By Janet Ekstract
İSTANBUL- October 1 is the launch date for what promises to be the best of art and culture in an extravaganza of all forms of cultural arts. With over 1,000 events and more than 6,000 artists in 51 diverse and major venues in İstanbul – this year’s second Beyoglu Culture Road Festival showcases a myriad of performing arts. The festival is part of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Culture Road Project that aims to inundate Istanbul with rich cultural experiences as well as art exhibitions. A highlight at this year’s festival includes grammy-winning fado singer Mariza and a magical Turkish caftan exhibition curated by famous Turkish actor Hakan Yilmaz at the Grand Pera Cercle D’Orient.
The 2.5 mile festival weaves a cultural path between historic venues, museums, exhibitions and concerts, that starts from Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM) and extends to hot spots like Taksim, Galtasaray and Tunel where major artistic events related to Turkish culture will be showcased. Shadow plays, puppet shows, opera, workshops, exhibitions and children’s activities will be featured. Istanbul’s Cinema Museum is hosting the most comprehensive film exhibition on the work of Stanley Kurbrick. National poets and folk singers will be featured as well as manuscripts from iconic literary giants like Orhan Pamuk, Behcet Necatigil, Tomris Uyar and Oguz Atay. known throughout the world and Turkiye. Grand Pera will also feature fashion workshops along with mask exhibitions. In Istiklal Art Gallery in Beyoglu, the exhibition “Beyoğlu Through the Eyes of Foreign Travelers” will take viewers on a nostalgic and picturesque journey of Istanbul from past to present. Two major art venues – Salt Galata and Salt Beyoğlu will revist the 90s with a retro-Istanbul exhibition.
Meanwhile, AKM Turk Telekom Opera Hall will host the best of famous opera and ballet with the show Carmen staged by the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet on Oct. 3 showcasing the work of Georges Bizet along with a ballet performance. Other performances include La Traviata, Swan Lake, Picasso Eterno, The Abduction from the Seraglio.
