Phase I of the project, called “Month in Museums” ran from June to December 2010. This phase set a good start for the development of relationships and the fruitful cooperation with central museums, located in Almaty and the capital city, Astana, and expanded beyond to the regions of Kazakhstan.

With the help of volunteering students of English language and other international specialisations from nine HEIs in Almaty, and students of Russian language from five HEIs in the United Kingdom, 18 museums have got at least 1000 copies of their unique brochures, guidebooks and fliers, in English.

The brochures were designed, compiled, illustrated and printed by the British Council, in cooperation with partner museums. Below is the list of museums, engaged in the “Month in Museums” phase of the project.

1. The Museum of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana
2. ALZHIR - Museum-Memorial Complex of Victims of Political Repressions and Totalitarianism, Astana
3. The Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaty
4. The Geological Museum of Kazakhstan, Almaty
5. The State Museum of the Book, Almaty
6. National Museum of Folk Musical Instruments, Almaty
7. Museum of A.H. Margulan, the Institute of Archaeology, Almaty
8. State Museum of Arts of Republic of Kazakhstan named after A. Kasteev, Almaty
9. The Museum of the History of Almaty
10. Museum named after A. Baitursinuli, Almaty
11. State Literary-Memorial Museum Complex named after S. Mukanov and G. Musrepov, Almaty
12. Republic Museum of Sports and Olympic Glory, Almaty
13. The House Museum of D.A. Kunayev, Almaty
14. Central Museum of Railway Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaty
15. West-Kazakhstan Museum History and Local Lore, Uralsk
16. The  Museum to the Victims of Political Repressions, Shymkent
17. Zhezkazgan Historic-Archaeological Museum, Zhezkazgan town
18. “Monuments of Ancient Taraz” State Historical-Cultural Museum and National Park, Jambyl region.

The volume of work, that our volunteers had to do, equalled one month’s regular work of a typical student’s summer job in Kazakhstan. Also, some British students visited Kazakhstan to do a one month internship at Kazakhstan museums, hence the name of the first phase of the Museums Modernisation project.

To promote the project, the British Council arts team delivered face to face presentations to over 450 students and teachers at 12 HEIs. Announcements were sent to 14 UK HEIs with a call for volunteers for this worthwhile project.

Over 75 Kazakhstani students participated in the competition, run by British Council, Kazakhstan, to identify best translators for volunteer work on the project.

The translations done by Kazakh students were edited and proof-read by their British counterparts. Visiting British students worked together with Kazakh students on translations.

The “Month in Museums” phase was complete by the end of December 2010. An award ceremony, held at the British Council in January 2011 gathered all stakeholders together – Museum directors, from Astana and Almaty, students, representatives of the Ministry of Culture from Astana and project partners from the Akimat of Almaty. Museums received brochures and partner certificates, in time for the Winter Games “Asiada 2011” and students their well-deserved certificates and branded goods from the British Council Kazakhstan.

You can see the photo-stream of this event on our face-book page.

Please find a photo-album related to the museums project here