In Kazakhstan, support for culture and art is becoming an important part of systemic transformations aimed at strengthening the state and creating conditions for the development of talented, patriotic, and educated youth. The new Constitution enshrines an important norm on the preservation of historical and cultural heritage, which gives special importance to the development of the cultural sphere and makes its support one of the duties of the state.

Taking into account the instructions of the Head of State, cultural infrastructure is being consistently modernized, social guarantees for cultural workers are being strengthened, creative education is developing, and new opportunities are being created for young talents. These measures are aimed at improving the quality of cultural services, preserving national heritage, and promoting Kazakh art both domestically and abroad.

Development of Cultural Infrastructure

The state is consistently implementing measures to build new cultural facilities, modernize existing infrastructure, and strengthen the material and technical base of cultural institutions.

Over the past five years, 274 cultural facilities have been built in the country, and another 1,293 facilities have been repaired. This year, construction is underway on 64 facilities, and repair works are being carried out on 130 facilities.

Special attention is paid to the development of theatrical infrastructure. In recent years, three new theater buildings have been constructed: the National Academic Kazakh Musical Drama Theater named after Kalibek Kuanyshbayev in Astana, the Musical Drama Theater in Turkistan, and the Regional Kazakh Musical Drama Theater named after S. Mukanov in Petropavlovsk.

This work continues today. Currently, new buildings for drama theaters are under construction in Aktobe and Konaev, and the construction of an opera theater in Shymkent, a drama theater in Kyzylorda, and a musical drama theater in Semey is being planned.

At the same time, the renovation of existing institutions continues. Reconstruction works are underway on the buildings of the Kazakh National Drama Theater named after Mukhtar Auezov and the State Academic Russian Theater for Children and Youth named after Natalia Sats.

Thanks to sponsorship funds, repair and renovation works were also carried out at the Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theater named after Abay: the entrance group was reconstructed, and the halls and service premises were updated.

The development of museum and tourism infrastructure also remains one of the important areas. In 2025, a new Museum of Arts was opened in Astana. The construction of visitor centers “Sauran” and “Gauhar Ana” in Turkistan Region, the visitor center “Yesik” in Almaty Region, and the project to create fencing in medieval architectural style at the open-air national park based on archaeological excavations of the ancient settlement of Bozok are ongoing.

In addition, last year the building of the State Museum of Arts named after Abylkhan Kasteyev underwent major repairs with sponsorship funds, and the ventilation and air conditioning systems were updated at the Central State Museum in Almaty.

Systematic work is being carried out to strengthen the material and technical base of cultural centers in the regions in cooperation with the public foundation “Kazakhstan Halkyna”. This initiative expands the capabilities of rural and regional cultural centers and improves the quality of cultural services for the population.

In parallel, the Roadmap for the Modernization of Libraries until 2027 is being implemented jointly with local executive bodies. In 2025, 3 new libraries were built in Mangystau, West Kazakhstan, and Turkistan regions, major repairs were carried out in 13 libraries, current repairs in 64 libraries, and the material and technical base of 197 libraries was updated.

Important infrastructure projects are also being implemented in the field of creative education. In Almaty, construction has begun on a dormitory with 500 places for students of the Kazakh National Academy of Arts named after Temirbek Zhurgenov and the Republican Variety and Circus College named after Zhusupbek Yelebekov.

In addition, the building of the Almaty Choreographic School named after Alexander Seleznev is being reconstructed. The construction of new buildings for three specialized music schools is being worked on: sketch designs have been prepared and the development of design and estimate documentation has begun.

Special attention is paid to the development of creative education in the regions. In cooperation with the akimat of North Kazakhstan Region, the opening of a representative office of the Kazakh National University of Arts named after K. Bayseitova in Petropavlovsk is being considered. In cooperation with the North Kazakhstan University named after M. Kozybayev, training of personnel in 9 educational programs with an annual intake of 100 applicants under the state educational order is planned.

In total, 4 creative universities currently operate in Astana and Almaty, training personnel in all areas of art.

In accordance with the instruction of the Head of State, work is underway to create a new University of Culture and Arts in Shymkent on the basis of the Faculty of Culture and Arts of the South Kazakhstan University named after M. Auezov. The main focus will be on training technical specialists for the cultural sector, including cinematography and dramaturgy, film and TV directing, graphics, multimedia, and media management.

To support creative youth, more than 1,000 grants are allocated annually for higher education studies and over 500 grants for colleges.

Social Guarantees for Cultural Workers

At the same time, additional social guarantees are provided for certain categories of outstanding figures in culture and art. Persons awarded the highest state titles and awards, including the title of “Hero of Labor of Kazakhstan”, “People’s Artist”, “People’s Writer”, laureates of state prizes, as well as academicians of national academies, have the right to free outpatient-polyclinic services and medical care. Today, 494 holders of such honorary titles are served at the Medical Center of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In addition, these categories of citizens and their spouses are provided once a year with free sanatorium-resort treatment and health recreation in Kazakhstan.

Along with general social guarantees, Kazakhstan provides special support measures for artists whose profession is associated with special physical loads and working conditions. In accordance with the Law “On Culture”, ballet artists with at least 20 years of professional experience who have completed their work in the profession before reaching retirement age may receive monthly cash payments.

Today, such support is received by 56 workers: 49 artists from republican opera and ballet theaters, as well as 7 workers in Astana, Almaty, and Karaganda. 89 million tenge is allocated annually from the republican budget for these purposes.

Since January 2024, a similar measure has been in effect for folk dance artists of state institutions as workers engaged in harmful working conditions. The payment is assigned from the age of 55, provided that the employer has paid mandatory professional pension contributions for the last seven years. It is provided until retirement age, is not subject to individual income tax, and is carried out through the State Corporation “Government for Citizens”.

