“Sharq Taronalari” is recognized as one of Central Asia’s biggest festivals. Its primary goals are to showcase national musical achievements to a broader audience, preserve and enrich cultural traditions, support young talents in music and singing, and foster international creative connections, all while promoting peace, friendship, and mutual tolerance.

The Festival contributes to the preservation and development of the age-old traditions of the art of Khorazm dance ‘Lazgi’, strengthening the bonds of friendship and brotherhood between peoples through dance art, further expanding the scope of creative cooperation and cultural ties at the international level.
The programme includes organization of scientific, educational and cultural events devoted to promotion and safeguarding of dance art and its transmission.

The ballet performance Lazgi will be held at the State Academic Bolshoi Theater named after Alisher Navoi with participation of the world-wide renowned ballet master and choreographer Raul Raimondo Rebeck. Lazgi being one of the most popular dance styles in Uzbekistan and abroad, has been inscribed on the representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2019. The ballet performance Lazgi will contain the elements of the national dance and contemporary ballet choreography. Some folk stories will be staged in the ballet performance.

The main objective of the International Handicrafts Festival is to safeguard and support the diversity of craftsmanship. The Festival contributes to the implementation of the UNESCO 2003 Convention, in particular, through a public-private partnership in order to preserve the craftsmanship and transmit it to future generations.

‘Sharq Taronalari’ International Biennial Music Festival in Samarkand was initiated by the Government of Uzbekistan in 1997. The programme of the Festival included contests of traditional music performers from more than 60 countries. The performing art is judged by an international jury made up of musicologists, art directors and managers of international festivals. The International Scientific Conference on the ‘Protection of the Tangible and Intangible Heritage: Challenges and Future Strategy’ focuses on the following (1:) preserving urban landscapes of the historical cities, (2) encouraging creativity of ICH bearers in traditional music arts, (3) promoting traditional methods of transmitting music art to younger generations, (4) developing creative dialogue among local municipalities and communities in the field of the protection of tangible heritage and ICH safeguarding.

The Bakhshi Art International Festival was initiated with the main following objectives; safeguard storytelling oral traditions, promote intercultural dialogue, preserve and develop cultural diversity through supporting creativity. The programme of the Festival includes organization of scientific, educational and cultural events devoted to the manifestation and safeguarding of bakhshi art (epic storytelling) and its transmission to future generations.

The main objective of the Forum is to promote the safeguarding of diversity of the maqom art traditional performances worldwide. The expected outcomes of the Forum are raising broad public awareness on maqom-related traditional culture within a contemporary context, transmitting maqom art culture to the young generations, supporting diversity and creativity of maqom music performances, developing further academic studies and publications on maqom music traditions, encouraging the creation of maqom learning traditional schools for ICH bearers (master-apprentice), world-wide networking between ICH bearers and scholars. Starting from 2018, Maqom Art International Forum (hereinafter referred to as the Forum) will be organized biennially in Shakhrisyabz in September. The Forum will be supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Academy of Arts of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the municipality of Shakhrisyabz, local NGO’s and organisations from the private sector.The Forum will include the following events: (1)a Scientific Conference “Maqom Music Art in Contemporary Context” in cooperation with Maqam Study Group of the International Council of Traditional Music; (2) Master classes on maqom performances of ICH bearers from various countries; (3) a Contest of young performers (vocal and instrumental, solo and group) of maqom musical art; (4) an Exibition of publications and musical instruments related with maqom art; (5) Press-conferences, TV and radio programs with ICH bearers; (6) Maqom poetry meetings. The Government of Uzbekistan will cover local expenses of ICH bearers and maqom groups from foreign countries based on their online registration through www.maqom.uz.