Yunus Emre Institute is dedicated to the development and reinforcement of the intercultural exchange and relationship between Turkey and the European Union (EU) countries through international projects that are supported within the framework of the Turkey-EU Intercultural Dialogue (ICD) programme co-funded by the Republic of Turkey and the EU. The projects that go through an extensive evaluation process enables the Institute, which has started its activities considerably later compared to its European counterparts, to strengthen and reinforce its relations with the EU National Institutes Network (EUNIC), an umbrella organization for the national cultural institutes in Europe.

The implementations as part of the ICD programme to be conducted within the framework of the Civil Society Sub-sector of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance-II (IPA-II) has started. Four major projects have been provided with grants under the grant programme and a multidisciplinary artist exchange programme, workshops, exhibitions, documentary shootings and screenings, conferences, networking events, concerts and trips will be performed in the fields of literature, painting, music, creative networks, archaeology, etc., for a period of approximately two years.

A number of organizations including the Goethe Institute, Dutch Cultural Center, Istanbul Culture and Art Foundation (İKSV), Abdullah Gül University, ATÖLYE, Nova Iskra Creative Hub, Bios Exploring Urban Culture, the Association of Man, Space, Energy and Environment (İMEÇE), BABİL, Kalem Literary Agency and the Turkey-European Foundation will participate in the projects to be led by the French Institute, the British Council, the French Institute of Anatolian Studies (IFEA) and the Hungarian Cultural Institute as part of the programme which is currently in the implementation phase, as partners while many other institutions will act as stakeholders, solution partners or beneficiaries in the implementation of the activities.

One of the projects being implemented, Be Mobile-Create Together! is making great progress under the leadership of the French Institute and with the work of the İKSV, the Dutch Embassy and the Goethe Institute.

Coordinated by the French Institute, the Be Mobile-Create Together! project seeks to strengthen artistic and cultural interaction between Europe and Turkey by encouraging young talents and making artistic and cultural contributions to the bonds between Turkey and Europe. Young artists and authorities from Turkey working in the field of digital and visual arts, performing arts or literature will have an opportunity to participate in guest artist programmes in Europe, and their counterparts in EU countries will do the same in Turkey.

The project's press conference was hosted by the İKSV in Istanbul on March 20, 2019. The programme was attended by numerous press members. Representatives from all project partners were given floor during the programme, and Yunus Emre Institute Strategy Development Director Bülent Uçpunar expressed the importance the Institute attaches such quality programmes as follows:

"The project activities will be implemented in dozens of cities both in EU countries and in Turkey, and this is one of the factors that create value added for the Intercultural Dialogue Programme. All these activities will play a crucial role in improving and enhancing the relationships among the cultural institutes, civil society organizations and universities, which are instrumental for the continuity and diversity of the international cultural relations between Turkey and Europe. We, as the Institute, are glad to conduct such a project as such multicultural activities boost our hope for the future, particularly in our time when xenophobia is turning into terror."

As part of the project, 13 artists from Turkey will visit France, the Netherlands and Germany while 13 artists from these countries will come to Turkey. Artists can apply for this programme at the following address:

https://www.bemobilecreatetogether.eu/2-about/

The applications will be accepted between March 20 and April 30, 2019.