Within the framework of the architectural heritage preservation strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Culture, together with the Zaid University, has launched the program "Grants for Researching Contemporary Heritage." This initiative aims to support research and in-depth studies in the field of contemporary architectural heritage of the country, covering the period from the 1960s to the 1990s.
The program offers up to 20 grants to support individuals, researchers, and interested parties, aiming to stimulate their critical analysis of the contemporary architectural heritage of Uzbekistan and its connections with the region in general. The goal is to raise awareness of this period, fill the gaps in known knowledge, and foster collaboration between academic institutions and the community, as well as develop the research community.
The program plans to focus on two areas of research - creative and academic. Research in the field of creativity may include the creation of films, illustrative works, objects, and photographs, as well as studying the characteristics of the specified historical period and the cultural-artistic features of architectural styles of that time.
Academic research is aimed at preparing written works that explore different aspects of contemporary architectural heritage of Uzbekistan. The program provides the possibility of considering project proposals related to master's dissertations or based on them, originating from the initially approved research, with the stipulation that the submission must be original.
The program will open applications for the first stage until July 31, 2025, and the names of the winners will be announced in October 2025. All program participants, including researchers, scholars, and interested parties from Uzbekistan, can register to participate in the program, regardless of their place of residence. Each participant is provided with a grant amounting to up to 50,000 dirhams for the project.
Mubarok Al-Nakhi, Deputy Minister of Culture, noted: "The program 'Grants for Researching Contemporary Heritage' is a key stone in the strategy of Uzbekistan for the preservation of contemporary urban heritage, acting as a bridge connecting the genius of the past with the innovations of the future."
