The Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) has announced the official groundbreaking of the National Museum of Uzbekistan today, with the opening to the public set for March 2028.
The museum will be designed by acclaimed Japanese architect Tadao Ando, in what will be his first major project designed in Central Asia. Conceived as a future landmark for the city of Tashkent, the design of the museum will incorporate elements from Uzbekistan’s rich architectural and visual heritage into Ando’s famed minimalist architectural design style. Marrying attention to light, form and function, with strict geometry, Ando’s design will serve as the stage for the museum’s extensive collection.
Comprising both the museum and a public library, which will be linked by a public plaza, the National Museum of Uzbekistan will serve as a major art institution dedicated to preserving and disseminating the country’s rich cultural heritage.
Atelier Brückner, a leading German architecture and scenography studio, is slated to lead the exhibition design, collaborating with Ando to create engaging displays, with a view to actively engaging younger generations in Uzbekistan in their country’s culture and heritage.
The laying of the museum’s foundational stone took place, with President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Atelier Brückner in attendance.
With a mission to connect Uzbekistan to other leading art institutions worldwide, and to further add to the global discourse, the museum will include historical artistic treasures as well as contemporary works which will reflect the desire to speak to the past, present and future of the art scene. Featuring over 100,000 items, the museum will have one of the largest collections in Central Asia, housing works from Uzbekistan and the wider East and Europe, as well as previously unseen masterpieces. Alongside the exhibitions, the museum will also host a range of public programming, including residencies, educational initiatives and publications.
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev notes: “The National Museum of Uzbekistan reflects our revitalised cultural potential and serves as a vivid expression of our noble aspirations to create creative spaces that inspire, unite, and set an example for future generations. It will stand as a majestic symbol of the New Uzbekistan, representing its rich heritage and openness to the world.”
“The National Museum of Uzbekistan will serve as a unique bridge between our past and our future” says Gayane Umerova, Head of the Department for Creative Economy and Tourism of the Presidential Administration and Chairperson of the ACDF. “It reflects our national identity and confidence in cultural capacity to shape a new society.”
