Training course on the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions completed

Under the order and support of the Ministry of Culture, in partnership with the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Azerbaijan to UNESCO and the Azerbaijan Creative Industries Federation, “Global Communications and Innovations” company within the framework of the “Heritage Governance Skills Development” training program, the next – four-module training course on the 2005 UNESCO Convention “On the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions” ended on July 15.

On the last day of the training course, Vasif Eyvazzade, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Azerbaijan Creative Industries Federation, Head of the Training Program, gave information about the topics and guest speakers to be presented on the second day of the four-module training course, and presented Ahmet Akcan, the head of Turkey’s “Traditional Arts Association”, who was the first guest speaker of the day. Mr. Ahmet informed the participants about the history of the association he is the head of, directions of activities, implemented projects, partners, initiatives implemented at the international level. In his speech, he talked about the examples of public-private, public-civil society partnerships in the implementation of cultural policy and management in Turkey, and the activities of foundations, associations, civil society organizations and top-level organizations active at the national level in the protection and development of traditional arts. He also invited cultural institutions and organizations operating in Azerbaijan to actively cooperate with Turkish partners.

Then, the first trainer of the second day of the training course, Lala Kishiyeva, who received a master’s degree in creative industries from London King’s College and a teacher at ADA University, presented the basic concepts of the creative industry, historical development stages, statistical figures in a global context, and presented a new digital version of this type of industry, which is based on human creative thinking. She gave information about the opportunities it opened during the period, the opportunities it brought for each field of activity. In an interactive question-and-answer session, the participants exchanged ideas about digital technologies applied in their fields of activity and discussed the advantages of real cases and the new conditions those industries bring. The presentation also explained key application directions and requirements for sustainable marketing and monetization of creative industry products from blockchain technologies. In the session, successful projects in the fields of cultural activities from different countries were discussed, and Nargiz Ibrahimova, the head of the “Ninka Cards&Gifts” company, who was invited to the session as a creative entrepreneur as a success story in the national context, shared her success story with the participants of the training, told the way she went from a creative idea to a business, and answered the questions.

On the second half day of the training course, Dadash Mammadov, the head of the Arts Council Azerbaijan organization, provided information about the activities of the organization he heads, implemented projects, cultural events, festivals, exhibitions, lectures, and gave detailed information about the initiatives implemented to promote the national cultural heritage and art traditions of Azerbaijan in foreign countries. During the second half of the day, trainer, international expert in the field of culture and art Jahangir Salimkhanov spoke about creative methods, reconciliation abilities, and creative expertise on various projects and programs in his presentation on creative approaches, solutions, and innovations in the creation of cultural projects. A symbol building session was organized with creative methods based on individual works.

In the end, Ramil Abbakirov, head of the Department of Creative Industries and Digital Development of the Ministry of Culture, made a presentation about the strategic directions of the ministry in the field of development of creative industries in our country and the activities planned within the framework of National Priorities. At the end of the course, certificates were presented to the training participants.

The training course was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and its institutions, the State Tourism Agency, the State Urban Planning and Architecture Committee, the Special Delegation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories included in the Karabakh Economic Region, the State Reserve of “Shusha” City, “Icherisheher” State Historical-Architectural Reserve Administration, Heydar Aliyev Center, ANAS Presidium office and relevant institutions of the Academy, University of Culture and Arts, Baku International Center for Multiculturalism, Center for the Analysis of International Relations, creative unions and associations, Education HUB and “Light of Intelligence” public association.