Yunus Emre Institute continues to take part in international festivals, fairs and similar large-scale organizations in order to increase Türkiye’s cultural exchange with other countries.

“World Cultures Festival” was organized by Ebrişem and Sirus Foundation in Ankara with the participation of 55 embassies and Yunus Emre Institute.

The festival, hosted by CerModern, was held on 22-23 September 2023, with the participation of Turkish Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gökhan Yazgı, Ambassador Korhan Karakoç, General Director of Global and Humanitarian Affairs of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ebrisem and Sirus Foundation President Serap Gürkan Firdevsi, United Arab Emirates’ Ambassador to Ankara Said Sani ez-Zahiri, South Korea’s Ambassador  to Ankara Lee Won-Ik, Iran’s Ambassador to Ankara Muhammed Hasan Habibullahzade, Arab League Türkiye Representative, Ambassador Abdulhamid Hamza, representatives of Yunus Emre Institute, art lovers, guests and press members attended.

Delivering his speech at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gökhan Yazgı stated that festivals are symbols of friendship and cooperation beyond being a platform that brings together the riches of different cultures.

Deputy Minister Gökhan Yazgı used the following expressions: “At this year’s festival, gastronomy, dance, fashion, music and branches of art that reflect their history with their unique features will find their place here as a reflection of our cultural diversity.”

Noting that the festival, held around 4 main themes with the participation of Yunus Emre Institute, Deputy Minister Yazgı emphasized that the festival is also important as an indicator of international relations.

Ambassador Korhan Karakoç, General Director of Global and Humanitarian Affairs of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that this year’s festival coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye and said that the festival is very valuable and meaningful.

Sirus Foundation President Serap Gürkan Firdevsi stated that at least 3-4 countries from each continent and 30 embassies participated in the festival they organized for the first time last year, and this year, 55 embassies, including 8 to 10 countries from each continent, participated the event.

Turkish Music from the Republican Era Performed

At Yunus Emre Institute’s stand, visitors were given information about the activities carried out by the Institute on the axis of cultural diplomacy. Turkish teaching sets and printed publications prepared to popularize Turkish as a world language in line with international standards and scientific methods inside and outside Türkiye were also exhibited at the institute’s stand.

A mini concert was organized by the Institute within the scope of the World Cultures Festival to promote Turkish music and a special selection of Turkish music works from the Republican Era was performed.

The World Cultures Festival

Many events were organized at the World Cultures Festival, including traditional dances, concerts, art and gastronomy workshops, cultural talks, competitions and raffle programs.