Housing Support for Cultural Workers

In a number of regions, additional support measures are provided for social sector workers, including official and rental housing, as well as preferential lending.

In accordance with the instructions of the Head of State, the Government is carrying out systematic work to provide cultural sector workers with official housing. In 2024, 200 apartments were provided to employees of cultural organizations working in Astana.

This work continued in 2026: an additional 60 apartments were allocated for cultural organization employees in Almaty. The keys were handed over by the Ministry jointly with the akimats of Astana and Almaty.

In total, with the support of the Head of State, 260 apartments have been provided to cultural sector workers. These measures contribute to increasing the social protection of specialists, retaining qualified personnel, and raising the prestige of professions in the cultural sphere.

State Support for Creative Youth and Cultural Figures

Kazakhstan is implementing a set of measures to support cultural figures, writers, and creative youth.

Since 2023, a special literary prize of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan has been awarded to young writers and poets. Its laureates already include 12 authors, with a total prize fund of 50 million tenge. The award is given in four categories: prose, poetry, dramaturgy, and children’s literature.

The National Literary Prize “Aiboz” continues to be awarded. Since 2022, 28 writers have become its laureates, with a total prize fund of 140 million tenge. The prize covers key genres of modern literature, including prose, poetry, dramaturgy, translation, children’s literature, literary criticism, and comics.

Special attention is paid to the popularization of reading. In 2025, on the instruction of the Head of State, National Book Day was celebrated for the first time at the national level, during which about 300 events were held across the country. The “National Book” competition with nine nominations and the Grand Prix “Book of the Year” was also held.

To support young writers, 40 authors received special grants in 2024–2025, as a result of which their books were published. In addition, within the framework of the Year of Working Professions, the creative competition “Epic of Heroism and Labor” was held, with winners awarded cash prizes.

One of the key tools for supporting talented youth remains the State Youth Prize “Daryn”, awarded for achievements in science, creativity, and sports. To date, 380 people have become its laureates. Prize winners are awarded a diploma, a badge, and a cash reward of 1 million tenge.

Since 2021, on the initiative of the Head of State, the grant “Tauelsizdik Urpaqtary” in the amount of 3 million tenge has been awarded annually. It is aimed at supporting new ideas and initiatives of active creative youth; over the entire period, 153 people have become its recipients.

In addition, 75 cultural figures are awarded state scholarships annually. From this year, their amount has been doubled and amounts to 5 million tenge.

On the instruction of the Head of State, the national prize “Asyl Mura” is being established, designed to support masters of traditional art and increase interest in national cultural heritage. The award will be given to the most talented cultural and art figures by Decree of the President on the proposal of the Ministry of Culture and Information.

At the same time, the ministry is preparing a new mechanism to encourage cultural representatives who have gained recognition abroad. Rules for the republican selection have already been developed, according to the results of which winners and laureates of international competitions and festivals with the participation of at least ten countries will be awarded prizes.

Awards are planned to be given in several areas: music, theater, choreography and ballet, fine and decorative-applied arts, cinematography and animation. The issue of financing this measure from the republican budget starting from 2027 is currently being worked out.

In addition, participants who have achieved high results and their mentors can receive cash prizes, grants, departmental awards, and special payments. The amount and procedure for such support depend on the level of the event, the status of the institution, and the decisions of authorized or local executive bodies.

Cultural and art figures who have made a significant contribution to the development of national culture are annually awarded state honors. In 2026, on the Day of Culture and Art Workers, 120 citizens received awards.

Support for young talents is carried out through creative schools, grant programs, competitions, festivals, educational projects, and scholarships. Public and charitable foundations, as well as creative unions, also play an important role in this work.

One notable example was the creation in 2024 of the multinational song and dance ensemble “BIRLIK”. Following a special casting, the collective included 20 of the best dancers and musicians from among representatives of different ethnic groups of Kazakhstan.

Additional opportunities for creative youth are provided by the Fund for the Development of Creative Industries. Its work is aimed at supporting talents, attracting investment, developing infrastructure, and promoting Kazakh creative products to foreign markets. The Fund also coordinates the activities of regional hubs in all regional centers of the country.

Opportunities for Training and Internships for Creative Youth Abroad

Kazakhstani creative youth today have the opportunity to study at leading world universities through international programs such as “Bolashak”, Erasmus+, DAAD, Fulbright, Chevening, and others.

Under the “Bolashak” scholarship in the direction of “Creative Industries, Creativity, Art”, annual recruitment is conducted for master’s programs at leading creative universities around the world, including the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, University of Reading, Regent London, Stanford University, New York Film Academy, and others.

In addition, the “Bolashak” program provides internships for cultural workers, as well as scientific internships for teachers of creative universities to improve their qualification and research level.

The list of priority specialties includes art management, acting, music and vocals, conducting, design, decorative and fine arts, painting, sculpture, cinematography, directing, producing, theater, film and TV, animation, and art history.

The Government holds festivals and competitions for young performers, including international competitions for violinists, pianists, ballet artists, vocalists, and traditional performers. Such platforms help reveal the creative potential of young people and support their professional growth.

Thanks to state support, Kazakhstani artists successfully perform at prestigious international competitions and festivals. Winners of a number of creative competitions, including the Bibigul Tulegenova Competition, the Pyotr Tchaikovsky Competition, the “Arabesque” named after Ekaterina Maximova, “Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk”, as well as World Dance Council, World DanceSport Federation, and International Dance Sport Union tournaments, are provided with grants and the right to enter creative universities without competition.

#Culture #Ministry of Culture #Social Security

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