Art for Democracy: Azerbaijan has serious problems with providing creative freedom

On February 11, the Ritual Theatre and Creative Laboratory in Baku hosted a powerful documentary theatre performance, “The Melting Snow Stories of Baku,” marking the conclusion of a workshop dedicated to site-specific theatre. This workshop brought together 15 artists from various age groups, all exploring the transformative power of storytelling to address climate change. The event was directed by British theatre director Sebastian Harcombe of SECRET/HEART Theatre Company and Aynur Zərrintac of Ritual Theatre. It was supported by the British Council.

The presentation of Elmaddin Aliyev's feature-length documentary Return was held at the Nizami Cinema Center.

While the electronic music scene in Azerbaijan has been growing in recent years, the number of female DJs remains limited. Women who want to establish themselves in the industry not only need technical skills but also have to fight against societal expectations and gender imbalances in the music business.

With sustainability initiatives gaining momentum worldwide, the European Union's "Green Future 2025" competition has emerged as a platform for young innovators in Azerbaijan to present business-driven solutions to environmental challenges. The fourth edition of the competition, held in Baku, showcased the creativity and commitment of Azerbaijani youth to green innovation, reinforcing the EU’s broader "For Our Planet" campaign.