Uniting Youth to Promote Karakalpakstan’s Artistic Heritage

Mukhammed Kaipbergenov, grandson of the renowned Uzbek and Karakalpak writer Tulepbergen Kaipbergenov, was raised in a family deeply committed to national culture and the arts. Inspired by his grandfather’s legacy, Mukhammed has championed the National Museum Named after Igor Savitsky in Nukus and founded the Tulepbergen Kaipbergenov Public Foundation for the Development of Literature and Art, with a mission to advance the cultural heritage of Karakalpakstan.

A pivotal moment for Mukhammed was joining the Central Asian Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA), a key initiative of Eurasia Foundation’s Social Innovation in Central Asia (SICA) program. There, Mukhammed connected with like-minded young people from across Central Asia and accessed resources on project management, fundraising, communications, and advocacy initiatives—all of which would shape his future projects.

In 2023, Mukhammed secured a SICA grant to launch Jańasha Kózqaras (Karakalpak: “New Look”), a project aimed at revitalizing the National Museum Named after Igor Savitsky in Nukus. Often referred to as the “Louvre in the Desert,” the Savitsky Museum holds a unique collection of over 10,000 pieces of Karakalpak, Uzbek, Kazakh, and Turkmen folk art, as well as a vast archaeological collection reaching back to the Bronze Age. The museum is also famous for its rare collection of avant-garde art from the early 20th century, which survived Soviet censorship and now draws international recognition. However, despite its world-class collection and reputation, the Savitsky Museum has struggled to engage local youth.

With Jańasha Kózqaras, Mukhammed sought to form a community of young ambassadors from various regions of Uzbekistan to promote the museum through dynamic and interactive methods. Central to this effort was “Past-Present-Future,” an activity that encouraged participants to deeply explore the museum’s offerings. In the “Past,” they studied the historical context of the museum and its collections; in the “Present,” they analyzed the museum’s current relevance, challenges, and accomplishments; and in the “Future,” they brainstormed creative ways to promote the museum and ensure its lasting influence.

The Jańasha Kózqaras ambassadors, many of whom are young creatives and aspiring artists, participated in immersive excursions, in-depth lectures, and hands-on masterclasses to gain a comprehensive understanding of the museum’s significance. Armed with this knowledge, they initiated their own projects to increase public awareness of the museum, led guided tours, and even contributed to the restoration of exhibits. Together, these efforts made the museum experience more dynamic and accessible to younger generations. The ambassadors also organized five educational events in Tashkent, Nukus, and Namangan in Uzbekistan, and in Ufa, Russia. At these events, ambassadors connected with the Karakalpak diaspora and promoted the Savitsky Museum.

In Tashkent, participants also organized an Art Day that included collage workshops, a screening of The Passion of Igor Savitsky, and a discussion with esteemed filmmaker Ali Khamraev. Meanwhile, in Nukus and Ufa, renowned art historian and director of the State Museum of Oriental Art in Moscow, Tigran Mkrtychev, joined the events online to share his expertise. In Namangan, the group formed a Friends of the Savitsky Museum Club and developed art board- and floor-games, the first of their kind in Uzbekistan. The games are designed to educate players about the museum and its history. To further amplify their impact, the team created a dedicated social media page to document their activities and raise awareness about the museum’s rich cultural heritage.

“Jańasha Kózqaras broadened my perspective on the vibrant art and cultural heritage of Karakalpakstan,” says Shirin Samatova, a project participant and artist. “I met young people from all over Uzbekistan who, like me, are passionate about art and proud of our heritage.”

Building upon the successes of Jańasha Kózqaras, Mukhammed launched the Tulepbergen Kaipbergenov Foundation in honor of his grandfather. In collaboration with Savitsky Museum management and Jańasha Kózqaras participants, the foundation developed recommendations for formally integrating the Jańasha Kózqaras ambassador community into decision-making processes related to art and culture. The foundation then submitted these recommendations to the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, which has shown interest in collaborating with the community to shape future initiatives.

The foundation is also actively engaging with Uzbekistan’s Agency for Cultural Heritage to explore long-term strategies for fostering community growth and sustaining advocacy for the Savitsky Museum. “Our museum’s treasures are more frequently showcased abroad than here in Nukus, where they truly belong. Through this project, we are not only preserving our heritage but bringing it back to the people of Karakalpakstan and Uzbekistan,” observes Mukhammed. “It’s about ensuring that future generations connect with the rich cultural legacy they might not otherwise know much about.”