Tashkent, Uzbekistan: The Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) has announced a global lineup of speakers set to take the stage during the 2024 World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE). From October 2–4, creative leaders from across business, government, and the arts will converge in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to drive progress, ignite innovation, and address challenges facing creative industries.

The first round of speakers includes: 

• Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary General of UN Trade and Development
• HE Sandiaga S. Uno, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia
• HE Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, Doha Film Institute, Reach Out to Asia, and Qatar Leadership Centre
• Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation
• Sylvie Forbin, Deputy Director General, Copyright and Creative Industries Sector, World Intellectual Property Organization
• John Howkins, Author, The Creative Economy
• Dr Mariët Westermann, Director & CEO of Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation & Museum
• John Newbigin, OBE, Chair of the Global Creative Economy Council
• Irina Bokova, Former Director-General of UNESCO
• Teo Yang, Founder of Teo Yang Studio, Eastern Edition Furniture, Sinang Scent & EATH Library Skincare
• Wael Al Awar, Architect and founding partner of waiwai
• Nadia Samdani, President of the Samdani Art Foundation and Director of Dhaka Art Summit
• Nora Aldabal, Executive Director of Arts and Creative Industries, Royal Commission for AlUla
• Trinidad Zaldívar, Chief, Creativity & Culture Unit, Inter-American Development Bank

Joining ACDF Chairperson Gayane Umerova to open the conference are Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary General of UNCTAD and HE Sandiaga S. Uno, Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy. HE Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, will deliver a keynote on the importance of arts education and cultivating emerging talent. Renowned British economist, author, and widely acclaimed architect of the creative industry, John Howkins will preside over a discussion on the scientific underpinnings of creativity and Dr Mariët Westermann, Director and CEO of Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation & Museum will delve into how cutting-edge innovations are helping transform museums.

“It is an honour to host this esteemed lineup of speakers at the 2024 World Conference on Creative Economy in Tashkent,” said Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation. “At the cultural heart of Asia, our vibrant capital city provides an ideal backdrop for a convening of global creative leaders. We look forward to warmly welcoming artists, policymakers, visionaries, and guests from around the world to experience Uzbekistan’s unique creative legacy and contemporary creative economy through engaging talks, experiential workshops, powerful performances, and much more.”

“There hasn’t been a more relevant time for international leaders across government and creative industries to come together to address pressing global challenges. Uzbekistan has thoughtfully crafted a programme that promises to catalyse deep and much-needed conversations at the intersection of creativity, innovation, and sustainable development. We look forward to continuing our engagement with the country as it emerges as a global centre for creative industries”– HE Sandiaga S. Uno, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Republic of Indonesia

Held under the theme Inclusively Creative: A Shifted Reality, the visionary programme will focus on six critical areas at the cutting edge of the creative economy. These tracks include workforce dynamics, interdisciplinary cities, creative education, intellectual property in the age of AI, inclusive sustainability, and the evolution of the creative lifestyle. Through plenaries, panel discussions, and keynotes, conference attendees will explore policies, practices, and programmes for leveraging the creative economy to advance sustainable economic development, job creation, and cultural heritage enrichment.

“I am pleased to count myself among such a diverse list of creative leaders attending the WCCE from across backgrounds, geographies, and sectors. This is our chance to come together as a global community in a unique and fitting location to advance inclusive and innovative policy that uplifts creative industries all around the world.” – John Newbigin, OBE, Chair of the Global Creative Economy Council.

“The rise of creative industries has had profound and longstanding impacts on the global economy. As we enter the age of AI, let us use the transformative power of creativity and the arts as a force to shape the future of sustainable economic development.” – John Howkins, Author, The Creative Economy.

Against the backdrop of Uzbekistan’s diverse and thriving culture and arts scene, the conference will provide curated spaces for attendees to showcase visionary works and achievements. The CreatiVillage, hosted alongside the WCCE, will bring together a microcosm of the global creative economy to share cultures, heritage, innovations, art, food, fashion, and more. The global village is open to countries, communities, businesses, and organisations to share and discover innovative projects, best practices, and inspiring stories from around the world.

Many arts and culture events are scheduled to coincide with the WCCE. From October 2–3, Tashkent will host the premiere of Handel’s opera Tamerlano, reimagined for the modern stage, at the prestigious State Academic Bolshoi Theatre. From October 3 onwards, the Savitsky State Museum of Art in Nukus will host a re-exposition of the exhibitions shown earlier this year by ACDF at the Uffizi Gallery (Florence) and the University of Ca Foscari (Venice). The re-exposition will include a deeper look at the masterpieces of artists such as Wassily Kandinsky, a pioneer in abstraction in Western art, cubist Aristarkh Lentulov, and influential painter Lyubov Popova, alongside artists of the early 20th century “Turkestan avant-garde,” such as Alexander Volkov and Ural Tansykbaev, among others, showcasing the richness and diversity of Uzbek art. Additionally, the International Theatre Festival will begin on October 4, 2024.

Alongside the conference, ACDF will also launch the CCA Residency, the foundation’s latest initiative to further preserve the historical mahallas of Tashkent city, their uniqueness, and cultural and historical heritage. Through the creation of art residencies, selected artists will live on-site with access to creative studios, facilitating the exchange of experience, intercultural dialogue, and implementation of joint art projects. This format of cultural exchange promotes mutual understanding between different cultures and disciplines, including contemporary art, design, crafts, architecture, culinary arts, film, and sound arts.

The WCCE is free and open to all, with over 2,000 participants from more than 80 countries expected to attend. As a platform for the exchange of ideas and international cooperation, speakers and attendees alike can expect to forge new alliances, advance collaborative solutions, and seize strategic opportunities across the global creative economic landscape.

More speaker and programme announcements to follow. Register to attend here: https://wcce.uz/en/registration