President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has reviewed the newly commissioned building of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts.

Improvement and constructive measures are consistently taken and large-scale infrastructure projects implemented in all spheres of the country’s life on the instruction of the President. New science, education, healthcare, culture and art facilities are built and the existing buildings refurbished throughout the republic.

By an order of President Ilham Aliyev, a new building of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts has also been constructed in accordance with the latest standards. The Academy was established by a presidential decree from 2002. It is the only higher education institution in the country to implement educational programs at the level of specialized secondary, higher education and subsequent levels and to provide training of professionals in all types of figurative art. The Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts operates faculties of figurative arts, architecture and design, art history, as well as the departments of drawing, painting, sculpture, design, architecture, fashion design, decorative and applied arts, humanities and social sciences, history and theory of figurative arts. The Academy employs a staff of experienced and qualified teachers.

Providing information to President Ilham Aliyev, the rector of the Academy, Omar Eldarov, said that the total area of the new three-storey building is 6,500 square meters. The new building has been constructed to the highest standards in a modern architectural style. The interior design of the building is also done with great taste. The new building has 128 classrooms, different subject specific rooms, laboratories and workshops. Classrooms, offices and experimental laboratories are fitted with the latest equipment and facilities.

The President visited different rooms of the new building and experimental workshops and was familiarized with the conditions there.

Then, President Ilham Aliyev met with the teaching staff of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts.

The rector of the Academy, Omar Eldarov, expressed his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev on behalf of the Academy team.

Congratulating the staff on the opening of a new building of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts, President Ilham Aliyev said:

- I congratulate you!

The opening of a new building of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts is a great event.

Great leader Heydar Aliyev made the decision back in 2002 and signed a decree on the establishment of the Academy, and the Academy started to operate.

As you know, the Academy used to be based in an old building located here. Then a new building was constructed. But after the construction of that building we saw that it did not quite meet our standards. We completely remodeled that building. After that, the administration of the Academy suggested that the building should be extended. We have significantly expanded the building of the Academy. Now the building is very nice from an architectural point of view. Also, the interior design is pleasing to the eye. And this is the way it should be. After all, this is the Academy of Fine Arts, a center of arts. It does a great job of training our future artists.

For this reason, both the interior design and the external appearance should be at a high level here.

The Academy is very important and plays a major role. And I want to express my deep gratitude to you – professors and teachers. Arts are our national treasure. For centuries, we have survived as a nation thanks to our art – literature, our native language, music, art, carpet-weaving, painting, etc.

Today we have to take care of these wonderful traditions, to inform the world about how talented the people of Azerbaijan are. A lot has been done in this area in recent years. Azerbaijani exhibitions are held in leading countries around the world, demonstrating the works of Azerbaijani artists. In other words, by conducting these exhibitions we promote our culture, communicate it to the world. We demonstrate to the world that Azerbaijan is an ancient state where arts, literature and culture developed even in ancient times. We are rightfully proud of our culture. Of course, we certainly rely very much on you in communicating this knowledge and these opportunities to future generations.

Today I enquired about the attitude of young people to our traditional areas of art and whether they show an interest in this work. Of course, they are interested. But I think that we need to do more specific work to further stimulate this interest and ensure that future graduates of the Academy are provided with employment. This is especially true regarding carpet-weaving, because Azerbaijan is the birthplace of carpets. A modern carpet museum is currently under construction and will soon be opened in Baku. In order to introduce the Azerbaijani art of carpet-weaving on a global scale, we need to conduct proper advocacy and be more active. At the same time, the younger generation should be engaged in this work.

Young people may also be inclined towards other areas of art. You have a design specialization. Of course, at the current stage architectural art is perhaps more attractive in terms of the modern development of Azerbaijan because there is extensive construction and tremendous creative work under way. Our cities are improving and becoming ever nicer. This area of art has broad opportunities and they will gradually grow further. And this is quite understandable. But carpet-weaving is a special form of art. It is the heart and soul of the Azerbaijani people. We must ensure the continuity of this art – you and our students. Therefore, in order to successfully resolve all the issues, we should, of course, conduct a very sound policy.
Such policies are conducted in Azerbaijan on issues of culture as a whole. I am glad that art galleries are opening not only in Baku but also in the regions, in the districts. Of course, at the first stage of economic development of our regions we were more focused on construction, creative and infrastructure projects. But while visiting the regions in recent years, I have seen that galleries displaying works of local and other artists are opening in every city. This makes me very happy. It shows that Azerbaijan is developing in a comprehensive manner. In order to develop in a comprehensive manner, all areas of art must be fully supported by the state. And this support is provided. It will be even greater in the years to come.

The opening of such wonderful educational centers shows again that this area is given a lot of attention.

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Then a picture was taken.