Building a Community of Creatives

As a graphic design and digital marketing professional with more than 15 years of experience, I have always been passionate about building a community of creatives that can collaborate and support each other. After moving to Edinburgh from Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, I was inspired to establish the Central Asia Creative Hub (CACH).

The idea for CACH was born out of my personal experience of moving to a new country and the challenges that came with it. Despite being an experienced professional in my field, I had to start from scratch in Scotland and build a network of clients and contacts. This experience made me realize the importance of having a supportive community of like-minded individuals.

During the pandemic, I attended Raise Your Game Creative Edinburgh’s Digital Skills Programme. This programme helped me gain new skills and knowledge, but more importantly, it introduced me to a diverse group of creatives who shared my passion for building a community of support.

Inspired by the diverse creative landscape of Edinburgh, I decided to establish CACH, a long-term project aimed at building a collaborative and supportive community of creatives with a Central Asian background (origin). As an active participant in Edinburgh’s art and cultural events, I realized that Central Asian culture is underrepresented on Edinburgh’s cultural stage.

Central Asia is a vast region situated in the centre of the Eurasian continent, rich in cultural, ethnic, and creative diversity. By building a community of Central Asian creatives, CACH aims to bring this diversity to the forefront and showcase it to the wider community.

The Central Asia Creative Hub is an online networking platform and a working group of creative professionals and practitioners who are passionate about promoting Central Asian culture in the United Kingdom. Through CACH, we hope to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of the diverse cultures and artistic practices of Central Asia and establish it as a leading platform for promoting Central Asian creativity in the UK.

CACH is a long-term project that I plan to develop over the next few years. With mentoring support from Creative Edinburgh, I am grateful for the support and guidance I have received from Rachel Mays. I am confident that we can build a community that not only supports Central Asian creatives but also contributes to the wider creative community in Scotland.

Get Involved

We invite partners to join the Central Asia Creative Hub and be part of our community. As a partner of CACH, you will have the opportunity to connect with other like-minded individuals and organizations. We believe that by fostering collaboration and sharing knowledge and expertise, we can promote a greater understanding and appreciation of the diverse cultures and artistic practices of Central Asia.

Together, we can create a vibrant and inclusive cultural landscape in the UK that celebrates the best of Central Asian art, music, literature, and design. Join us on our website today and become part of our mission to promote Central Asian creativity and culture in the UK.

Sincerely,

Bibigul Makazhanova