Tashkent’s Center for Contemporary Arts (CCA Tashkent) will open on September 6, becoming Uzbekistan’s first permanent centre dedicated to contemporary art, research and community engagement. The centre occupies a restored industrial building dating back to 1912.
The project was initiated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and is being implemented as a flagship project of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF). The centre is intended to provide a permanent platform for exhibitions, artistic research, education and cultural exchange.
The building housing CCA Tashkent was constructed in 1912 according to a design by architect Wilhelm Heinzelmann. It was originally used as a tram depot and later as a diesel station, before being entrusted to the Art and Culture Development Foundation in 2019 as part of its long-term cultural development strategy. Rather than replacing the historic structure with a new building, the project preserves its architectural character and industrial heritage while adapting it for contemporary cultural use.
The architectural transformation was developed in collaboration with French architecture firm Studio KO. The concept combines contemporary materials and infrastructure with the existing historic structure, preserving elements of the building while creating spaces suitable for modern cultural activities.
CCA Tashkent will include exhibition spaces, educational and public areas, a library and research infrastructure. Its program will extend beyond exhibitions to lectures, film screenings, research projects, discussions, concerts, performances and other cultural and educational events.
The center is designed as a place for both local and international artistic exchange, connecting Uzbekistan's contemporary art scene with wider cultural networks. CCA Tashkent describes itself as a permanent centre for contemporary art, research and community interaction in the heart of the capital. Its program will include exhibitions, residencies and interdisciplinary public initiatives.
The center is also expected to contribute to Tashkent’s cultural landscape by bringing contemporary art, research and public programming into a historic part of the city. The opening exhibition, HIKMAH, is scheduled to run from September 6, 2026, to January 31, 2027, with free admission listed by the center.
