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Closing ceremony of the 6th International Maiden Tower Art Festival and opening of the exhibition “From Waste to Art” and the museum “From Waste to Art” took place at the Qala State History and Ethnography Museum, June 14.

Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of IDEA Public Union Leyla Aliyeva attended the ceremonies.  

Leyla Aliyeva first acquainted herself with the works being displayed within the framework of the Maiden Tower Art Festival.

The Festival is held by Icherisheher State History and Architecture Reserve, following the initiative and with support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Festival, and organizational support of IDEA Public Union, Modern Art Museum, Maiden Tower Art Gallery, and Baku-2015 Operations Committee.

The primary objective of holding the Festival is to introduce Azerbaijan’s culture and art through artists coming from around the world, as well as contributing to worldwide promotion of the Maiden Tower - the symbol of Baku. At the Festival, artists, having decorated mock-ups of the Maiden Tower in their national style, create works reflecting the synthesis of different cultures and traditions. The organizers of the Festival draw attention also to the issue of protecting the environment. Mock-ups of a gazelle chosen as the symbol of the endangered “The Caucasian Five” were made and decorated in special painting style by artists that had participated in last year’s festival, who are considered friends of the Festival. 27 artists from 17 countries of the world have participated in this year’s festival.  

Artists participating in this year’s festival have also painted statues of the pomegranate and gazelle – symbols of the 1st European Games.

Mock-ups of the Maiden Tower and Gazelle that have turned into unique works of art will first be placed in Icherisheher for residents of Baku and guests of the capital, then they will be exhibited in different countries to represent Azerbaijan, its history and culture.

Then opening of the 4th International “From Waste to Art” Exhibition took place.

Leyla Aliyeva acquainted herself with the exhibition.

Works of art made of domestic wastes by 23 artists from 17 countries are displayed at the exhibition. The exhibition took place following the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, organizational support of “Clean City” OJSC, and support from IDEA Public Union, Icherisheher State History and Architecture Reserve and “Q Gallery” Art Gallery. The objective of the exhibition is to win value for wastes and propagate responsible approach to them.

The exhibition “From Waste to Art” has been held within “Clean Qala” pilot project of Clean City OJSC as of 2010, following the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Within the framework of the project, various enlightening actions associated with management of wastes are held for residents of the settlement.

On June 14, the “From Waste to Art” museum was inaugurated in Qala settlement. Works displayed several days each year, as well as those from the previous years’ exhibitions will be presented in this museum.