The UK based Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) and Kazakh National Academy of Arts named after Temirbek Zhurgenev have connected to build a long-term partnership within the British Council’s New Silk Road Project.

The universities launched a two-week exchange programme for teachers of Fashion and Design. Two lecturers from Kazakh Academy of Arts visited Manchester at the end of February 2010. The visitors tapped into MMU resources, interacted with its staff and students and got an insight into Manchester’s unique fashion retailing business. This introductory educational visit also gauged the students’ interest to Central Asian and Kazakh culture as a source for inspiration in fashion design.

A similar visit to Kazakhstan was organised for MMU teachers in March 2010. The UK participants learned more about latest developments in Kazakhstan’s fashion industry, met local designers and production companies. They also delivered a number of lectures, to staff and students at Kazakh Academy of Arts, on clothing design techniques and the European retail sector.

The New Silk Road project was dedicated to marshal the arts traditions of Central and South Asia in order to emphasise the creative energies of participating countries and to help people of the East and West find a common language through recognising and using Eastern creativity in the modern world. Apart from giving the participants an opportunity to explore the skills and context of the host country, this successful exchange programme paved the way to a longer-term partnership between MMU and the Zhurgenev Academy.

British Council’s commitment to facilitate exchange of ideas and sharing experience between various British and Kazakhstan Fashion and Design respresentatives will continue into coming months and years with the New Work New Audiences project.

Watch video report on youtube.

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