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Gayane Umerova is dedicated to developing the culture sector in Uzbekistan.
Head of the Department of Creative Economy and Tourism of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF), Gayane Umerova is at the helm of building Uzbekistan’s cultural infrastructure. Her efforts are bringing the nation’s art, artists, and cultural heritage into the global spotlight. Currently, she is overseeing the restoration and development of the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) Tashkent, poised to become a new cultural hub for the region, and is driving the construction of the new National Museum of Uzbekistan designed by Tadao Ando. Gayane Umerova commissioned the inaugural Bukhara Biennial (5 September - 20 November 2025) which welcomed over a million visitors to the city. She also spearheaded the inaugural Aral Culture Summit (April 4-6, 2025), the second edition of which will be held in autumn 2026, bringing together global experts to work towards ecological and cultural renewal for the region.
Gayane Umerova was central in encouraging UNESCO to make the landmark decision to host its 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand on 30 October - 13 November 2025. She is the commissioner for the Uzbekistan Pavilion at the Venice Biennale Arte and Architettura since 2021 as well as for Uzbekistan’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka, among other significant projects among other significant projects such as When Apricots Blossom, an immersive design exhibition at Milan Design Week 2026. She is the commissioner and co-curator of Instruments of the Mind, a landmark exhibition by Vyacheslav Akhunov at Palazzo Franchetti as an official collateral exhibition of the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.
Committed to boosting Uzbekistan’s prominence on the international culture scene, Gayane Umerova serves as the Chairperson of the National Commission of Uzbekistan on UNESCO Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers and in April 2025 has been awarded France’s Order of Arts and Literature. Her public service commitment is evident in her dedication to creating opportunities for young people in Uzbekistan’s cultural sector and fostering a cultural economy that unites communities and generations.