Kazakhstan proposes hosting U.S. Culture Days
Aida Balayeva, Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and Information, met with Rebecca Fenton, Curator of the Smithsonian Institution Festival of American Folklife, and Bryan Rafael Falcón, Co-Founder of Southwest Folklife Alliance, Qazinform News Agency reports.
As the Ministry of Culture and Information said, the sides discussed prospects for expanding Kazakh-American cultural cooperation.
Aida Balayeva noted the high level of cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Smithsonian Institution, underscoring the significance of its efforts in promoting Kazakh culture and national heritage in the United States.
"During his September visit, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan met with the leadership of the Smithsonian Institution and voiced his support for continued collaboration aimed, in particular, at promoting Kazakh culture and Kazakhstan's cultural heritage on the international stage," the minister highlighted.
As promising areas of cooperation, Balayeva identified exhibitions of Kazakh artists and traditional craftspeople, joint research in history, music, and visual arts, and the exchange of scientific and educational experiences.
Furthermore, Kazakhstan also proposed expanding bilateral cultural exchanges and hosting U.S. Culture Days. The American side expressed readiness to present the cultural diversity of the United States to Kazakh audiences.
The meeting also focused on an upcoming visit by a Kazakh museum delegation to the U.S., which will include directors of the country's leading museums. During the visit, they will tour the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art, exchange professional experiences, and discuss prospects for joint projects.
Qazinform previously reported that Kazakhstan’s museums and the Smithsonian Institution are keen to develop joint educational and research projects.
During his working visit to New York in September 2025, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev thanked Halle Butvin, Director of Special Projects at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, for her active efforts to promote Kazakh culture in the United States.