The situation with the "House of the Artist," located at Chuy Avenue, 108 in Bishkek, raises serious concerns. The city administration has decided to annul the land rights, which has caused unrest among representatives of the creative community.
As reported by Jakshybek Junushev, chairman of the Union of Artists of Kyrgyzstan, the city administration's decree No. 52 dated February 23, 2026, deprives the organization of rights to the plot it has rented since 1995. Currently, there is a consideration of transferring this land from municipal to state ownership. Historically, the building has belonged to artists since the 1950s.
Jakshybek Junushev noted in an interview for 24.kg that there is a real threat of losing this cultural and historical object.
We are ready to present all necessary documents that refute the municipality's arguments and voice the opinion of the creative community.
Jakshybek Junushev
According to him, the building, commissioned in the 1950s, has become an important center for art, hosting exhibitions and housing workshops of renowned artists such as Semyon Chuykov, Gapar Aitieva, and Suymenkul Chokmorov.
Jakshybek Junushev emphasized that the Union rents the territory for 49 years, and the organization itself has been actively functioning for over 90 years.
“We learned from social media about the municipality's intention to transfer the territory under the building to the presidential administration. This prompted us to take active measures,” he added.
Moreover, in November 2025, employees of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan visited the artists, inquiring about the ownership of the building and the documentation.
Some artists were called in for separate discussions.
“We provided all requested documents. Later, representatives of the presidential administration came to us and offered three rooms in exchange, but we refused, as this is not just a building — it is an architectural monument and a space for exhibitions,” noted Jakshybek Junushev.
The area of the land plot, including the building and workshops, is approximately 11 acres.
The Union of Artists expresses concern that transferring the land without reliable guarantees may lead to demolition or a change in the purpose of the object. Representatives of the creative community demand the annulment of the city administration's decision, the exclusion of the issue from the city council's agenda, and the holding of open public hearings.
Artists have also appealed to the country's leadership with a request to preserve the "House of the Artist" as a significant cultural object and a space for creativity.
