The closing ceremony of the VI International “Maiden Tower” Art Festival was held at the “Qala” Reserve.

On June 14, the closing ceremony of the VI International “Maiden Tower” Art Festival, the IV International “Art from Waste” Exhibition, and the opening of the “Art from Waste” Museum took place at the “Qala” State Historical and Ethnographic Reserve.

The events were attended by Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of the IDEA Public Union.

Leyla Aliyeva first familiarized herself with the artworks displayed within the framework of the “Maiden Tower” Art Festival.

The festival is held with the initiative and support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, organized by the IDEA Public Union, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the “Maiden Tower” Art Gallery, and the “Baku-2015” European Games Operations Committee, and implemented by the Administration of the “Icherisheher” State Historical-Architectural Reserve.

The main goal of the festival is to promote Azerbaijani culture and art through artists from various parts of the world, as well as to contribute to the global recognition of the Maiden Tower, a symbol of Baku. At the festival, artists decorate models of the Maiden Tower in their national styles, creating works that reflect a synthesis of different cultures and traditions. The organizers also draw attention to environmental protection. Models of gazelles, chosen as symbols of the endangered “Caucasian five,” were created and decorated in a special painting style by artists who participated in the festival last year and are friends of the festival. This year, 27 renowned artists from 17 countries participated in the festival.

This year, the participating artists also painted the symbols of the first European Games — the Pomegranate and Gazelle sculptures.

At the end of the festival, the models of the Maiden Tower and the Gazelle, transformed into unique works of art, will first be exhibited in Icherisheher for the residents and guests of Baku, and later in various countries, representing Azerbaijan, its history, and culture.

Then, the opening of the IV International “Art from Waste” Exhibition took place.

Leyla Aliyeva familiarized herself with the exhibition.

The exhibition featured artworks created from household waste by 23 art representatives from 17 countries. The exhibition was held on the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, organized by “Clean City” JSC, with the support of the IDEA Public Union, the Administration of the “Icherisheher” State Historical-Architectural Reserve, and the “Q Gallery” Art Gallery. The aim of the exhibition is to give value to waste and promote responsible behavior in handling it.

The “Art from Waste” exhibition has been realized since 2010 under the pilot project “Clean Qala,” implemented by “Clean City” JSC in the Qala settlement on the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Within the project, various educational activities on waste management are conducted for the residents of the settlement.

On June 14, the “Art from Waste” Museum was also opened in the Qala settlement. Works that are displayed for several days each year, as well as those shown in previous “Art from Waste” exhibitions, will be presented in this museum.