Inaugural Centre for Contemporary Art Tashkent artist residencies

The Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), an Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) initiative, has launched its inaugural Artist Residencies programme with the appointment of an international selection committee and is now launching an open call for artists and curators.

Until 5 January 2025, artists, writers and researchers are invited to apply for this unique residency programme, running from 3 February – 30 March 2025. Deeply rooted in the Tashkent and wider Uzbek community, the Residencies will run three times a year for eight weeks and will welcome emerging and established artists and curators from around the world—including one Uzbek practitioner in each cohort—to explore, innovate and engage with their surroundings.

Applications for the residencies are now open via the CCA website.  

The Selection Committee includes ceramic artist Alisher Rakhimov (Uzbekistan); associate director of Al Makmad Foundation and founder of Zawiya 97, Ahmad S Angawi (Saudi Arabia); director at Fundación Casa Wabi, Carla Sodi (Mexico); curator, writer and art historian Glenn Adamson (USA); lead curator at design and architecture M+ museum, Ikko Yokoyama (Japan); design patron Pascale Siegrist Mussard (France) and professor of architecture, artist and designer Ronald Rael (USA). The committee members will oversee the review of applications, assess proposals and serve as mentors to the residents.

The residencies are located in the historic Tashkent mahallas – Uzbek for “neighbourhoods”– of Namuna and Khast Imom, in newly restored heritage sites conceptualised by world-renowned French architecture firm Studio KO. In the Namuna mahalla, the Foundation worked with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture on the restoration of the mosque and madrasah (school), which was carried out by local builders, carpenters, and masons with a focus on mentorship and passing skills to a younger generation of craftsmen. The historic mosque in Namuna will become an exhibition space, while a new building designed by Studio KO houses a production studio equipped with new equipment to host workshops for residents and local participants and a café. The living quarters for residents feature 300-year-old bricks, some original and others sustainably sourced from Bukhara for the project. In a third location situated between the two sites, the ayvan - a terrace – once a community gathering spot, has also been restored as part of the revitalisation efforts and will host a tea house and a traditional tandyr stove for baking bread and samsa pies. The local mahalla community offers daily prayers and blessings for the space.

Designed to encourage connections between local and international artists, designers, and researchers, the Artist Residencies facilitate collaborations with skilled artisans from Uzbekistan and provide opportunities to foster and nurture relationships within the local community. The Residencies are also key to engaging the local community of Tashkent, encouraging them to explore opportunities in art and to reconnect with the rich cultural history of Uzbekistan.

The Namuna mahalla site, once a madrasah, will continue its educational tradition and accommodate up to four residents working in contemporary art, design, crafts, architecture, culinary arts, moving pictures, or sound art. Meanwhile, the tranquil Khast Imom mahalla—a former kindergarten—will be dedicated to one to two researchers, curators or writers, and will house Central Asia’s first curatorial library. It will offer residents a selection of publications on art, culture, art history, textiles, and crafts from Uzbekistan and around the world

The Artist Residencies mark an important step in the CCA’s broader mission to develop Tashkent into a meeting point for local, regional, and global art practitioners. Housed in a former 1912 diesel station and tram depot, the CCA is undergoing a major renovation by Studio KO and is set to open in 2025. The refreshed space will become a cultural centre for the region, playing an active role in fostering interdisciplinary contemporary practices, supporting cultural production, and celebrating Uzbekistan’s heritage through artist residencies, exhibitions, and a vibrant and engaged programme of activities.

Gayane Umerova, chairperson of the ACDF, says: “The launch of these Artist Residencies marks a significant milestone in ACDF’s mission to preserve, promote and nourish Uzbekistan's cultural landscape. By fostering cross-cultural collaborations, we are creating a vibrant and sustainable ecosystem that will benefit our community and create a meaningful artistic dialogue. We look forward to seeing the works that will emerge from this inaugural residency, showcasing our country’s heritage and contemporary creativity on the global stage.”

Alisher Rakhimov, ceramic artist and member of the Selection Committee says: “I am honoured to be a part of the inaugural Artist Residencies programme at the Centre for Contemporary Art in Tashkent. This is a very exciting time creatively for my country – with programmes like this residency, Tashkent is once again a point of cultural convergence fostering an environment where local and international talents can collaborate and thrive.”

Glenn Adamson, curator, writer, art historian and member of the Selection Committee says: “This residency programme is an excellent and timely opportunity to bridge cultures and disciplines through art. It has been a pleasure getting to know more about the amazing artistic talent in Uzbekistan and I look forward to supporting artists and curators as they explore and contribute to the rich tapestry of Uzbekistan's cultural heritage and contemporary art scene.”

The Centre for Contemporary Art and its Artist Residencies is one of the initiatives led by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF), which preserves, promotes and nurtures the country’s heritage, arts and culture. Positioned at the forefront of Uzbekistan’s cultural development, ACDF is committed to fostering the cultural ecosystem of the country, driving the creative economy, and providing opportunities for practitioners on a local, regional and global stage. Major projects currently include the construction of the new State Museum of Arts designed by Tadao Ando, the restoration and partial reconstruction of the Palace of the Grand Duke of Romanov, and the 2025 Bukhara Biennial.

Applications for the residencies are open until January 5, 2025, 11:59pm via the CCA website.