The Research Group Visited Tashkent and Bukhara as Part of the Scientific Field Trip within the AP26198511 Project “Integration Potential of Creative Industries in Central Asia: Development of an Assessment Methodology and Implementation Mechanisms”

From 7 to 14 November 2025, the research group of the AP26198511 project “Integration Potential of Creative Industries in Central Asia: Development of an Assessment Methodology and Implementation Mechanisms” undertook a working visit to the cities of Tashkent and Bukhara (Republic of Uzbekistan). The purpose of the trip was to study the infrastructure of creative industries in Uzbekistan, collect primary data, establish partnerships, and build a foundation for further scientific research.

During the field trip, the group visited key cultural and educational organizations, creative spaces, and platforms contributing to the development of the country’s creative economy. In Bukhara, the researchers familiarized themselves with the exhibitions of the Bukhara Biennale of Contemporary Art, which allowed them to capture current artistic trends and international collaborations in the region.

In Tashkent, working meetings were held at the Tashkent International University KIMYO (KIUT), where participants examined educational programmes in the fields of art and design and discussed potential formats of cooperation with the university administration and faculty members. The visit to the Human House gallery provided an opportunity to explore issues of creative entrepreneurship and the functioning of independent art spaces in greater detail.

Additional meetings took place with representatives of Westminster International University in Tashkent and the Uzbek State Institute of Arts and Culture, during which educational projects, approaches to training specialists, and prospects for joint research were discussed. At the Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan, the group received information on state cultural policy, international initiatives, and measures aimed at supporting the creative economy.

The researchers also studied the activities of the MOC Hub production centre, “Uzbekfilm” film studio, East Games GameDev studio, and the C-Space creative hub – leading platforms shaping Uzbekistan’s contemporary creative ecosystem. The collected data provide a deeper understanding of the structure of media and game production, the characteristics of the art market, and the functioning of hubs, coworking spaces, and acceleration programmes.

The analytical materials gathered and the partnerships established during the visit will serve as a basis for the next stages of the project, including conducting surveys and in-depth interviews, analysing local creative ecosystems, and developing a methodology to assess the integration potential of Central Asia.