Azerbaijan State Theater Museum

The Azerbaijan State Theater Museum was established on November 24, 1934, by the renowned theater figure Aghakarim Sharifov. He was the primary initiator behind the creation of this unique museum, the only one of its kind in the East and the South Caucasus. Sharifov began collecting materials related to theater history in 1920. In 1926, he met with graduates of the Theater Technical School. He sought advice from esteemed Azerbaijani intellectuals in the field, including Aziz Sharif, Jafar Jabbarli, Azim Azimzadeh, and Sidgi Ruhulla, who provided significant support in establishing this theater.

In 1927, the Azerbaijan State Theater Museum held its first exhibition in the lobby of the Drama Theater, located in the former Taghiyev Theater building (now home to the Azerbaijan State Musical Comedy Theater). This exhibition, featuring Sidgi Ruhulla's personal archive, is recognized as the museum's inaugural showcase.

From 1928 to 1934, the museum operated as a theater department. In 1934, it gained state status, and the grand opening ceremony of the museum took place on November 24 of that year. The event was attended by prominent artists of the time, including Bulbul, Shovkat Mammadova, Huseyngulu Sarabski, Aleksandr Tuganov, Ulvi Rajab, Ismayil Hidayatzadeh, and others. The first director of the museum was Aghakarim Sharifov.

In 1935, the museum was named in honor of the renowned Azerbaijani playwright Jafar Jabbarli.

During the years of repression from 1937 to 1938, the development of our national theater and its figures suffered a severe blow. However, during this difficult time, Afarin Mammadbeyova, a research worker at the museum, risked her life to hide the belongings of the victims of repression within the museum. Thanks to her efforts, those important documents have survived to this day.

In 1963, the Azerbaijan State Theater Museum was dissolved and transformed into the Theater and Drama Department of the Nizami Museum of Azerbaijani Literature. In 1968, a decision was made to establish the Azerbaijan State Theater Museum, named after J. Jabbarli, based on that department. The newly formed museum was allocated space on the fourth floor of the Nizami Museum building, but it could only accommodate the museum's collections and staff.

The most significant relocation in the history of the Azerbaijan State Theater Museum occurred in 1991. After the Baku branch of the former V.I. Lenin Central Museum, the first and only building constructed for museum purposes in Azerbaijan, was transferred to the Ministry of Culture, a "Museum Center" was established here. The State Theater Museum, along with the State Museum of Azerbaijan Carpet and Folk Applied Arts and the Azerbaijan Independence Museum, was also housed in this building. As a result, a rich exposition was created, illustrating the history of Azerbaijani theater.

The museum, which serves as an archive of historical and unique documents, contains seven halls. Its exhibitions showcase the rich history of theater culture in Azerbaijan, organized in chronological order. Each hall features documents and information about specific theater buildings, the establishment of these theaters, and the formative period of Azerbaijani theater in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Additionally, the exhibits highlight the lives and work of influential artists who made significant contributions to the development and rise of professional theater in Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijan State Theater Museum boasts a rich collection not only of its own exhibits but also of rare items preserved within its collections. Currently, the museum houses over 140,000 exhibits, including personal archives of prominent artists, as well as programs and posters of theater performances spanning various genres from the establishment of professional theater to the present day. The collection features memorial items, directors' notes, role notebooks, photographs and negatives, scenery and costume sketches for stage productions, models, props, theater costumes, and more.

The museum houses several valuable exhibits, including the poster for the first theater performance of Mirza Fatali Akhundzadeh's comedy "The Vizier of the Khan of Lankaran," which took place in 1873. Additionally, there is a photograph of the first theater troupe from 1888, a film of the Eastern-style production of "Hamlet" performed in 1926, and the premiere program for the first opera in the Eastern world, "Leyli and Majnun," which premiered in 1908.

In 2004, the museum received the "Golden Dervish" award from the Union of Theater Workers for its collection and preservation of materials related to the history of theater.

The museum continues to collect new materials related to Azerbaijani culture, encompassing both past and present. At the end of each year, it receives programs, posters, videos, and photographs of performances from theaters. This effort ensures that our modern culture is preserved for future generations and made accessible to a wide audience.

The Azerbaijan State Theater Museum, named after Jafar Jabbarli, is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and displaying materials related to our national stage art while also promoting the history of professional theater. The museum regularly hosts events, meetings, commemorative days, master classes, lectures, and exhibitions, all aimed at presenting and promoting Azerbaijani theater culture and art to the public. With its rich collection, the museum has established itself as a significant cultural institution both locally and internationally.

The Azerbaijan State Theater Museum is a key cultural institution that preserves, promotes, develops, and transmits Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage to future generations.

Recommended literature:

1. Cəfər Cabbarlı adına Azərbaycan Dövlət Teatr Muzeyi -75 il /Azərb. Resp. Mədəniyyət və Turizm Muzeyi; C. Cabbarlı Azərbaycan Dövlət Teatr Muzeyi; [ayihənin rəhbəri. N. Nurullayeva; mətnin müəl. S. Mikayılova; ön sözün müəl. A. P. Nemət; dizayn. A. Babiç. - Bakı: [s.n.], 2009. - 35 s.
2. Azərbaycan incəsənətində Cəfər Cabbarlı fenomeni: Respublika elmi-praktiki konfransının materialları, Bakı 28 mart 2019-cu il /red. hey.: Ə. Salamzadə, C. Mahmudova, S. Mikayılova ; məsul red. V. Qafarov. - Bakı: Səda, 2019. - 215 s.