Children's Dreams Set Sail: The Ship of Tolerance Provides Backdrop for UNESCO Youth Forum Concert in Samarkand

The 20th anniversary of the launch of the world-renowned Ship of Tolerance art installation will be marked by a concert in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, ahead of the 43rd UNESCO General Conference and the 14th UNESCO Youth Forum, both of which are being hosted in the historic city.

The Ship of Tolerance, which made its first appearance in Egypt in 2005 and has since been displayed in almost 20 cities across three continents, will provide the spectacular backdrop to a carnival of music and dance involving some of the hundreds of children and young people from around the world.

After delighting hundreds of thousands of visitors over two decades, The Ship of Tolerance is making its debut in Central Asia thanks to a collaboration between the Ilya and Emilia Kabakov Foundation, which was established by the husband-and-wife artists who conceived the project, and the Republican Children’s Library in Uzbekistan. As an evacuee during the Second World War, Ilya Kabakov spent several years in Samarkand, where he began his formal art education.

Located close to the Silk Road Samarkand Conference Center where the UNESCO General Conference will be held, the installation will inspire delegates from 194 countries who are attending the event between 30th October and 13th November. It is the first time in 40 years that the UNESCO General Conference has been held outside of France, a recognition of Uzbekistan’s internationally acclaimed commitment to the arts and culture championed by Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and led by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF).

Variously described by art commentators as “a living monument to tolerance and peace” and a “moving testament to the possibility of unity in diversity”, The Ship of Tolerance has previously appeared at sites in the U.S., Canada, the UK, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Cuba. While new vessels are usually built for each venue, they always remain true to the original design which features a 20ft long wooden hull. The difference comes with its large sail, unique in each location and created by stitching together hundreds of individual pictures created by local children that capture their personal messages of tolerance and hope.

The development of images for The Ship of Tolerance project in Samarkand involved more than 1,000 children from across Uzbekistan, including art school students and residents of children’s homes. Those contributing were supported by young artists, illustrators, and designers from across Uzbekistan.

Emilia Kabakov, whose late husband is considered the father of the Moscow Conceptualism artistic movement, said: “It is incredibly meaningful for me that the Ship of Tolerance is coming to life in Samarkand as Uzbekistan is hosting the UNESCO General Conference and that it is playing an important role in the UNESCO Youth Forum concert.

“Children’s drawings and their stories invite us to reflect on our collective future. Through their eyes - full of wonder, imagination, and a sincere belief in the impossible - The Ship of Tolerance encourages us to imagine how we might make the world a better place.”

Praising the spirit of adventure that The Ship of Tolerance embodies, Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of the ACDF and the National Commission of Uzbekistan on UNESCO Affairs, said: “The Ship is inspired by the child’s perspective - a way of seeing the world as wide open and brimming with possibility. It’s a state where curiosity outweighs convention, where adventure comes naturally and the rules are yet to be written. This vision often fades as we grow older, but it lives on within us, reminding us that true creativity is born from staying connected to our inner child - the fearless explorer who meets the world with unguarded wonder.”

The UNESCO Youth Forum brings together young people aged 18 to 35 from around the world to discuss and engage directly with decision-makers on pressing global issues including education, culture, science and sustainable development. The central theme at this year’s event held between 27th and 28th October is “Climate action and social impacts, particularly for young people”.

The Republican Children’s Library in Uzbekistan has been a cornerstone of children’s education and cultural development in Tashkent since it was established in 1965. A comprehensive renovation of the library supported by the ACDF was completed in 2023, allowing it to serve as a modern book institution, cultural centre and public space for children and adults.

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 ABOUT THE ACDF

Established in 2017, the mission of the ACDF is to protect, promote, and globally integrate Uzbekistan’s artistic heritage, including 25 sites and locations listed on various UNESCO heritage lists. It is dedicated to safeguarding tangible and intangible cultural assets, fostering international cooperation, supporting contemporary artistic innovation and making cultural institutions more accessible and inclusive.

The ACDF has spearheaded a series of ambitious projects, including an inaugural biennial arts event in Bukhara which has transformed the city, part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for Craft and Folk Art since 2023, into a global hub for artistic exchange. It has also led major museum renovations in Uzbekistan, arranged acclaimed exhibitions at the Louvre and the Arab World Institute in Paris and represented Uzbekistan at the Venice Biennale.

ACDF website

ABOUT GAYANE UMEROVA

As Chairperson of the ACDF and Head of the Department of Creative Economy and Tourism in the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Ms. Umerova is at the forefront of advancing Uzbekistan’s cultural infrastructure and international presence.

Her work spans numerous major cultural initiatives, including the restoration of the Centre for Contemporary Arts in Tashkent and the construction of the new State Museum of Arts. In addition to being Chairperson of the National Commission of Uzbekistan on UNESCO Affairs and helping to secure the hosting of the 43rd UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, she serves as Commissioner for Uzbekistan’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka and the inaugural Bukhara Biennial which opened in September 2025.

After studying contemporary art in the UK, including at The University of Manchester and Sotheby’s Institute of Art, her career began at the Fine Arts Gallery of Uzbekistan, where she curated several notable exhibitions.

Gayane Umerova biography