By Alua Nurbay, PhD Student, Graduate School of Business, Nazarbayev University
Tamyr Bazaar returned to Nazarbayev University in 2026 with a more extended and carefully developed programme. Held from 31 March to 3 April, it moved beyond a single event and unfolded as a multi-day format combining exhibition, fashion presentation, and performance.
Preparation began well in advance, involving studio visits, direct selection of artworks, and multiple meetings to shape both content and direction. Particular attention was given to diversity, ensuring a balance between returning participants and new voices, while encouraging those who had participated before to rethink and update their narratives.
"I visit artists and craftspeople in their studios and select the works myself. It is important to create diversity. Those who have participated before need to bring something new — a different narrative."
A significant part of the preparation focused on the fashion programme, which brought together ten international students and twenty children, many of whom have disabilities. Special attention was given to creating a comfortable environment for children with special needs who needed time to adapt to a new space and to new people. All visual elements of the show were built from the work of Bazaar participants, bringing together designers, jewellers, and artists into a single presentation.
What emerged was not only an exhibition, but a coordinated environment where making, presenting, and performing were brought into one space. Tamyr Bazaar continues to develop as a platform shaped through collaboration, preparation, and shared participation.
Tamyr Bazaar 2025–26 — Key Figures:
🏆 Tamyr Bazaar has been selected as a funded project under NU Global: Unity in Diversity, a program of the NU Impact Foundation, recognized for its contribution to strengthening intercultural dialogue and supporting the integration of international students through creative and educational activities.
Tamyr Bazaar returned to Nazarbayev University in 2026 with a more extended and carefully developed programme. Held from 31 March to 3 April, it moved beyond a single event and unfolded as a multi-day format combining exhibition, fashion presentation, and performance.
Preparation began well in advance, involving studio visits, direct selection of artworks, and multiple meetings to shape both content and direction. Particular attention was given to diversity, ensuring a balance between returning participants and new voices, while encouraging those who had participated before to rethink and update their narratives.
"I visit artists and craftspeople in their studios and select the works myself. It is important to create diversity. Those who have participated before need to bring something new — a different narrative."
A significant part of the preparation focused on the fashion programme, which brought together ten international students and twenty children, many of whom have disabilities. Special attention was given to creating a comfortable environment for children with special needs who needed time to adapt to a new space and to new people. All visual elements of the show were built from the work of Bazaar participants, bringing together designers, jewellers, and artists into a single presentation.
What emerged was not only an exhibition, but a coordinated environment where making, presenting, and performing were brought into one space. Tamyr Bazaar continues to develop as a platform shaped through collaboration, preparation, and shared participation.
Tamyr Bazaar 2025–26 — Key Figures:
- 4 editions held
- 50+ artists involved
- 12 masterclasses conducted
- 350+ on-site participants
🏆 Tamyr Bazaar has been selected as a funded project under NU Global: Unity in Diversity, a program of the NU Impact Foundation, recognized for its contribution to strengthening intercultural dialogue and supporting the integration of international students through creative and educational activities.
