The Korean Arts Council (ARKO) and the Uzbekistan Arts Development Foundation (ACDF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on September 5 at the CCA Tashkent in Uzbekistan to enhance cultural and artistic cooperation between the two countries.
The two organizations will collaborate over the next three years to promote exchanges among artists, art professionals, and institutions, enhance mutual understanding, develop professional skills, share cultural policies and best practices, and implement joint projects involving key art institutions, including the CCA Tashkent.
Established in 2017, ACDF is an agency under the Presidential Administration responsible for planning Uzbekistan's cultural policies and international cultural exchanges. It hosted the first international biennale in Central Asia, the Bukhara Biennale, in 2025, attracting over 1.8 million visitors, and has collaborated with more than 40 international cultural institutions, including the Louvre and the British Museum.
ARKO Chairman Lee Beom-hun stated, “This agreement is a significant milestone in our 'Global South Initiative' and an opportunity to expand cultural exchanges focused on Asia. We aim to build a deep network among artists from both countries and establish a sustainable model for cultural exchange in the Asian region.”
ACDF Chairwoman Gayane Umerova remarked, “Korea has a long-standing cultural connection with Uzbekistan. I hope this agreement serves as a practical avenue for artists and institutions from both countries to learn from each other.”
Umerova officially invited Lee to the opening ceremony of the CCA Tashkent, and the two leaders visited the CCA Tashkent residency space and Samarkand, a historic center of the Silk Road, to explore potential collaboration sites for artists from both nations.
This agreement was facilitated by ARKO's 'Asia to Asia' forum held in July, where representatives from four Asian countries, including ACDF, the Thailand Cultural Affairs Department, the Lahore Biennale Foundation in Pakistan, and the Serendipity Arts Foundation in India, gathered in Seoul to discuss expanding expert exchanges, residencies, and joint funding for creative projects.
Uzbekistan is home to the largest population of ethnic Koreans in Central Asia, who have maintained their unique culture since being forcibly relocated from the Russian Far East in 1937. The historical intersection of these two cultures at the crossroads of the Silk Road underscores the importance of placing “mutual cultural understanding” at the forefront of this collaboration.
Last year, Korean artists such as Jeong Kwan, Choi Yoon, and Daria Kim participated in the inaugural Bukhara Biennale, addressing the historical wounds and identity of the Korean diaspora with the theme of 'healing,' garnering attention from the global art community.
Meanwhile, ARKO is actively supporting international exchanges for Korean artists, including the 'Global Connect' event held in Montreal, Canada, from August 23 to 30.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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