The central element of the project by Ilya and Emilia Kabakov is a sail woven from more than a thousand children’s drawings collected from across the country—each one telling a story of peace, hope, and mutual understanding.

Marking the 20th anniversary of its international success, the project is being presented in Central Asia for the first time. Since its premiere in Egypt in 2005, the Ship of Tolerance has traveled to nearly two dozen cities around the world, collecting unique stories told through the visual language of art.

The opening was accompanied by an International Children’s Concert held as part of the 14th UNESCO Youth Forum. Young musicians from Uzbekistan and other countries performed on stage—orchestras, choirs, and ensembles played classical and folk compositions, emphasizing the role of art as a universal language of cultural dialogue.