Locations“Art for me is not just a hobby, it is my contribution to the future of the country,” says 28-year-old Aruuke Adatova
“Kyrgyz Boyok”: How Aruuke Adatova Is Painting the Future of Her Hometown
June 19, 2026
Aruuke Adatova
UNDP Kyrgyzstan
“Art for me is not just a hobby, it is my contribution to the future of the country,”
says 28-year-old Aruuke Adatova. In the city of Manas, her art studio “Kyrgyz Boёk” has become a place where, under the sound of the pottery wheel and the rustle of brushes, a creative economy of Kyrgyzstan is developing on the local level.
The idea of opening her own studio came to Aruuke during a trip to Türkiye. She was struck by the rhythm of life of local women. Despite their busy work schedules, they always found time for themselves: going to workshops, doing crafts, painting.
“I asked myself: why in Kyrgyzstan, especially in my hometown, do women not pay attention to self-development through creativity? We are rich in culture and traditions, but in everyday routines we have begun to forget the importance of creation,” Aruuke recalls. Returning home, she decided that there should be a space in Manas where everyone could feel like a creator.
Aruuke is a professional in her field. She studied at an art school, completed online courses in contemporary art, and trained in pottery. She originally envisioned her studio as an “oasis for women,” where instead of going to cafés they could create something meaningful with their own hands.
But reality turned out to be broader than the original idea. Fathers and children soon began to join the mothers in the studio, as parents wanted their children to also engage in art.
As a result, the studio became a family space where children and parents work together with clay and paints.
“This brings generations together and strengthens family bonds,” she says proudly.
Her story is part of broader transformations taking place in Kyrgyzstan today within the development of the creative economy and small business as drivers of inclusive growth.
The development of creative industries and entrepreneurship is part of the country’s national priorities and efforts to implement the National Development Programme of the Kyrgyz Republic until 2030. In this process, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Jalal-Abad regional administration, the local self-government bodies of the city of Manas, and UNDP work as part of an integrated support system aimed at expanding economic opportunities for women and youth and promoting regional development through entrepreneurship.
“This support allowed us to expand and create quality conditions for residents. Now Manas can proudly showcase a real workshop where art is accessible to everyone,” says Aruuke.
One of Aruuke’s key goals is to revive interest in national art among young people. She believes that Kyrgyz ornaments and crafts should not remain in the past but become part of modern life.
“We combine old culture with modern design. This is our way of not forgetting our roots.”
The name “Kyrgyz Boyok” was chosen deliberately. Aruuke has an ambitious goal — to create a national brand of art materials.
“My big dream is that in five years I will see art materials produced in Kyrgyzstan, under our brand, on store shelves. If ‘Kyrgyz Boyok’ becomes the first national producer of creative materials, it will be my greatest achievement.”
Aruuke’s story is not an isolated example. Youth entrepreneurship is actively developing through the Janyration (“New Generation”) network, with financial support from the Government of the Russian Federation and UNDP.
Under this initiative, 76 youth business projects have already been supported with a total of USD 312,000, creating around 200 jobs. Another 52 projects are currently under implementation and are expected to create an additional approximately 150 jobs with total investments of USD 442,000. Such initiatives are part of a broader process of developing the creative economy in the regions of Kyrgyzstan, where local studios and entrepreneurial spaces are forming new engines of growth and employment.
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