Meet Turkish Culture

Yunus Emre Enstitüsü achieved to organize a large number and variety of activities within a short period of time. Introducing Turkey with a rich cultural background by way of compatible representatives in the right way has been the priority for Yunus Emre Enstitüsü. Our activities abroad are planned in a way to promote the outstanding and rich cultural background.

Turkey is a country with worldwide renown with its history. As we aim to promote the rich background with inspiration from our history, we take heed for current developments in modern art and culture. We make efforts to present a variety of cultural perspectives by combining the cultural codes of our ancient tradition with art of the modern world. Immortal Turkish writer Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar refers to the necessity of continuous renewal through change. All living things are bound to change; moreover they owe their vitality to change, renewal. However continuity is only possible when change decides its own course. Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar explains this as “Change through continuity, continuity through change.” What is traditional and modern should act together for the cultural continuity to progress uninterruptedly within a novel composition.

Just as in Tanpınar's expression, Yunus Emre Enstitüsü continues through change, changes through continuing. Inspired by our tradition, we make efforts to reach the peoples of the modern world, and communicate every aspect of these lands by offering the people our cultural accumulation that constantly improves and changes. By bringing Dede together with Wagner, Yunus with Verlaine, and Baki with Goethe, we work on expressing ourselves through a new composition. We do not only reveal the colors in our own culture atlas but at the same time aspire to comprehend the cultural wealth of other nations through learning, and this way get closely acquainted with each other and bring about new compositions.

In this sense, the culture and cultural values of a country hosting a foreign cultural institution are of great importance for us. We participate in activities that enable cultural interaction between countries and carry out joint operations to establish a good friendship between the host and the guest. Our aim is introducing ourselves while getting to know the other.

Yunus Emre Enstitüsü seeks to learn about and introduce not only the cultural figures raised in Turkey but also the artists, intellectuals and scientists in contact with Turkey in the past or today, and organizes events in this context. We attach great importance to making cultural collaborations and joint operations where we organize activities. We sincerely believe that joint activities offer a platform for the most rapid and fruitful cultural exchange and interaction.

Our goal is to promote the cultural and scientific accumulation of Turkey in the changing world at the international arena, and return to our country with the “experience of other nations”. We deem cultural and scientific sharing beneficial and valuable in every respect. This is why we continue to bring Dede together with Wagner, Yunus with Verlaine and Baki with Goethe.