Icherisheher, Baku’s Inner Town, inscribed on the UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List in
2000. 25
well-known artists from 20 countries took part in the 2
nd
festival. By decorating the
Maiden Tower’s scale models in their own national style and patterns, they succeeded in
creating the works of art providing synthesis of various cultures and traditions. These works will
become an essential tool in promoting the Maiden Tower, a part of the world cultural heritage,
by being demonstrated in various countries across the world.
There were 24 artists in the 3
rd
international festival. To draw public attention to the
“
Caucasian Big Five” – the animals in danger, the IDEA ecological campaign prepared figures
of gazelles. Those figures were decorated by the artists from the previous years, who had already
become the friends of the project. Another aspect of the festival was using the video-mapping
technology on the Maiden Tower.
During the closing ceremony, “Maiden Tower” art projects of previous years were
projected on the tower, with the help of 30 projectors from 7 different angles.
Restoration of historical and cultural monuments and cultural sites
In Azerbaijan
Restoration of historical and cultural monuments and cultural sites is among the major
priority areas for the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
In 2005, the Foundation supported erection of the tombs at the graves of Javad-Khan, the
last ruler of the town of Ganja, and Jomard Gassab, Ganja’s recognized public figure and
philanthropist of the 7th century. The famous Ganja Gate manufactured by the renowned local
blacksmith Osmanoghlu Ibrahim in 1063 and taken away by invaders in the aftermath of the
earthquake in 1139, was thoroughly restored to its original view by the Heydar Aliyev
Foundation in 2008. Adorned by the national ornaments, the Gate was re-installed at the city’s
entrance.
The memorial residence (flat) of Abdulla Shaig, the famous Azerbaijani writer and
educator, was thoroughly renovated by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in 2005.
A new public library building was erected by the Foundation in Mardakan settlement of
Baku’s Khazar District in 2005. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation also provided equipment and
most recent periodicals to the library with an overall stock of 86 thousand books.
Renovation works were initiated in 2007 at the Mardakan Palace of Culture. The building
got a brand new appearance with the centralized air conditioning, alarm and fire security
systems installed. The Palace’s Main Hall with the capacity of 400 seats got furnished with up-
to-date equipment, lighting and acoustic systems. The overall area of other facilities like the
junior hall with 150 seats, lecture auditoriums, dancing rooms and a dozen of study groups is
4641
square meters. The Palace’s library with almost 10 thousand books in stock is currently
providing services for more than 6 thousand readers.