Abulfas Garayev addressed the public through the official Facebook page of the Ministry of Culture
Dear culture lovers!
These days, vital steps are being taken in Azerbaijan, as in many countries, about the coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, which has spread around the world. President Ilham Aliyev noted in his address to the nation on the occasion of Novruz holiday on March 19, from the first days of the spread of the disease, our state has been cooperating closely with the World Health Organization and taking all preventive measures on the organization's recommendations. The Operational Headquarters established under the Cabinet of Ministers by order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan coordinates the activities of government agencies and operatively informs the public about the work done. It is known that the actions of cultural institutions have been temporarily suspended as part of the social isolation measures. Of course, the priority of human health makes these steps necessary. But even if the work process is interrupted, modern technology allows us to continue our social life and activities in a certain way from our home. We can also use social media, e-mail, and other online means to keep in touch with one another. That is why we should try to evaluate this situation effectively, which forces us to social isolation in our homes. In the current case, the field of culture also has an important public mission, and I would like to share with you some of my thoughts in this regard.
"Today, with the attention and care of the President, by the signed decrees and approved state programs, various areas of culture - music, theater, cinema, fine arts, museums, libraries, cultural heritage, folk art, and others, as well as Important projects are being implemented to develop and promote the creative cultural industry, which is a relatively new direction for us. One of the main goals of the work done in recent years on the development of culture is to expand the use of modern technologies in all areas and increase the level of service, to strengthen further the connection of the country's population with culture. New initiatives are being implemented towards this goal. We want our culture to be recognized worldwide, to gain high value at the UNESCO level, and our cultural richness to visit all segments of our society, our home, our family, our way of life because the culture is the source of spirit and spirituality of every nation. President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly emphasized in his speeches on this issue, one of the main factors that kept the Azerbaijani people alive in the most challenging periods of its history, providing them with high spirits and confidence in the future was our spiritual and cultural values, the heritage of words and art, literature and art. Cultural heritage is the soul of the people. It is no coincidence that these days, although there are no mass folk festivals, Novruz, celebrated by each of us at home and with his family, is also a holiday of the cultural heritage and spirit of our people. These days, when we once again feel the value of the people's sense, I call on each of you to follow the necessary social isolation measures announced by government agencies. Also, to establish close contact with this richness of our culture through new technological opportunities - television, Internet, available electronic resources. In recent years, many projects have been implemented to disseminate our cultural heritage through modern information technologies and make it accessible to everyone. The projects initiated by the First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva by the Haydar Aliyev Foundation, which enable the dissemination of our musical pearls and mugams by electronic means, are a clear example of this. Also, the Ministry of Culture has implemented several projects to get acquainted with our cultural heritage, art, and literature in electronic format, virtually. In the current situation, new projects are being prepared in this direction.
In this situation, taking into account the necessary social isolation, we have launched the initiative "Stay at home, create at home." Initiated by the Ministry of Culture and the portal "Creative Azerbaijan," citizens can win valuable prizes by using their creativity at home. Every citizen can share their creativity on the "Creative Azerbaijan" Facebook page, and I call on all our creative people to promote this movement.
In the coming days, a training program, "Learn #creativity at home," will be broadcast on the "Culture" channel, as well as on the Ministry's YouTube channel, Facebook, and Instagram pages. This project will help adults to discover their creative potential and develop their skills. It will be interesting for both children and teenagers. Besides, TV lessons for children's music and art schools under the Ministry will be shown. Video lessons of exemplary master classes on various musical instruments have been posted on the educational portal of the Ministry's Children's Music and Art Schools (http://music.mctgov.az/), and their number will be increased.
Baku City Main Department of Culture has started to implement social projects by electronic means. To demonstrate unity in these difficult days, the initiative calling on our compatriots and artists to join the "Let's go Yalli" video-sharing call from home, the "Virtual Journey to Our Homeland" project implemented in support of the "Know Your Country" project, etc. The official website of the Ministry (mct.gov.az), as well as our Facebook and Instagram pages, have electronic resources to get acquainted with the whole spectrum of our culture, as well as links to many useful sources.
Today, anyone can get e-books for reading through their e-mails by visiting the websites of the National Library of Azerbaijan (anl.az) and the Republican Children's Library (clb.az). There are also electronic libraries on the sites of the centralized library systems of our cities and regions. In the "Live Book" project implemented by the Ministry of Culture in cooperation with Radio Antenna 101 FM, samples of the world and Azerbaijani literature are broadcast live from 10:00 to 12:00 every day of the week, as well as opportunities to read from the electronic resources of the Ministry's libraries are reported. Anyone can also use the online audio library with the support of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies. You can also listen to your selected works free of charge by calling 1541 via the landline.
Following the current situation, our museums continue their activities online by electronic means. Today, every Internet user can get acquainted with the rich collection of our museums ("Virtual Museum" project) sitting at home. Virtual plans such as are now available to everyone.
Azerbaijan National Museum of Art (http://nationalartmuseum.az/), Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum (http://azcarpetmuseum.az/), Azerbaijan State Museum of Musical Culture (www.musicmuseum.az/en/index.php), Azerbaijan State Theater Museum (http://teatrmuzeyi.musigi-dunya.az) and others. Museums provide virtual tours and excursions of exhibitions, lessons, and lectures through their websites and social networks YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, etc., as well as video links to programs of various TV channels dedicated to individual museums. It is open for use on the museums' Facebook page and YouTube channel. You have the opportunity to watch many of our films, as well as tape recordings of theater and television performances, concerts on YouTube and other Internet resources.
In short, I invite you to get in touch with the richness of Azerbaijani culture, our literary, cultural and historical heritage, and our art.
The realities of the complicated situation, the necessary social isolation measures, on the one hand, may seem like a limitation to you. Still, on the other hand, you can turn this situation into a productive cultural activity in your home, family environment. Because these days, you probably have more time at home, with your family, and more free time than you can dedicate to yourself and your loved ones. Our culture can also help you to evaluate this effect. Never lose your creative spirit. At the same time, I appeal to cultural workers to continue their activities through current technological opportunities and the Internet. These days, each of us must think about the health of ourselves, our loved ones, and all our people, and follow the recommendations made by government agencies and experts. Let's not forget that all decisions are essential for all of us as a nation. I am confident that under the leadership of Mr. President, with the joint efforts of relevant government agencies and our society, our country will soon overcome this challenging test.
Our cultural heritage for centuries has always been with us as a source of spirit and life. Be close to our cultural heritage these days. There is a proverb: the life of a stressful day is short. These days will be left behind. We will soon meet you live in theaters and concert halls, museums and exhibition halls, libraries and other cultural centers.