Address: Atyrau, Azattik avenue, 11. Tel: 8 (7122) 354803, 326453
Atyrau regional museum of graphic and decorative arts was founded by decision of the Executive committee of Atyrau regional council of people's deputies as of 15.11.1990. The museum was opened on April 2 1992.
Works for main exposition were presented by Directorate of artistic exhibitions of the Ministry of culture of RK. In 1999 the museum was given a building by regional akimat. The building was financial support of “Kazakhoil", subsidiary oil company of “KazMunaiGaz". The employees of the museum applied petition to the Ministry of culture on perpetuation of the name of Shaimardan Saryev, local portraitist, folk artist and a member of Kazakhstan's Union of artists. After few year the museum was renamed to the Atyrau regional museum of graphic and decorative arts named after S.Saryev.
Overall area of the museum is 991,9 square meters. Initially there were 1211 works in the museum. The collection is fulfilled with works on regular basis and currently it contains 1294 items. The exhibition of the museum is presented in the following halls: central hall (period of 1950-1970), hall of ancient arts of Mangishlak, hall of ancient era, hall of modern pictorial arts, hall of graphics, hall of decorative arts, hall of paintings of Shaimardan Saryev.
Among graphic works there are works of famous Kazakhstani artists as A.Kasteev, K.K.Khodzhikov, U.Azhiyev, V.I.Antoshenko-Olenov, E.N.Babad, K.Y.Baranov, E.Besembinov, A.S.Besembinov, N.Gaev, A.A.gurieva, T.N,govorov, A.A.Dyachkina, I.N.Isabaeva, A.Ismailov, I.E.Kvacjko, M.Kisamedinova etc. The collection displays works of artists – S.A.Mambeev, G.M.Ismailov, S.Romanova, Z.Shardenov, L.Liontiev, I.Nurmukhamedov, M.Kalimov, M.S.Kenbayev. among the works stored in the museum there are many works of artists who were born in this region: Abdrashit Sizidkhanov, member of Union of artists of USSR, Mukhit Kalimov, K.Dosnyazov, Z.Aralbayev, A.Aitmagambetov, K.Amanov, A.Zhantosov, S.Karibaev. A special place in the exposition is devoted to the works of local young artists Elmira Zhumabaeva and Rafael Slekenov, holders of Gran prix and the first place of the International festival “Shabyt". There are many works of decorative artists – C. and A.Bapanovs, L.Klimova, K.Aitkalieva, A.Nazarkul etc.
The museum holds state and regional exhibitions, organizes portable expositions out of the museum. The studio of graphic arts for gifted children functions within the museum. Up to 25 children of city schools acquire skills and knowledge on graphic and pictorial arts. Professional teachers work with children. Exhibitions, contests, quizzes and meetings with famous artists of the region are also held.