ASHGABAT LITHO PRESS
What is it?
Ashgabat Litho Press is a community bank account and Voluntary Organisation.
It was set up in 2002 when English artist Bridget Tempest brought a stone lithography press to Turkmenistan for the purpose of giving Turkmen artists the possibility of exchange exhibitions of work on paper abroad.
Funds were raised to send this one tonne piece of machinery and ancillary printmaking equipment the 5000 mile journey to Ashgabat. Sponsorship was given by Lufthansa Cargo and Sloane Robinson Foundation.
It has been installed in the State Art Academy prior to being moved to a Graphics Centre for the use of all artists in Turkmenistan, not exclusively students studying at the Academy.
In the time that followed the successful installation of the press, Ashgabat Litho Press has been extended to include “A Cultural Directory for Turkmenistan”, a project commissioned by the British Embassy and researched by Bridget Tempest to provide reference for cultural dialogue between Turkmenistan and the United Kingdom.
There is an honorary administrator, Bridget Tempest, and two directors:
Mary Rose O’Neill (art historian)
Richard Rusby (lawyer)
What are its aims?
Ashgabat Litho Press is not a business.
Its aim is to promote understanding of Turkmenistan through its culture.
Participants should help each other to this end.
Ashgabat Litho Press provides the possibility of cultural exchange through the website.
Whom does it benefit?
Ashgabat Litho Press benefits any Turkmen citizen working in the cultural field who abides by the spirit of mutual cooperation.
How is it funded?
Ashgabat Litho Press was started with an initial donation from Sloane Robinson Foundation and fundraising activities by Bridget Tempest (slide talks, sales of prints etc)
Now it is funded by the activities it generates.
A percentage of sales from exhibitions, textiles and concerts are retained by Ashgabat Litho Press for future projects. This way it is entirely independent.
The Cultural Directory website was started with a small contribution from The British Embassy and The British Council and is now run in Ashgabat with the help of a grant from the American Embassy until it was impossible to continue due to circumstances beyond control.
Affiliated Projects
Project Cheper
The project is run by a group of women who also work with women from Velayats and etraps.
It is managed by following people:
Gyzylgul Meretmukhamedova
Ludmila Kiseleva
Aynabat Meredova
The aim of this project will be to upgrade the social and economic status of these women who will be able to produce high quality objects using raw materials that are widely available. It provides an opportunity to women entrepreneurs-craftsmakers to exchange experience through networking.It is funded by the articles it produces. 50% of the price from the sales of textiles goes to the craftsmakers, 50% retained by Project Cheper for marketing, raw materials and administrative expenses
A Cultural Directory for Turkmenistan www.turkmen.co.uk
In 2004 the British Embassy commissioned a Cultural Directory for Turkmenistan. There is a printed version and now a website regularly updated in Ashgabat to enable anyone involved in Turkmen cultural life to have a place.
The website has been removed by Leeds based Steven Beeseley, the designer.
Concrete Projects already initiated through Ashgabat Litho Press and TheCultural Directory Programme.
2002
“Turkmen At Wimpole” Exhibition of Turkmen culture at Wimpole Hall, Cambridgeshire.
Event with Ahal Teke horse, talk about Turkmen carpets by Dr Jon Thompson, Central Asian horses in War by Anne Hyland, Turkmen Philology by Yusuf Azmun and Paintings of Ahal Teke horses by Bridget Tempest
Catalogue research by Bridget Tempest
Organised by The British Embassy, Ashgabat and ALP
Funded by The British Embassy
1. 2003
The first exhibition of Turkmen Graphics in Ashgabat at Hotel Nisa including lithographic work by students at the State Art Academy.
Catalogue research by The British Embassy
Funded by The British Embassy and Lufthansa Cargo.
2. 2004
Exhibition of prints by Henry Moore from the British Council Collection at The Artists Union, Ashgabat
Lecture by David Mitchinson, Director of the Henry Moore Foundation.
Funded by The British Council.
3. 2004
Visit to UK by Alexandr Kinyakin, lithography tutor at State Art Academy.
One month in UK learning colour printing techniques for stone lithography.
Participates in exhibition “Printlink” with local Yorkshire artists at Skipton Castle Gallery.
Funded by ALP
4. 2004
Travelling exhibition “Works on Paper” at The Theatre, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.
