Istanbul 2010 ECOC

Istanbul 2010 ECOCA multi-layered andmulti-faceted projectNuri M. ÇolakoğluChairman, Executive BoardIstanbul 2010 ECOC Agency

A crowded cityIncrease in population by years1927 806.8631945 1.078.3991960 1.882.0921975 3.904.5881990 7.195.7731997 9.198.8092000 10.018.7352007 12.573.836More crowded than 19 members of the EUThose more crowded are UK, Germany, Italy, France, Poland,Romania and Holland (16 mio)

A young, learning cityThere are 1,930 nurseries, primary and intermediaryschools with 2 million 203 thousand students(1,357 primary, 226 vocational, rest general intermediary)There are 22 universities in Istanbul (7 governmentrun, 15 private) with a total student body of244, 064)

Heart of Turkish economyIstanbul is the heart of Turkish economy and especially Turkish industry withthousands of factories, employing 17 percent of the workforce inmanufacturing industry and account for 9 percent of Turkey’s GrossNational Product.Istanbul Chamber of Industry is home to 50 percent of the 500 largestcompanies in manufacturing industry.Istanbul’s central location, linking Asia and Europe, has made it the heart ofinternational commerce. Her unique role as a distribution and forwardingcenter has made it an attractive market for foreign investors…City handles almost half of Turkey’s exports and imports. In the last five yearsTurkey has virtually doubled its exports, 35 percent of which is realized bythe members of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry of Istanbul.The most prominent institutions in the world have chosen Istanbul to movetheir regional headquarters. Approximately half of the 18,000 foreigncompanies active in Turkey are based in Istanbul. 42 of the 49 foreignbanks in Turkey manage their operations from Istanbul.Istanbul Stock Exchange is the fifth largest in the world in terms of annualtransaction volume...

A non-EU country cityIstanbul was designated as a European Capital ofCulture for 2010 along with Germany’s Ruhrgebietand Hungary’s Pecs by the EU Council of Ministersupon a unanimous recommendation by theinternational selection board.Istanbul is the last non-EU country city to be awardedthe title until a further decision.

A civilian projectThe bid process was initiated by a group of civilsociety activists who went on to persuade themunicipality, the governor’s office, the Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture tosupport the bid.In 2005 the Prime Minister issue a circular note to allpublic ad private institutions asking all to supportthe bid.

A civilian projectSo far in Europe all the ECOCs have been eitherproposed, supported or sponsored by agovernment or a municipality.Istanbul is a unique example as it is the onlyECOC to be selected with a “bottom to top”model.

A civilian projectOnce the title was bestowed upon Istanbul the civilianinitiative went ahead to draft a law to create anorganization to handle this gargantuan task. Withthe draft accepted by the government and theparliament in November 2007 “Istanbul 2010 ECOCAgency” was found and has started working on theproject.An additonal law was enacted to raise necessary fundfor this task by levying a tax of ½ cents over everyliter of petrol or diesel sold.

A facilitatorThe bid process was conducted by an ad hocorganization made of representatives of thethe NGOs, local administration and thecentral government which was a first step inthe way of creating an new governance inTurkey.Istanbul 2010 served as a facilitator indeveloping this process.

A restoratorThe fast industrialization of 1950’s and thefollowing domestic migration unravelled thehistorical texture and urban life – leavingbehind dilapidated old quarters some ofwhich are part of world historical heritage.Now Istanbul 2010 is getting on with therestoration of these buildings and quarters inline with the international standards.

A vibrant track record• Istanbul’s location and its millennia-oldcultural heritage,• Young, dynamic population bubbling withcreative energy,• The cultural awareness that has developedgreatly in the last 20 yearsis reflected in the city’s cultural life.

An opportunity to leap forward

Arts in the cityStrengthening the Arts InfrastructureThe city’s inadequate arts infrastructure and thehandicap this imposes on the arts’ ability to thriveis being directly addressed by Istanbul 2010.So, Istanbul 2010’s central mission is to ensure thatthe city’s inhabitants, in all their diversity, have areal opportunity to participate in 2010 events andin the processes that Istanbul 2010 will set inmotion.With more access and greater participation, thefuture of arts in the city will be secured.

