Balqashqa Qamqor

An open initiative of care that aims to conserve the ecosystems of Lake Balkhash, which are facing scientifically proven environmental, social, economic, and climatic challenges due to anthropogenic impact.

ABOUT US

Balqashqa Qamqor

An open initiative of care that aims to conserve the ecosystems of Lake Balkhash, which are facing scientifically proven environmental, social, economic, and climatic challenges due to anthropogenic impact.
Our
mission
is to engage communities and institutions in the collective care of the ecosystems of the Balkhash Lake Basin, researching history, culture, and ecology and producing local knowledge for sustainable futures of the region.
Care for Balkhash was initiated in 2020 by the community of women researchers, artists, and cultural activists of Artcom Platform, a platform for contemporary art and public engagement.
Our goals:
  • 1
    Strengthen connections between local communities, experts, governmental, scientific and cultural institutions, businesses, and international organizations through partnerships and collaborative events;
  • 2
    Engage local communities in the production of knowledge and the creation of social and environmental projects through the Art Collider School's interdisciplinary educational programs and innovation incubators in the region;
  • 3
    Research the environment: biodiversity, waters, soils, and socio-cultural landscape of the region through research, conferences, roundtables, expeditions, and walks around Lake Balkhash and the rivers of the basin;
  • 4
    Raise public awareness about the challenges of Lake Balkhash through the organization of lectures, discussions, public and artistic events, art interventions, exhibitions, and performances;
  • 5
    Inform the public about local cultural heritage and ecological situation through the collective creation and publication of journals, zines, articles, and production of films, videos, and artworks about ecosystems of the Balkhash Lake basin.
Our practices
Expeditions and Art Interventions 2020-2023
Balkhash - Priozersk - Bektau Ata - Bakanas - Karoi
Research by Aigerim Kapar, Secrets of Lake Balkhash: Community Narratives, Memory, Landscapes of the Past and Future
As you go… roads under your feet towards the new future, WCSCD, Mousse Publishing, Italy, 2022
Exhibitions and Visual Explorations
Balkhash: Keshe Bugin Erten 2022
Beine x Korshiler x Artcom
Zine Our Balkash
Zine Our Bektau Ata
Publications
Art Collider x Balqash Jastary 2023 School
Interdisciplinary school of art, science, and technology that brings communities together for collective practices of care for Lake Balkhash.
Balqashqa Qamqor exhibition
Shows how artists, researchers, and local communities care for the ecosystems of Lake Balkhash. Participants presented their projects and initiatives about local culture, history, citizens, and ecology in the form of comics, cartoons, drawings, photographs, and video works.
Expeditions and Art Interventions 2020-2023
Balkhash - Priozersk - Bektau Ata - Bakanas - Karoi
Research by Aigerim Kapar, Secrets of Lake Balkhash: Community Narratives, Memory, Landscapes of the Past and Future
As you go… roads under your feet towards the new future, WCSCD, Mousse Publishing, Italy, 2022
Exhibitions and Visual Explorations
Balkhash: Keshe Bugin Erten 2022
Beine x Korshiler x Artcom
Zine Our Balkash
Zine Our Bektau Ata
Publications
Art Collider x Balqash Jastary 2023 School
Interdisciplinary school of art, science, and technology that brings communities together for collective practices of care for Lake Balkhash.
Balqashqa Qamqor exhibition
Shows how artists, researchers, and local communities care for the ecosystems of Lake Balkhash. Participants presented their projects and initiatives about local culture, history, citizens, and ecology in the form of comics, cartoons, drawings, photographs, and video works.
© Balqashqa Qamqor 2023