Bukhara Biennial: Architect Kulapat Yantrasast has been appointed artistic director of the 2027 Bukhara Biennial (Sept 3–Nov 21), with a plan to treat infrastructure as culture and pair international artists with local experts and communities. Heritage & restoration: The US and Uzbekistan marked the first phase of Sherdor Madrasa restoration in Registan Square, backed by the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, and signed a five-year roadmap for further work. Culture policy: Uzbekistan is expanding support for the culture sector via new tax incentives and social benefits for cultural workers, alongside broader reforms to film-industry governance. Education & access: From June 3, Uzbek university applicants with B1 foreign-language certificates can receive 75% of the maximum score in entrance exams. International connectivity for culture: Hong Kong and Uzbekistan moved toward a mutual 30-day visa-free arrangement, while Hong Kong’s business delegation in Tashkent secured dozens of agreements and pushed trade, innovation, and people-to-people links. Ancient science story: Archaeologists in Surkhandarya report a 4,000-year-old child’s skull showing trepanation, offering rare evidence of early surgical practice in Central Asia. Environment with a cultural angle: Uzbekistan announced it will become a donor to the Global Environment Facility, positioning Samarkand as a hub for green economy and climate finance.