Arts in the cityStrengthening the Arts Infrastructure• Renovating the largest arts complex Atatürk Cultural Centerto accomodate the needs of contemporary arts• Completion of Maslak Cultural Center as a new venue forperforming arts and concerts• Initiating the Frank Gehry project to build a new OperaHouse and a Theatre at the site of old burnt down theatrehouse of 19 th century.• Developing smaller cultural centers at the periphery of thecity.

Arts in the cityUnique Cultural HeritageAs the only city in the world that bridges twocontinents, Istanbul, in all its guises, has alwaysbeen a crossroad of cultures. The city’s historyspans ten millennia and many civilisations, and itwas the capital of three empires — the Roman,Byzantine and the Ottoman.Istanbul 2010 faces a major challenge in initiating newapproaches to conserving and rehabilitating thecity’s cultural heritage with the primary aim ofturning cultural artefacts into resources that enrichthe lives and visions of Istanbul’s present-dayinhabitants.

Arts in the cityUnique Cultural Heritage• A thorough restoration and repair work is startingat Topkapı Palace the house of the Ottomansultans.• Newly discovered Theodosius port, with walls ofConstatinus and Hadrianus, 36 eleventh centuryByzantine ships, and a pilars of a jetty from that ageand with an incredible amount of artifacts whichprove that the history of Istanbul goes back of 10millenia, that will house the Museum of Istanbul

Restructuring and GlobalizationArts in the cityIstanbul 2010 brings the city into focus, not as anextended stage for cultural events but, moresignificantly, as a public resource.Istanbul 2010 focuses attention on Civic Istanbul,paying special attention to the role of activecitizenship in reclaiming the city for public benefit,through engaging in collaborative civic ventures.

Restructuring and GlobalizationArts in the city• Some historical districts of Istanbul such as Fenerand Balat (the old jewish and greek orthodoxquarters) are skillfully being restored• Some run down neighbourhoods by the old citywalls are being cleaned and restored to bring tofront the old Byzantine Palace and the notoriousAnemas prisons.

Arts in the cityArt, Cultural Heritage and Urban ElementsIntertwinedThe goal and claim of the Istanbul 2010 ECOC projectis• to improve and enrich the visions and lives ofIstanbul’s people via culture and arts;• to empower competent urban people by directinghuman and material resources to culture and arts;• to rejuvenate Istanbul with creative cultural andartistic bonds.

The ThemeA City of Four ElementsEarth Air Water Fire

Why Four Elements?EarthA City of Four ElementsAirThese four elements will helpto convey the basic message.Earth as the traditional culture,Air as the culture of religions andcultures,WaterFireWater as the culture of connectingto others,Fire as the modern supranationalculture.The synthesis of four elements will play amajor role in reconstructing harmony inorder for everyone to live together in amulticultural environment.23

Istanbul: A City of Four ElementsFour Elements in Four Seasons24

‘Earth’ is the history, tradition and cultural heritage ofthe land.Under the heading of ‘Earth’, the values of the pastwill be passed on to future generations.The values of the past will be reinvigorated andtransformed into a new set of modern values toensure the traditions of the bygone era last forever.25

Examples of the projects for EarthIstanbul of 10,000 YearsAt the excavation site of Marmaray where archeological findngextended thi history of thi city another 7 millenia a temporaryexhibition will be opened with remains the stone age village, the6th church and 11 century ships, by the walls of Adrianus andConstantinus and quay of the Theodosius port.From Constantinopolis to IstanbulA mega-exhibition on the historical development of the city throughthe ages.Ottoman IstanbulChanges the 500-year Ottoman rule brought to the city’s cultural life26

‘Air’ is the time of the minarets and church bell towers,which rise towards the heavens and which are thesymbols of the city’s spiritual wealth.With its synagogues and churches, some of which arebeing used today, and the mosques which characterizethe extraordinarily beautiful silhouette of the moderncity, Istanbul has been blessed with an unrivalledcultural legacy.This period will be a chance to look at what enabledpeople of different faiths to live side by side, practicingtheir beliefs and worshipping freely for hundreds ofyears.27

Examples of the projects for AirIcons and Holy RelicsA museum and an exhibition at the Hagia Eirene’s atrium of theicons now kept in the vaults of St Sophia.Islam and HumanitasAn international symposium to form a bridge between cultures andquestion the perception of Islam in today’s world.HidrellezA celebration of the spring with rituals from many beliefs includingpaganism and shamanism.28

