ASTANA – UNESCO Headquarters hosted an exhibition on Nov. 11 highlighting the role of women in safeguarding living heritage, along with a gala concert organized as part of the Planet of Art 2026 International Youth Festival under UNESCO patronage, with support from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The event was organized with support from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photo credit: MFA.
Organized by the Kazakhstan National Federation of Clubs for UNESCO, the festival has developed over nearly two decades into an international platform for young artists under the age of 18. It brings together children and young people from more than 5,000 UNESCO clubs and associations in 95 countries, including 198 in Kazakhstan.
This year, the Paris exhibition features paintings by winners of the festival’s fine arts competition from 54 countries. Winners of the music competition were invited to perform on UNESCO’s main stage. Kazakhstan also holds the presidency of the World Federation of Clubs and Associations for UNESCO for 2023–2027.
Women’s role in preserving living heritage
Speaking at the exhibition’s opening ceremony, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO Askar Abdrakhmanov highlighted the country’s contribution to the international network of UNESCO clubs and associations.
Kazakhstan’s Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO Askar Abdrakhmanov. Photo credit: MFA.
“Kazakhstan takes pride in its contribution to the progress of the global network of clubs and associations for UNESCO, which plays its meaningful role in international cooperation for developing the creative potential of young people – a contribution recognized in a decision of the UNESCO Executive Board in April 2026,” he said.
UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Nayef Al-Fayez welcomed the festival’s focus on women’s role in preserving and passing on traditional knowledge, crafts, performing arts, rituals and customs to future generations.
UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Nayef Al-Fayez. Photo credit: MFA.
“Cultural diversity is not only something to preserve. It is something to experience, share and continually reimagine. I would like to express our sincere congratulations to the World and Kazakhstan Federations of Clubs and Associations for UNESCO, to the authorities and institutions of Kazakhstan, and to all partners, educators and artists who made this evening possible,” he said.
The exhibition also features works by contemporary Kazakh artists Bakyt Shuketayev and Aigerim Karibayeva, an Envoy of Clubs for UNESCO. Their paintings explore Kazakhstan’s living heritage and that of other countries, reinterpreting traditional images and symbols in contemporary contexts to highlight women’s role in preserving collective memory and connecting generations.
The gala concert brought together young performers aged 12 to 18 from 10 countries. They performed alongside the Student Symphony Orchestra of the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory and students from the Alexander Seleznev Almaty Choreographic School.
The Planet of Art 2026 festival was held with the support of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and corporate partners, including BI Group, Tengizchevroil, TotalEnergies and the Freedom Shapagat Foundation.