Textile work from Project Cheper.
Funded by ALP
Travelling exhibition “Works on Paper” at Swan Mead Gallery, Bermondsey, London.
Visit by five Turkmen artists to London for one week to see museums in London. Visit to Ruskin School of Art, University of Oxford.
Catalogue prepared by Bridget Tempest
Funded by ALP with generous donation from Paul Kennedy Printing
5. 2004
Concert of piano music by Turkmen composers at Broughton Hall, Yorkshire played by Vladimir Mkrtumov.
Exhibition of textiles by Project Cheper.
Funded by ALP
Concert of piano and cello music by Turkmen composers by Vladimir Mkrtumov and Baymurad Kutlimuradov at Broughton Hall.
Recording made.
Funded by ALP
Follow up invitation for Vladimir Mkrtumov and Baymurad Kutlimuradov at Sledmere House, Yorkshire
Funded by ALP
6. 2005
Travelling Exhibition “Works on Paper” at the Mercer Gallery, Harrogate.
Visit by Chairmen of the Artist’s Union, Ashgabat and Mary to represent Turkmenistan at the Private View.
Exhibition of textiles by Project Cheper.
Funded by Harrogate Council and ALP
7. 2005
Concert of Chamber works by Turkmen composers by Quintet Nurana at Broughton Hall.
Funded by ALP
8. 2005
Visit by Project Cheper embroideress Aynabat Meredov to teach a workshop in Turkmen embroidery techniques and motifs at The Mercer Gallery, Harrogate. Gulshat Amandurdieva gave a talk on Project Cheper.
Funded by ALP
9. 2005
Concert of traditional Turkmen music by Lale and Maksat Begnazarov, voice, dutar and gyjak and Rovshen Nepesov and Serdar Haydarov on piano and balaman at Broughton Hall.
Funded by ALP
10. 2006
Visit by Yorkshire based knitware designer Joan Murray and weaving specialist Freylin Smith to Ashgabat to teach knitting machine techniques with local sustainable yarns at the House of Fashion, Ashgabat. Participating members of Project Cheper.
Funded by The British Embassy.
11. 2006
Christmas Concert of songs by Turkmen composers at Broughton Hall performed by Turkmen singers and musicians from Ashgabat.
Fashion show of Turkmen inspired garments by students from Craven College under leadership of Joan Murray.
Funded by ALP
12. 2006
First European performance of Chary Nurimov’s Ghazels in Amsterdam performed by Amsterdam Sinfonietta.
Visit to UK by Merdan Nurimov to attend this event. (Shengan visa sabotaged by Dutch consulate in Ashgabat so Merdan unable to visit Amsterdam.)
Organised through ALP and Amsterdam Sinfonietta.
Merdan’s visit funded by ALP
13. 2007
Exhibition of paintings and decorative arts from Turkmenistan at Asia House, London
Concert by Lale Begnarzarova and Akmurad Yakupov
Carpets from Turkmenhaly.
Talk by Dr Jon Thompson
Funded by Burren Energy
Organised by ALP
Exhibition of paintings and decorative arts by contemporary Turkmen artists and private collection of antique carpets and jewellery at The Mercer Gallery, Harrogate.
Opened by Mayor of Harrogate.
Funded by Burren Energy
Organised by ALP
14. 2007
Visiting Turkmen artists Murad Hojaguliev and Mamed Yarmammedov to Yorkshire to exhibit work at the Grassington Festival with local artists from Yorkshire.
Funded by Sloane Robinson Foundation
Organised by ALP
15. 2008
Visiting artist Dariy Asadulleyev at Craven College, Skipton to work with the students and make an installation about contemporary Turkmen art.
Funded by ALP
What Ashgabat Litho Press is not
Ashgabat Litho Press is not a business.
It exists solely for the purposes of promotion.
As soon as any beneficiaries are deemed to be taking advantage of it for their own personal gain, any financial support will be no longer valid.
It is entirely non – political and independent.
The administrator and directors will have the final decision in any controversy.
Assets
Press for Stone Lithography.
All printmaking equipment connected with its operation
Computer equipment for website
www.turkmen.co.uk
www.turkmenculture.org
Scanner
Camera
Recording machine
Microphone
All enquiries to Bridget Tempest
bridgettempest@btinternet.com
December 2008
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