The official opening ceremony is set for May, as stated in the “Action Plan for Declaring the City of Shusha as the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World for 2024,” approved by Prime Minister Ali Asadov. Various ministries, including the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with the special representation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Shusha district, are involved in the preparations.
Additionally, a network of cultural capitals of Islamic countries will be established in Shusha this year, with the first meeting scheduled to take place within this new framework. The Ministry of Culture and the Shusha City State Reserve Department have been tasked with overseeing these initiatives.
The year-long celebration will feature numerous events, including the Cultural Forum of the Islamic World, an international conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation focused on the protection of cultural heritage, and a round table and exhibition on the vanishing intangible cultural heritage of the Islamic world. Other highlights include the presentation of the book “Economy of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation,” the unveiling of a special postage stamp and online resources dedicated to Shusha as the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World 2024, and an exhibition showcasing footage of the cultural heritage of Shusha, Islamic countries, and Azerbaijan’s liberated territories captured from space. The festivities will conclude with an official closing ceremony in December.
