Year: 2026

Project monitoring at Aigine continues: this week, the Aigine CRC team visited the workshop of craftswoman Gulmira Kutueva and met with project participants and artisans to discuss the interim results of their work to recreate a traditional women’s saddle. They presented elements of the women’s saddle and related equipment used in the Kyrgyz bride send-off ceremony, as well as traditional versions of the bride’s attire. Particular attention was paid to differences between southern and northern traditions, including the construction, materials, decoration, and production techniques. The collected information will support a…

Project Monitoring Meetings: This week, Aigine Cultural Research Center continued its series of project monitoring meetings with participants of successfully completed initiatives. Representatives shared project outcomes, reflected on lessons learned, and discussed how they plan to further develop their ideas. The meetings once again highlighted the importance of keeping traditional knowledge relevant in today’s rapidly changing world. Learning and Looking Ahead: Discussions focused on the long-term impact of the projects on local communities, opportunities for new partnerships, and ways to sustain and expand the initiatives. Participants agreed that traditions remain…

Do traditional knowledge holders need AI? AI is becoming part of everyday life. But how can it affect the preservation and transmission of traditional knowledge? Can knowledge holders themselves help determine how their heritage is used in digital systems? To explore these questions in practice, Aigine CRC this week has begun preparing a practical seminar within the “Traditional Communities and AI” project. The seminar will bring together traditional knowledge holders, representatives of different generations, and AI specialists. Participants will learn about the possibilities of AI and jointly discuss responsible approaches…

Working Meetings: This week, the Aigine CRC team held a series of online meetings with partners from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, as well as a representative from Karakalpakstan. The meetings brought together Zhanerke Shaigozova, Balgyn Salykova, Lutfiya Mirzaeva, Firuza Salimova, and Nurjamal Nauryzbaeva. The discussions focused on the upcoming “Traditional Communities and Artificial Intelligence” project. Participants discussed its main goals, key areas of work, and expected outcomes, as well as the content and organizational details of the upcoming seminar. The partners expressed strong interest in the initiative and their readiness to…