The Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan presented the results of cultural activities in the Mangystau, Almaty, Zhambyl, North Kazakhstan, and Atyrau regions for the first half of 2026.
In the Mangystau region, construction of a 200-seat community center and a library in the village of Batyr has been completed. Scientific restoration work is underway at five monuments. A key event was the inclusion of the "Rock Mosques and Related Sites of Mangystau" on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Four community centers are under construction in the Almaty region. The community center in the village of Bolek has opened after major renovations, and three rural libraries have been modernized. A new building for the Balkhash District Museum of History and Local Lore was commissioned with sponsorship funds, and QR codes with information about heritage sites have been installed on 50 monuments. Eight cultural facility construction and renovation projects are underway in the Zhambyl Region, five of which are scheduled for completion by the end of the year. Six productions have been added to the regional theater repertoire. Electronic versions of 347 books by 133 local authors have been uploaded to the Aulieata Library app, and over 13,000 museum items have been digitized.
A representative office of the Kulyash Baiseitova Kazakh National University of Arts has opened in the North Kazakhstan Region. One hundred educational grants across nine programs are available for personnel training. The Qyzyljar Creative Center has united 95 residents, and creative IT centers operate in ten districts. The head of state also announced that the Sabit Mukanov Kazakh Musical and Drama Theater has been awarded academic status.
13 cultural centers are under construction in the Atyrau Region. Sixty-one company apartments have been purchased for industry workers. Construction continues on a 1,200-seat concert hall and a new building for the local history museum. The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, currently under construction, is planned to house the region's first 24-hour library.
The development of the regions as venues for international film production was particularly noted. Filming of "Armor of God: Ultimatum," starring Jackie Chan, is underway in the Almaty and Mangystau regions. This project creates additional opportunities for promoting Kazakhstan's natural and cultural attractions, developing film tourism, and attracting international film projects.
The hearing addressed issues related to training specialized personnel, digitalization of collections, preservation of monuments, and the development of creative industries. The Shubat Fest and "Caspian – Sea of ​​Friendship" festivals, the International Festival of Central Asian Theatres, the "Botai – Culture of the Great Steppe" exhibition in Cambridge, and projects dedicated to Zhambyl Zhabayev, Abdollah Karsakbayev, Yermek Serkebayev, and Rakhimzhan Otarbayev are planned for the second half of the year.
Following the hearing, the regions were recommended to ensure the timely implementation of the instructions of the Head of State, the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Ministry of Culture and Information, complete the planned projects, and take action on the identified issues. The Culture Committee has taken control of the implementation process.