BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. On November 21, 2025 in Shymkent the grand opening ceremony of the International Forum of Turkic Ethnodesigners “MIRAS” was held. Forum organized by the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation in cooperation with the Akimat of the city of Shymkent, TurkicWorld reports.
Within the framework of the forum, an international scientific-educational conference titled “Turkic Costume Studies and the Semiotics of Ornament,” took place.
The goal of the forum is to establish a modern platform that supports new ideas and creative initiatives in the field of decorative-applied arts of the Turkic world, to widely promote its rich cultural heritage, and to increase young people’s interest in Turkic culture.
At the opening ceremony of the International Forum, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, Mrs. Aktoty Raimkulova, delivered an inspiring address highlighting the deep symbolic meaning of traditional Turkic ornaments as a cultural code that preserves the historical memory and spiritual identity of the Turkic peoples. Emphasizing that ornamentation is not merely decorative but a sacred semiotic system passed down through generations, she underlined the responsibility of safeguarding this heritage and transmitting it to young people.
President of the Foundation, Mrs. Aktoty Raimkulova described the “MIRAS” Forum as a powerful platform where ideas converge, talents meet, and national art gains new momentum, expressing gratitude to the Akimat of Shymkent for its support and wishing all participants inspiration, creativity, and success in their efforts to honor and promote the invaluable heritage entrusted by their ancestors.
The presence of the Deputy Akim of Shymkent, Mr. Kuranbek Sarsen, further underscored the significance of the gathering, highlighting the city’s strong support for initiatives aimed at promoting the cultural and creative heritage of the Turkic world.
The forum brought together a distinguished circle of researchers, folklorists, art historians, ethnographers and leading ethnodesigners from major international research institutes and historical-cultural centers of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan. Alongside them, master’s and doctoral students, as well as prominent public and state figures, also took part in the event.
