`s representative office in Spain gave a presentation on the project “Support of Women Farmers and Entrepreneurs” as part of a series of business seminars in Madrid and Barcelona organized by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Spain in partnership with the two cities` Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The participants of the business seminars in Madrid and Barcelona were provided with detailed information on the project.
The Fund Forum is also working actively to set up development with other organizations in Spain.
Cooperation with public organizations in Spain
