Art Culture

Istanbul is an old old city, you can see the remains of many ancient civilizations and their culture in harmony with Turkish culture. The old versus the new, the traditional versus the modern is a conflict a visitor often observes. The city is full of contrasts, and colorful views, So enjoy one of them.
The diverse ethnicity of the city, is another point which is worth examinig. The Minorities sum up to a majority and build up an enormous population. The natives of the city are very typical, you can easily identify them from the look in their eyes. take a look at the good old days.

For history buffs, Turkey is a treasure chest. While there are an abundance of archeological sites and historic monuments to see, don't forget about Turkey's world-famous museums. If you wish to understand how people of different religions lived together on this land for centuries, visit the places of worship and their surrounding areas. You may have to use some imagination however, as many sites have deteriorated with the passing of time. When speaking of arts and culture, we must not forget to mention the abundance of superb festivals throughout the year.

Art galleries are great places to follow Turkish modern art - cultural centers offer gorgeous exhibitions of artists from abroad and are not to be forgotten.Finally, concert halls have regular performances during the season for music lovers.
Cultural Activities in Istanbul Istanbul’s cultural activities, both traditional and contemporary, is rich and varied, although not well publicized. Matching the city’s exploding youth population, there is a growing number of festivals, galleries, new music venues and film centers and, within the last decade, Turkish artists have begun to make an international impact. There are now a number of independent record companies in the city, releasing experimental works that combine Turkish traditional artists with contemporary groups and new venues where this new music is showcased. In particular, however, the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Art, the Istanbul Kultur ve Sanat Vakfi (IKSV), puts on an impressive series of international festivals. The French Culture Centre, Istiklal Caddesi often has French film screenings, and dance performances.
Tickets can be hard to come by for the popular film and jazz festivals, so visitors should book well in advance for any events at existing concert venues, such as the Open Air Theatre (Acik Hava Tiyatrosu), at Taskisla Caddesi (street) in Harbiye district and the Ataturk Cultural Centre or Ataturk Kultur Merkezi, Taksim Square, Taksim. Tickets for most cultural events are also available at Biletix outlets, located at Ada bookshop on Istiklal Caddesi, Vakkorama, Migros supermarkets and Raksotek record stores and can be purchased online at www.biletix.com.

The private sector has helped take the load off Istanbul’s government-supported venues, by opening specialized arts events and private galleries, many of which can be seen on Istiklal Caddesi and the Taksim area. Among the most adventurous is the Borusan Center for Culture and Art, 421 Istiklal Caddesi (www.borusansanat.com), which alternates ‘conceptual’ Turkish and international exhibitions, plus an enormous music library and concert space. The Aksanat Cultural Centre, Istiklal Caddesi, near Taksim Square (tel: (0212) 252 3500), offers recorded jazz and classical music on a large laser-disc screen, as well as painting and sculpture exhibitions and drama. The annual Contemporary Artist Istanbul Exhibition celebrates the work of young local artists, many of whom progress to being internationally renowned. Akbank Culture and Arts Centre, 14-19 Istiklal Caddesi (www.akbanksanat.com).