Tselinny Center Opens in Almaty as Kazakhstan's First Independent Kunsthalle

The Tselinny Center of Contemporary Culture, Kazakhstan's inaugural private kunsthalle-style institution, launched in September. Founded in 2018, it occupies a former Soviet cinema, one of Central Asia's largest. Architects Asif Khan and Zaure Aitayeva redesigned the site into a Brutalist complex hosting exhibitions, film screenings, performances, and public programs. Director Jamilya Nurkalieva leads the center, aiming to empower local artists to experiment and engage with global discourse while addressing regional urgencies. In an interview, Nurkalieva emphasized tackling original issues, noting Kazakhstan's Soviet legacy as a political laboratory. She cited inherited Soviet projects like the Semipalatinsk Polygon, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Aral Sea disaster zone, and Virgin Lands Campaign, which have contributed to environmental crises such as soil erosion and water scarcity. Water scarcity is highlighted as a regional and global concern. The center seeks to navigate post-Soviet tensions without overshadowing local voices with international trends.