The opening ceremony of the “Colors of the Great Steppe” exhibition took place at UNESCO Headquarters, which aroused keen interest among Parisians and representatives of the organization’s member states. The project was implemented within the framework of the Kazakhstani State Programme “Rukhani Zhangyru” and “Year of Youth” by the Kazakhstan National Federation of UNESCO Clubs and the Foundation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Elbasy with the support of the Permanent Delegation of Kazakhstan to UNESCO and is aimed at promoting art in the international arena.

The exhibition is a collection of works by young Kazakhstani photographers who won grants from the Foundation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and paintings by young winners of the International Festival under the auspices of UNESCO “The Planet of ART -2018”. This exposition allowed each visitor to discover amazing and unexplored places in Kazakhstan, to get in touch with the richest culture of the country and to be inspired by the work of talented Kazakhstan photographers and gifted children artists from the Asia-Pacific region, united by the mission to convey their vision of the peaceful capital through photographs and paintings.

– In the light of the Year of Youth announced in Kazakhstan, I would like to emphasize the important role and significant contribution of the Kazakhstan National Federation of UNESCO Clubs, which gained wide international recognition in supporting the cultural and educational development of the talented younger generation, for the global activities of our Organization. We sincerely appreciate the multilateral initiatives of Kazakhstan and the Federation, aimed at improving the world for the benefit of future generations, and look forward to continuing our cooperation in empowering the development of children and young people around the world. I express special thanks to the Foundation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Elbasy for the comprehensive support of this exposition, – said Firmin Edouard Matoko, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, in his welcoming speech.

The event was accompanied by the Neo-ethno-folk of “Arkaim” group. The international public was impressed by the versatility and diversity of the works presented, in which the reverent attitude to the heritage of nomads, the immense beauty of the Kazakh steppe and the love of art that captured the authors during the creative process are traced. Pictures of young artists and famous photographers consist of narrative compositions, still-lifes and landscapes telling about the modern capital of Kazakhstan, culture, traditions and originality of the people.