Molokan Prayer Hall / Salaam Cinema

As VarYox, we have documented three historical public spaces for art and culture in Baku. One of these historical places is the Molokan prayer house .

Salaam Cinema moved into the current venue, a historic Molokan prayer house in the heart of Baku. With the help of the community, Salaam Cinema refurbished the building and transformed it into a cultural landmark. As of March 2019, the landlords have moved forward with plans to demolish the historic building, Salaam Cinema, however, has resisted the demolition efforts, and has galvanized its supporters to not only save a prominent independent intellectual space in the city, but also a valuable piece of Baku’s urban and architectural landscape. After the successful public campaign, On August 3, 2019, the building has gained historical status and is protected from demolition.

This project is funded by the Danish Cultural Institute.