“EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE”: ISTANBUL MARKS LANDMARK WITH YEAR-LONG EVENTS

Celebration of Istanbul and Turkey’s vibrant arts, culture & civilization with exciting exhibitions and performances, from January to December 2010

New York, NY (December 7, 2009) – The cosmopolitan city of Istanbul, which for thousands of years has stood as the hub of arts, culture, intellectual and political center of the world, celebrates its status as “European Capital of Culture” in 2010 with a year-round schedule of electrifying events ranging from artist workshops to historical retrospectives. Youthful, vibrant and forward-thinking, Istanbul promises a veritable feast for arts and culture seekers in 2010 and the following are highlights of some of the “2010 European Capital of Culture” events worth scheduling a trip for:

Istanbul 2010 – The Arts

• “Istanbul Goes to The Movies”; January to February 2010 – The highly respected, scriptwriter and director, Safa Önal will present the documentary project “Istanbul Goes to the Movies” which looks into the past, present and future of Istanbul through old Turkish films and present-day features. Önal uses these films to show the changes in the life, appearances and lifestyles of Istanbul. The documentary is created from nearly 7,000 films and images. The project’s screenings will be held at Kadırga Art Center.

• Kadırga Art Center; January 2010 & September to December 2010 – Seven internationally acclaimed artists who have completed major visual arts projects and advanced universal art in European Union (EU) countries have been invited to Istanbul to exchange ideas and hold workshops for the younger generation of local artists.  Artists confirmed to participate include Sophie Calle, the acclaimed French writer, photographer, installation artist, and conceptual artist and Victor Burgin, the Turner-prize nominated, English artist and writer.

• The Photograph Parade; January to October 2010 – Everyday life in Istanbul captured with the magic of photography will be on display at the gallery of the Fototrek Photography Center at the Misir Apartment in Istiklal Street, a place known for its collection of cutting-edge galleries and collections in Istanbul. Throughout 2010, a series of exhibitions will be held at Fototrek celebrating the “still life” of Istanbul. Fototrek is a privately owned facility in which exhibitions are held while educational programmes are driven by professionally trained photographers.

• International Ballet Competition; July 5 to 10, 2010 – Local and foreign ballet performers will compete in this 2^nd annual competition in Istanbul and is a collaboration by the Sutluce Congress and Cultural Center to foster a closer relationship between the local and international ballet communities. Performances will be held at the Sutluce Congress and Cultural Center.

• International Istanbul Puppet Festival; March 21 to 26, 2010 – The festival will feature modern and traditional puppet shows from various cultures including playing techniques by Metin Özlen, the shadow-play artist who specializes in traditional Turkish shadow play, popularized during the Ottoman period. The Puppet Festival is organized by the Directorate of Stage and Performing Arts Istanbul. Puppet performances will take place in various cultural centers in the city like the French Cultural Center, Cervantes Cultural Center and various shopping centers. There will also be street performances at public squares such as Taksim Square.

Istanbul 2010 - History & Culture

·         “Breaking the Stereotype” - A special exhibition that takes a look at the misconceptions surrounding Turkey in the Western world and dispelling the myths surrounding the country. These exhibitions w
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