Cultural Life of Baku

The National Art Museum of Azerbaijan is a treasury of national values and the cultural heritage of the country. The museum houses over 17,000 artworks was established in 1936. Since 1943 it has been named after Azerbaijani theatre artist Rustam Mustafayev, one of the key founders of theatre and decorative art in Azerbaijan.

The History Museum was opened in 1921 in one of the most beautiful Baku architectural monuments, in the home of the famous patron and philanthropist Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev. The ethnography collection of the museum includes 9,000 exhibits describing everyday life in the households of our city.

The Nizami Museum of Azerbaijani Literature was established in 1945, later expanded and reconstructed between 1959-1967. The Nizami Museum collects, explores and stores research and other materials on Azerbaijani literature and culture, and displays them in expositions and exhibitions.

The Azerbaijani Museum of Carpets was established in 1967 and is one of the first museums in the world that specializes in the collection, storage and research of carpets. The museum collection includes about 14,000 carpets, clothes, copper items, jewellery, glass, wood and numdah items. The new four-storey building of the Carpet Museum on the seashore was opened in 2014. In 2010 “Carpet Weaving Art of the Republic of Azerbaijan” was included in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage and in 2014 “Art of Kelagai of Azerbaijan” was included in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO.

The Museum Centre’s building was constructed in 1960 according to architect Hasan Majidov’s and timed to coincide with the 90th birthday of V.I.Lenin. After collapse of USSR in 1991, the building was transferred to the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The building hosts four different museums: Azerbaijan State Museum of Carpets and Folk Applied Art; Jabbar Jabbarli Azerbaijan State Theatre Museum; Museum of Azerbaijan’s Independence; Azerbaijan State Museum of History of Religion.

The Petroglyphic paintings of Gobustan are the most ancient archaeological artefacts in Azerbaijan. This monument located in Garadagh region includes many paintings and evidence of pre-historic human settlements. The state archaeological reserve at Gobustan is included in UNESCO World Heritage List

Sh. Gurbanov Azerbaijan State Music Theatre has a special role: for many years music comedies laughed at feudal patriarchy, ignorance, social inequality, the exclusion of women and other social problems that existed in society. Currently, the theatre is staging the following performances: Banker Groom; American Son-in-Law; If not this girl, then that one; Who is guilty?

On March 10, 1873, national professional theatre was founded with establishment of Azerbaijan State Drama Theatre. Nowadays, the theatre stages performances based on works of Azerbaijani stage writers and world drama classics. Outstanding actors perform in such plays as Haji Gara, The Dead, Hamlet, Siyavush, and Vagif.

The Azerbaijan State Youth Theatre is focused on children and teenagers. Established in 1928 as the Baku Children’s Theatre, it has functioned as the State Youth Theatre since 1936. The theatre’s repertoire is dominated by fairy tales based on literature for children, and adventures and comedies for teenagers.

The Abdulla Shaig Azerbaijan State Puppet Theatre was established in 1931. In 1960-1970s the theatre mainly staged performances for children and school students but since 1975 there have been plays for adult audience as well. The main focus is on plays like Tik-Tik Khanum, Jirtdan, Faux Prince, Beatiful Fatma, Aladdin, and Shangulum, Shungulum.

The Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre was established in 1920 as the United Azerbaijan State Theatre. Since 1959 it has had the status of Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. Their repertoire includes masterpieces of opera classics by Azerbaijani and world authors: Leyli and Majnun, Koroglu, Maiden Tower, Seven Beauties, Thunder Path, Carmen, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Giselle, and Tosca.

The Azerbaijan State Pantomime Theatre is the first Azerbaijan theatre of pantomime in history. The Theatre was founded by Bakhtiyar Hani-Zadeh, an honoured artist of Azerbaijan. The Theatre promotes performances of the pantomime genre to an Azerbaijani audience.

The Samad Vurgun Azerbaijan State Russian Drama Theatre was established in 1920. For many years it has staged plays written by famous Azerbaijani and world playwrights. Among them the following plays are worth noting: Don Carlos, Romeo and Juliet, Aydin, Sevil, Bride of Fire, and Farkhad and Shirin.