Examples of the projects for WaterEurope on WaterA district of Istanbul by the Bosphorus, Golden Horn or the Marmara Sea willbe allocated to a European country for two weeks where these countrieswill be displaying their plastic arts ,music and their cusine during June-July2009.3 Countries – 3 Composers – 3 ConcertsMusical exchange program and concerts focusing on Bela Bartok, Franz Lisztand A. Adnan Saygun.Istanbul History and Sea FestivalA marine festival with a parade of tall ships, regatta of historic boats,sportive competitions and shows on the sea.30

‘Fire’ is the most powerful transformative instrument. Itturns water to steam, wood to ashes and sand to glass. Inthis sense, ‘Fire’ symbolizes the future of Istanbul. Theautumn phase of ECOC 2010 will be:• the inspiration for forward-thinking projects;• a ‘search zone’ to create sustainable cultural assets andurban renewal;• an opportunity to reach a modern understanding ofmulticulturalism;• the launch of a new perspective on the democratisationof the decision-making processes of the city and thedevelopment of new concepts of what is meant by‘public’.31

Examples of the projects for FireLives and Works in Istanbul10 prominent international artists along with 10 prominent local ones and100 young talents are creating projects inspired by Istanbul to be exhibitedat the end of 2010.Architectural BiennialInternational exhibition and symposium which will bring together architects,artists and and students working with urban projects.Design 2010Much acclaimed Istanbul Design Week goes wider and sperads all across thecity in a multitude of venues.32

Reaching out the underpriveledgedECOC Istanbul 2010 will be a powerful tool in taking culture and the artsto the underprivileged masses, with projects such as:• On the way to 2010A three-year series of concerts in parts of the city that are not usuallyassociated with artistic activities introducing the inhabitants of thesedistricts types of music which they have not been exposed toand usingthese concerts as a tool of communication to inform people what ECOCis all about.• Tell us your IstanbulAn all out call to Istanbullites may they be amateurs or professionals,may they use a handheld camera or a telephone with that capacity toproduce up to 10 minute documentary on their impressions of this city.This will be annual competition open to all where the entries will becatagorirized and prizes will be awarded and the best pieces will be cutinto a long thematic documentary on diferent aspects of the city33

Involving Young PeopleECOC Istanbul 2010 will help to develop new relations betweenthe young people of Europe using arts and cultural activitiesthrough 2010.Youth IntegArt23 Istanbul universities will team up with 23 universities from differentcountries in Europe to perform in one of the main squares of the city on anopen air stage from mid-June to mid-September.University Theatres FestivalThis year it was with universites of Istanbul, next year it will be universitiesfor whole of Turkey and in 2010 European Universities’ theatre groups willbe invited to participate in this festival which will continue after 2010 as well.Center for Young Art&DesignA new arts center dedicated to young artists from Turkey and abroad withspaces for studios, exhibition halls and quarters for artists in residence.34

Bringing the best of contemporaryECOC Istanbul 2010 will bring the best and most prominentexamples of contemporary arts and culture to the city:13 men A project by American director Peter Sellars featuringpromineng women from all arond the world including theFinnish composer Kaija Saariahoand, American writen ToniMorrison, Turkish film director Yesim Ustaoglu etcRicardo Muti and Vienna Philharmanic will not only performbut also hold master classes with the young talents, visituniversities and participate in lively discussions with theyoung.Arvo Part is working on piece on Istanbul to be performed in17-century old St Sophia.35

Liasing with arts community of EUECOC Istanbul 2010 is expanding its network of arts andculture through a dialogue with other ECOCs.ECOCs of 2010From the moment the verdict of International Selection Board was announcedIstanbul invited her fellow ECOCs, Pecs of Hungary and Essen of Germany to ameeting in Istanbul in June 2005. These meetings are regularly being held with theaim of developing joint projects for 2010.Expanding the NetworkOther ECOCs of years to come have joined in this network for exchangingexperiences and exploring the ways to devise joint projects.Creating an even more interesting environment for artsIstanbul has been a major hub for arts and culture during the last decade withmore and more people flocking to Istanbul not only for the history and culturalheritage but for contemporary arts activities and this is increasing.36

We hope to create a momorableCapital of Cultureby bring the people of Istanbul, Turkey & Europetogether37