Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- “Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan” Foundation (the Fund Forum) for the fourth time has organized the most high-profile cultural event in Central Asia, Art Week Style.Uz 2009. Being initiated and led by Dr. Gulnara Karimova, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Fund Forum, the Art Week Style.Uz puts together an amazing mix of art exhibitions, presentations, round tables, master-classes, charity initiatives, competitions and fashion-shows - all aimed ultimately at promoting contemporary Uzbek arts and culture, developing local specialists and supporting young talented professionals in all related spheres. Versatile grant programs and scholarship schemes are an integral part of the project allocated to traditional crafts dynasties, national weaving schools and arts activists.

Uzbek designers as usual had a chance to present their contemporary fashion interpretation on Underground show by young designers, on magnificent as always National Dress Festival and General defile by Dom Stilya (House of Style) fashion house established stylists. During the Week along with exhibitions and presentations by local artists and fashion-shows by Uzbek designers internationally recognized fashion houses presented to public their latest collections. Fashion Houses of Valentino (Italy), Oscar de la Renta (USA), Sonia Rykiel (France), Galit Levi (Israel), Vardui Nazaryan (Russia) were the major hits of the Week.

Every year the project attracts significant international attention and brings together world famous designers, music stars, arts and culture prominent figures, specialized media and fashion specialists. This time among Style.Uz 2009 most notable participants and guests were de Grisogono President and founder Mr. Favaz Gruosi, Chopard vice-president Mrs. Caroline Gruosi-Sheufele (Switzerland), Dior Paris Director Silvia Russo (France), ’MacDougalls Arts Ltd.’ London auction house President and founder William MacDougall (UK), DJ Yves LaRock (Switzerland), football star Paolo Maldini (Italy), Montserrat Caballe, Sting and many others.

One of the most memorable surprises for local public during the week was live Montserrat Caballe performance on the evening dedicated to GULI jewellery line presentation. The entire event was open and held in famous Tashkent chime hall with outside screen transmitting real time performance by one of the world’s most famous soprano for greater general public outreach.

The Fund Forum on Saturday October 17, the last day of the Week, at the Tashkent Sate Opera and Ballet Theatre organized a local children support initiative in cooperation with world music legend Sting. Mr. Gordon Sumner (a.k.a. Sting) before his concert in Tashkent awarded Special grant diplomas to 5 young Uzbek talents - all winners of two major competitions in the country, Yangi Avlod (New Generation) Children’s creativity festival and Kelajak Ovozi (Voice of the Future) Talented youth competition.

The Sting concert itself was a charity event. All of the funds raised from ticket sales will be directed to charity and social activities of the Fund Forum along with its grant and scholarship programmes. More than half of the tickets were reserved free for Fund’s youth projects participants, young professionals, activists and volunteers along with Uzbekistan prominent arts and culture figures and accredited media.

In order to allow as many fans and Tashkent citizens as possible to see the concert of one of the worlds most popular music star two big screens were positioned in the square outside the State Theatre. This made possible a great amount of people to enjoy the concert freely broadcasted in real time.

It was simply amazing to see Uzbek Sting fans to know each single word of his lyrics and sing all the tunes. Sting responded to such a warm audience performing for more than a an hour and a half concert giving 3 more additional songs at the end.

The main goal of the entire Art Week, whose Sting’s Concert was only the final closing event, was to let to know the entire world the enormous potential of Uzbek Arts and Culture, in a modern way reinterpreted by young Uzbek talents, giving hem the unique opportunity to let them to be known by a wider audience and to have the chance to become tomorrow successful and popular at international level.