İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts
İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation founded in 1973 by seventeen businessmen and art enthusiasts who gathered under the leadership of Dr. Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı, with the aim of organising an international arts festival in İstanbul.
The Foundation's initial goal was to offer the finest examples of art from around the world, while at the same time promoting the national, cultural and artistic assets of Turkey, by using arts to create an international platform of communication.
The first International İstanbul Festival, organised in 1973 on the 50th Anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic, covered a period of one and a half months and focused mainly on classical music. Soon after, it included other artistic fields in its programme such as film screenings, theatre productions, jazz and ballet performances, and art exhibitions held in historic venues. As public interest grew, groups of events organised in different artistic disciplines gradually evolved into distinct festivals.
Presented as a separate section under the name "International İstanbul Filmdays" in 1983, the film week transformed into the International İstanbul Film Festival in 1989; 1987 marked the beginning of the International İstanbul Biennial, and in 1989 the International İstanbul Theatre Festival was initiated.
In 1993, after Dr. Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı passed away, Şakir Eczacıbaşı became the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Since then, the Foundation took serious steps on the path of institutionalising and strengthened its position in Turkey's cultural and artistic life.
The International İstanbul Jazz Festival was initiated in 1994, the same year that the International İstanbul Festival changed its name to the International İstanbul Music Festival. Thus, İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts became an institution that organises five international festivals.
On the occasion of its 30th anniversary, the İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts initiated a social responsibility project and founded the İstanbul Friends of Culture and Arts Tulip membership programme with the intention of protecting cultural heritage and fostering the development of arts. Continuing today under the name of Tulip membership, the programme gathers art enthusiasts under one roof, and provides its members a variety of privileges during İKSV-organised events including the İstanbul Festivals.
The same year, İKSV made a decision to organise innovative, smaller events in addition to the İstanbul Festivals. Beginning with Filmekimi (a week of film screenings in October) in 2002, The Foundation continued to add brand new events to its portfolio such as Phonem by Miller (alternative rock and electronic music performances in November) and Minifest (3 days of children's activities in the summer) in 2003. In 2006, İKSV assumed the organisation of the bi-annual Leyla Gencer Voice Competition, from its 4th edition onward.
The Foundation has been committed to bringing together different cultures and contributing to the creation of a platform for multicultural dialogue. In this respect, İKSV organises a series of international festivals in major European cities. This journey began in 2004 with "Şimdi Now" in Berlin and continued with "Şimdi Stuttgart" in 2005, "Turkey Now" in Amsterdam and Rotterdam in 2007 and 2008, and Russia in 2008. Next stop is scheduled for Vienna, Austria in 2009. The "Cultural Season of Turkey in France" activities to be held between 1 July 2009 and 31 March 2010 are also organised by İKSV, in collaboration with Culturesfrance. İKSV has been organising the Pavilion of Turkey at the Venice Biennale since 2007.
Celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2007, İKSV realised the landmark İstanbul Festivals and other innovative events with a renewed enthusiasm. On the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the birth of Mawlana Jalal-aldin Rumi, İKSV welcomed Béjart Ballet Lausanne, the troupe of originally creative choreographer Maurice Béjart, for a special performance entitled "Best of Béjart & Rumi" in İstanbul.
In 2008 and 2009, İKSV continued to bring world famous artists and groups such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, R.E.M., Santana and Leonard Cohen, together with the İstanbulites.
2009 marked a turning point in İKSV's history as the headquarters moved from its home on the historic İstiklal Street in Beyoğlu to another historical building, Deniz Palas, in Şişhane. Together with its new building, İKSV realised a long time dream, and launched its own performance venue, Salon, in which it will not only organise, but also host cultural and artistic events.
In addition to such happy developments, the beginning of year 2010 also brought sorrow, as Şakir Eczacıbaşı, who had been the Chairman of the Board of Directors for 16 years passed away. In February 2010, Bülent Eczacıbaşı was elected as the Chair of the Board of Directors. İKSV, a pioneer in the field of culture and arts, will continue and strengthen its creative, constructive and innovative role with İstanbul Festivals and other events.
