Museums of Kyrgyzstan: Cultural Policy and Local Practices

Authors: Baktygul Kapalova, Baktygul Midinova

Abstract:

This research report is focused on the analysis of current trends in the Museum Development in Kyrgyzstan. Based on field data, the processes of implementing cultural policy in museum spaces, as well as the interests and needs of museum specialists in the field, are described in detail. The report answers questions about how museums in Kyrgyzstan are responding to the challenges of a rapidly changing world, how museums explore and preserve local history.

The report may be of interest to museum specialists, ministries, researchers, as well as anyone interested in preserving the cultural and historical heritage of Kyrgyzstan.

The research leading to this report was led by UCA Research Fellow Altyn Kapalova as part of the Central Asian Museums Development Programme of the Cultural Heritage and Humanities Unit of the UCA’s Graduate School of Development.

Key words: cultural policy, museum business, museums, museology.

Author information:

Baktygul Kapalova, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Researcher, museum specialist, author of museum educational projects, curator of museum exhibitions, translator. She graduated from the Bishkek Humanitarian University (1996), and did postgraduate studies at the Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnology. B. Dzhamgerchinov at the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic (2011).

Baktygul Midinova, Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Director of the Osh Regional Museum of Fine Arts. T. Sadykova. Member of the International Council of Museums ICOM. In 2019, she received a master's degree in cultural studies from the National Research University Higher School of Economics (Moscow, Russia). In 2008 she graduated from the Kyrgyz State University named after. I. Arabaev, Institute of History and Socio-Legal Education, specialization in history.