Prominent Turkish cultural institution IKSV marks 50th anniversary

By Handan Kazanci

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV) is marking its 50th anniversary with numerous free-of-charge events, the Turkish organization announced on Monday.

“IKSV will be celebrating its 50th anniversary with concerts organized in collaboration with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality at various parks in Istanbul on the evening of Sunday, June 5,” a statement from the IKSV said.

“These free-of-charge concerts will be open to the public for all Istanbulites to attend,” it added.

The cultural foundation will continue to meet with Istanbulites during June and July with free classical music and jazz concerts that will be organized at parks and outdoor venues in the Anatolian and European sides of the city, it further said.

“Cultural institutions like IKSV have the important task of ensuring the continuity, productivity, and creativity of this tradition, and in this endeavor, our most powerful resource is young people,” IKSV chairman Bulent Eczacibasi was quoted as saying in the statement.

“Drawing strength from IKSV’s many achievements during its first 50 years, we are focusing now on young people and the future,” he said. “We will continue to reward and support young artists and to open new spaces for them. We will work harder to include more young people in our activities.”

- Events throughout year

Film screenings, concerts, exhibitions, performances, workshops, interviews, and various events will be held throughout the year as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations.

“The Istanbul Film, Music, Jazz and Theatre Festivals will create a festive atmosphere in the city all year round. Filmekimi will brighten up cinemas during autumn," the IKSV said. "The Pavilion of Turkey at la Biennale di Venezia and the Istanbul Biennial will once again place Turkiye at the center of the international art agenda."

The IKSV is a non-profit cultural organization founded by Turkish entrepreneur and philanthropist Nejat Eczacibasi in 1972. It regularly organizes music, film and theatre festivals in an effort to cultivate the cultural life of Istanbul.

The foundation has hosted more than 20 million spectators at thousands of events organized in the fields of contemporary and classical music, cinema, performing arts, contemporary art, and design.