The DOST Inclusive Development and Creativity Centre, operating under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population, participated for the first time in the 15th Gabala International Music Festival.

As part of the Festival, organised on the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Baku Academy of Music named after Uzeyir Hajibeyli, and Gilan, a sales exhibition featuring handicrafts created by the Centre’s beneficiaries, along with a concert programme, was held.

To promote an inclusive creative environment, festival participants were given the opportunity to purchase handicrafts produced at the Centre through the dostart.az online platform. The exhibition showcased nearly 100 works of art created by authors from vulnerable groups using a variety of artistic styles and techniques.

On the third day of the Festival, members of the Centre presented a concert programme at the Heydar Aliyev Congress Centre in Gabala.

Prior to the concert, the audience was informed about the Centre’s activities and its main areas of service. It was noted that the Centre, inaugurated on 22 October 2021 with the participation of President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and Leyla Aliyeva, supports the development of the creative potential of individuals from vulnerable groups while enhancing their professional skills and employment opportunities.

As part of the concert programme, the Centre’s instructors and beneficiaries performed a specially prepared repertoire. The musicians were accompanied by the Inclusive Ensemble under the artistic direction of Honoured Artist Emil Afrasiyab, Deputy Head of the Centre’s Music Creativity Department, and by the Chamber Orchestra conducted by Mustafa Mehdamdarov, Head of the Collective Creativity Department.

The music festival, which continues until 3 August, has brought together renowned musicians and dancers from Azerbaijan, Germany, Russia, Austria, Kazakhstan, Moldova, the Netherlands, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.