Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — In 2025, the historic city of Bukhara will host the inaugural Bukhara Biennale, poised to become one of the most significant cultural initiatives in Central Asia. This unique event will bring together artists and craftsmen from around the world for dialogue, creativity, and idea exchange in the heart of Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage.

On 3 September 2024, Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan announced details of the Bukhara Biennale, a new immersive cultural event set to begin on September 5, 2025, in Bukhara, a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art.

Curated by Artistic Director Diana Campbell, the Biennale will debut with the exhibition "Recipes for Broken Hearts" — a 10-week interdisciplinary event covering visual arts, culinary arts, fine arts, textiles, crafts, music, dance, and architecture. The event will serve as a platform to showcase the work of Uzbek artists and craftsmen, some of whom will collaborate with internationally recognized masters.

Wael Al Awar, Creative Director of Architecture for the Bukhara Biennale 2025 and architect of the city’s revamped historic district, comments: “The historic center of Bukhara and its collection of architectural landmarks tell the story of a city that has absorbed innovations from around the world over centuries to create something new and unique. In its updated form, which will be presented at the Biennale, this historic district will become a meeting place for visitors from Uzbekistan and beyond to engage with the history and culture of this remarkable place.”

The first Biennale, curated by Diana Campbell and Creative Director of Architecture Wael Al Awar, will take place at sites including the Fayzulla Khodjaev House Museum, Mir-i Arab Madrasa, Magoki-Attari Mosque, Kalyan Minaret, and the Olimjon Caravanserai.

The theme of the inaugural edition — “Recipes for Broken Hearts” — explores the healing power of art and culture through community participation. It is based on the legend of how a recipe for pilaf, a key Uzbek dish, was created by Ibn Sina to heal a prince’s broken heart. The program will emphasize the importance of shared experiences and collective healing, fostering connections between local and international artists and craftsmen.

“We are excited to welcome creative individuals, thinkers, and guests from around the world to Uzbekistan, inviting them to immerse themselves in our vibrant culture and rich heritage. Building on the Fund’s extensive work to promote Uzbek artists, designers, and craftsmen abroad, we are proud to host a major international biennale for the first time in our country. Bukhara, which has been a global center for trade, art, crafts, and science for centuries, is now a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art. With its rich past and optimistic future, it is the perfect place to launch a new international platform for interdisciplinary and intercultural exchange,” says Gayané Umerova, Commissioner of the Bukhara Biennale and Chair of the Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan.

The initiative is spearheaded by the Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan, which is dedicated to promoting and preserving Uzbek art and culture through national and international initiatives, including the restoration of heritage sites in Uzbekistan, the creation of artist-focused spaces, and collaborations with museums and institutions globally.