Minister of Culture and Sports Arystanbek Mukhamediuly reported on the development of culture and sports in 2018 as part of fulfilling the Head of State’s instructions voiced in the program article "Seven Facets" as an effective continuation of the program "Rouhani Zhangyru” and the Address “Growing Welfare of Kazakh Citizens: Increase in Incomes and Quality of Life.”

Starting his speech, Mukhamediuly noted that the outgoing year was rich in events. In general, 2018 was held under the auspices of a large-scale celebration of the 20th anniversary of our capital Astana.

The Head of State in the program article "Seven Facets" noted the need to strengthen measures to promote and systematize the cultural heritage in the international arena. In this direction, the Ministry of Culture and Sports has prepared draft concepts of the encyclopedic park "Uly Dalanyn Uly Esimderi" and a gallery of images of great thinkers, poets and elites of the last century. The collections “Dala Folklorynyn Antologiyasy” and “Uly Dalanyn Kune Saryndary” are being prepared for publication. In addition, the concept of creating the “Museum of Ancient Arts and Technologies” and the project of reconstruction of the ancient settlement Otyrar is being developed.

The minister also spoke about the achievements of the national culture abroad. So, since 2017, the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan launched a large-scale international project “Golden Man Procession in the leading museums of the world.” Exhibitions were held in Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, China, Korea, Poland. The plans for 2019–2020 include museums in the UK, Japan, USA, Georgia, Italy, France, and Austria. The cycle of research films and the production of the animated film “Altyn Adam” is being prepared.

The national art is receiving high international recognition. In November, the Astana Opera Theater, with colossal success, presented a brilliant performance of the opera Abai in the Kazakh language in one of the most prestigious and largest halls of the world — the homeland of the opera in Italy at the Carlo Filice Theater in Genoa. The performance was a resounding success, all tickets were sold out, the theater team received wide international recognition.

“There is an active promotion in theatrical art. At this time, the Astana-Opera ballet troupe is in Italy for 13 performances. It performs with the ballet 'Giselle' and is already on a commercial basis. This is also a very significant step, when our theater troupe has the opportunity to perform at large theater stages on a commercial basis,” the minister said.

Also, the Ministry of Culture and Sports organized a performance by Dimash Kudaibergen Nov. 19, 2018, on the biggest stage in London. It was the first project when a pop singer performed on a big stage. It sold 4,600 tickets. The minister called the victory of our compatriot Samal Yeslyamova, who was the first in the entire Soviet and post-Soviet space, to receive the main prize of the Cannes Film Festival for the best actress, as another unique event.

“Samal Yeslyamova won the top prize for the best female role. This is a huge success. None of the post-Soviet countries have yet received such a high award. This award can be equated to the Nobel Prize in art,” said Mukhamediuly. He also said that the film "Aika" is included in the shortlist of Oscar. So, Jan. 3, Samal Yeslyamova flies to Los Angeles.

Mukhamediuly said that in the framework of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Astana, a huge number of events were held. At the same time, the minister stressed that when holding events, Kazakhstani artists have always been a priority. Thus, the International Aitys Competition, the poetic competition “Altyn Dombyra,” the festival “An Men Anshi” and others were held.

For the first time in the resort area of Borovoe, a grandiose production of the legendary national opera “Birzhan-Sara” took place in the open-air format.

“I can proudly say that today theater places are filled very quickly, performances are in great demand. In Astana Opera, all tickets are sold for a month or two. And first of all, tickets for national operas — 'Abai,' 'Birzhan-Sara,' 'Kyz-Zhibek' are redeemed, the minister concluded, noting that the high level of events increases the interest of the people.