Almaty Museum of Arts has announced the launch of screenings of the documentary “Museum at the Crossroads”, a compelling story about the creation of one of the most important cultural projects in Kazakhstan in recent years, DKNews.kz reports.
The film traces the journey of Almaty Museum of Arts from the initial idea and intuition of its founders — entrepreneur, philanthropist and art collector Nurlan Smagulov and his wife Madina Smagulova — to the emergence of a unique cultural space that has taken its place on the global art map. Viewers will see how a private collection of 20th-century Kazakh art became the foundation of a museum that today welcomes thousands of visitors.
Four years behind the scenes
The documentary was filmed over four years and directed by renowned documentary filmmaker, journalist and producer Andrey Loshak. This long-term work allowed the director to capture the museum’s creation from the inside — from the very first decisions and doubts to its official opening on September 12, 2025.
At the heart of the film is the transformation of a personal passion for art into a public cultural institution.
“This museum is not only the realization of a long-held dream, but also a sense of responsibility to society and the country. Whenever I visited major museums around the world, I felt that Almaty deserved a place like this — a space where art is accessible, where people come together, and where a new conversation about culture begins,” said Nurlan Smagulov, founder of Almaty Museum of Arts.
The unseen journey of artworks
The film goes beyond architecture and construction at the intersection of Nazarbayev and Al-Farabi avenues. It reveals the often invisible and complex path of artworks — from the artist’s concept and search process to logistics, restoration and curatorial decisions.
The documentary features works by internationally acclaimed artists Yayoi Kusama, Bill Viola, Richard Serra, Anselm Kiefer, Jaume Plensa, Yinka Shonibare and Alicja Kwade, presented in dialogue with Kazakh art.
Why this museum matters — here and now
“Museum at the Crossroads” is also a reflection on why it is important for a museum to exist specifically in Almaty, how space interacts with art, and how encounters with art can change the way we perceive the world.
“We are happy to share this story with a wide audience. The film allows viewers to look behind the scenes of the museum and feel how a personal passion for art becomes a shared cultural legacy, opening Almaty to a global artistic dialogue,” noted Tatyana Khodzhaeva, Director of Almaty Museum of Arts.
Screening schedule
The film has a running time of one hour. Screenings will take place in January, February and March 2026 at the Al-Farabi Hall (2nd floor) of Almaty Museum of Arts, with Kazakh and English subtitles.
Screening times:
Weekdays
- 5:15 PM — with Kazakh subtitles
- 6:45 PM — with English subtitles
Weekends
- 11:15 AM, 2:15 PM, 5:15 PM — with Kazakh subtitles
- 12:45 PM, 3:45 PM, 6:45 PM — with English subtitles
Screenings are free of charge for all visitors holding a museum admission ticket.
This is just the beginning
“Museum at the Crossroads” is the first of two documentary films dedicated to Almaty Museum of Arts and its collection. The second film is scheduled to premiere in spring 2026 and will focus on Kazakh artists of the “Sixtiers” generation — the artists who shaped a distinctive national style of Kazakh art during the Soviet period.
Residents and guests of Almaty are invited to attend the screenings to better understand how a new museum was created and to experience the moment when a dream becomes reality.
About Almaty Museum of Arts
Almaty Museum of Arts is a new private museum of contemporary art founded by collector and philanthropist Nurlan Smagulov. It opened in autumn 2025.
The museum’s mission is to support and research contemporary art processes in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Its foundation is Smagulov’s personal collection, assembled over the past 30 years and comprising more than 700 works of Kazakh and international art — one of the largest private collections of its kind in the region.
The 10,060-square-meter building was designed by British architectural firm Chapman Taylor. Museum planning was consulted by Lord Cultural Resources, whose portfolio includes the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Centre Pompidou and the Louvre in Paris. Engineering solutions were developed by Buro Happold, known for projects such as the British Museum in London and Louvre Abu Dhabi.
The museum’s architectural concept is based on the contrast between mountain landscapes and the modern city, expressed through two L-shaped volumes.
Visitor information: The museum is open daily from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM (last entry at 7:00 PM), except Mondays. Standard ticket price — 2,000 KZT, discounted ticket — 500 KZT.
