Modern cultural and public spaces of Almaty -
Art, urban rhythm and a new generation of viewers -
The Tselinny Center for Contemporary Culture (Virgin center) is one of those places in Almaty where modern art is becoming not something distant and complex, but a living part of urban life. It is a space in which the memory of the old cinema, the boldness of new artistic expressions and the desire of the city to change itself through culture are intertwined. People come here to see what modern art breathes, to feel the atmosphere of creative freedom and to go out into the street as a slightly different person.
The Tselinny building stands in the urban fabric as if it has always been there, but inside everything speaks of a new time. The preserved spirit of the past and the open architecture of the present create the feeling that you have come to a point where the past, present and possible future of the city intersect in one place.
The history of space
Once upon a time, there was a large Tselinny cinema on this place, which showed favorite films of several generations. For many residents of Almaty, it was a place of meetings, first dates, student discussions and long queues for tickets. Over time, the building became outdated and found itself on the sidelines of urban life, but it was not completely forgotten.
The idea of rethinking the old cinema and turning it into a center of modern culture has become an important step in the development of the city. Not just to renovate, but to breathe new life into the space to keep the name, but to change the content. This is how the Center of Modern Culture "Tselinny" appeared on the map of Almaty, which became a symbol of how the city can work with its memory: not erasing the old, but turning it into the basis for a new one.
Atmosphere and architecture
Inside the "Virgin" you feel a special freedom. The space is organized in such a way that a person does not feel constrained by the framework of a familiar museum. Large halls, bright passageways, and open walls where installations, video art, or paintings can appear create the effect of a live stage that varies from project to project.
It's easy to slow down here and just look. Someone stands in front of the work and looks at the details for a long time, someone passes by, and then comes back again, with a different mood. Voices can be heard in the corner – it's a lecture, a group of teenagers are discussing what they saw, and even further away – the artist is quietly talking about his work. The center does not live noisily, but deeply: not for the sake of an external effect, but for the sake of the viewer's inner work with himself.
Exhibitions and cultural program
Tselinny is not only about walls and architecture, but also about a rich program. Exhibitions of contemporary artists from Kazakhstan and other countries are held here, which raise the themes of memory, identity, the city, ecology, and digital reality.
Each project here is not just a set of works, but a complete statement to which the viewer is carefully guided through space, texts, lectures and discussions.
The Center organizes educational programs, meetings with curators, artists, researchers, film screenings and discussions. Here you can get to a conversation about the future of cities, a lecture on photography, a documentary screening, an architectural workshop or a children's art workshop. Thanks to this, Tselinny has become a place where people come not only to "watch", but also to "participate", "learn", "talk".
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How to get there and visit -
The Tselinny Center for Contemporary Culture is located in Almaty at 59 Masanchi Street, corner of Kabanbai Batyr Street, Almaly district, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 43°14'54"N 76°55'45"E
The most convenient route to Tselinny is to take buses No. 18, 25, 209, 210 or 224 to the Shevchenko bus stop. From there, you will have a pleasant walk of about 400 meters through the A. Baitursynov Square, which will lead you directly to the "Virgin".
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Visiting features and location
The Center of Modern Culture "Tselinny" is located in a convenient urban location, which is easily accessible from different districts of Almaty. It naturally fits into the urban rhythm: students and office staff come here during the day, families, creative people, and guests of the city come in the evening. Attendance at exhibitions and events depends on the current program: sometimes admission is free, sometimes the ticket system works, but in any case, the format remains welcoming and accessible.
Inside, there are areas for relaxation and socializing, where you can briefly distract yourself, discuss what you've seen, take notes, or just sit with a cup of coffee. This is not a formal institution, but a living space that tries to be comfortable for a person who is just starting his way in the world of contemporary art.
Legend and image of the place
There is a quiet legend associated with Tselinny, which employees and regular visitors like to tell. It is said that in the days before the former cinema was renovated, one of the few guards left in the abandoned building would come to an empty hall at night, turn on a small pocket flashlight and sit in the last row. He said that he could hear the voices of former viewers on the walls, their laughter, whispers, and applause.
When it was decided to turn the building into a center of modern culture, the legend of the "voices of the hall" was kept alive. Now they say that every new project, every exhibition, every performance seems to continue this invisible film, but with different images and meanings. And if, before leaving Tselinny, you stop for a minute, look back at the space and think about what you yourself want to change in your city or in your life, then the first step towards this change will definitely be found in the coming months.
The center of modern culture "Tselinny" today
Today, Tselinny is one of the key cultural centers of Almaty, which forms the language of modern visual culture in Kazakhstan. It helps the viewer not to be afraid of modern art, but to enter it gradually and consciously. For a tourist, this is an opportunity to see a vibrant, relevant city that thinks about itself and the future; for a local, it is a place where you can return again and again and find something new every time.
This is not just an exhibition space, but a point where urban people meet with art and, through this, with themselves.
Interesting sights nearby:
• Karagaily Park;
• St. Nicholas Cathedral (St. Nicholas Church);
• Akhmet Baitursynov Square;
• Republican Korean Musical Comedy Theater.
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