Turkey is the Country in Focus in EUROPALIA 2015 Art Festival

Organized once every two years since 1969, Turkey is the country in focus in EUROPALIA Art Festival this year. Festival took start with an opening ceremony held in Belgian capital Brussels on 6 October with attendance of President of Turkish Republic Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his wife Emine Erdoğan, King of Belgium Philippe and his wife Queen Mathilde.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Yalçın Toplu said in his speech that Anatolia has authentic characteristics, and has been a host of various languages, identities, cultures and civilizations due to its unique position. He also remarked that Turkey merges these differences.

Topçu said, “Trying to understand the history and culture of humanity without plumbing the depths of Anatolia's endless history and cultural wealth, will be an unfruitful effort,” and underlined that the way to appreciate Anatolia's rich culture is through artistic assets. Topçu stated that the Ottoman brought in colossal monuments and assets to humanity in culture and arts, and marked Turkey continues the cultural and artistic traditions of numerous civilizations as the successor of states which ruled in Anatolia.

Topçu spoke as follows:

“First of all, in this period when we need peace, mutual understanding, tolerance and unity, the communication between civilizations without prejudices and marginalization is only possible through art and culture. Then the art and culture produced in Anatolia has invariably underlined peace, friendship and solidarity. 

“Art improves cultural dialog and establishes a solid connection between people. Invited to Europalia 2015 Art Festival as the guest country which has adopted this principle as a mission, Turkey's rich contributions in European culture and arts world and mental awareness it will raise will be exciting and honoring for us. Anatolia's thousands of years old, deep-rooted culture and traditional and modern elements will be introduced with hundreds of art activities in the festival which will further develop the cultural relations between Europe and Turkey.”

Topçu stated that not only art and culture but also messages of friendship, mutual understanding and tolerance between civilizations will be delivered with activities to be organized as part of the festival.  He wished the festival to be a success and thanked to all who contributed.

“I wish the festival to create a dialog environment between people”

Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders expressed that bilateral relations between Turkey and Belgium have significantly improved in recent years and foundations are laid for a closer and successful collaboration in coming years.

Reynders said, “Belgium regards Turkey as a prominent international actor, an ally by NATO, and a major partner of European Union with whom accession negotiations should be continued,”. He also remarked that both countries have a better understanding thanks to the open and honest dialog, required between partners.

Raynders ended his speech as follows: “I wish with all my heart that Europalia Festival will create a dialog environment between cultures and people who are so close to each other.”

"Turkey's Symbolic Value"

Europalia Director Georges Jacobs de Hagen who made a speech at the opening ceremony, underlined that Europalia has introduced different cultures throughout its 46 years long history, and said “The symbolic value of Turkey due to its position which connects two continents and the significant Turkish community in Belgium were the other reasons behind selecting Turkey as the guest country.”

Hagen reminded that hundreds of experts, artists and technicians worked intensively for more than two years for the event, and thanked everyone who contributed in the organization.

Europalia Turkey General Commissioner Erman Ilıcak pointed out various civilizations crossed on Anatolian lands throughout the history, and added “Anatolia has inspired humanity for generations, broadened their horizons, and has been a home to thousands of artistic assets emerged as a result.”

Ilıcak reminded that more than 300 artistic activities will be organized in numerous European cities as part of the festival and expressed that each artwork to be featured in the exhibitions will be unique.

Europalia Turkey General Commissioner Baron Luc Bertrand emphasized that it was not easy to bring together hundreds of artworks and artists.

Bertrand stated that in the exhibitions to be organized as part of the festival, Istanbul will be narrated through the eyes of photographers, writers, filmmakers and plastic artists, and pointed out that contemporary arts take an important place in the activities as well.

Bertrand explained the main themes of the program as cultural heritages, modern art, design and change.

Brussels Yunus Emre Enstitüsü Director Rahmi Göktaş remarked they attach great importance to the festival.

Göktaş said “This may be the first event in Belgium where Turkish culture is so intensively introduced in such a short period of time. We would like to continue this,” and as Yunus Emre Enstitüsü they work towards this goal in Brussels. Göktaş noting that they will expeditiously continue the events after Europalia and they are very pleased that President Erdoğan attended the opening ceremony.    

Festival will be open for 4 months

Culture and arts festival titled “Europalia” is organized every two years since 1969 under the auspices of King of Belgium. For 2015 Turkey was selected as the guest country for the festival to be open until 31 January 2016.

As part of the festival, around 170 activities in various fields such as literature, sculpture, music, cinema and shadow play will be organized with the aim of promoting historical heritage and cultural wealth of Turkey. Among exhibitions in the festival “Imagine Istanbul” and “Istanbul-Anvers: Two Port Cities” stand out.

Europalia festival was launched in 1960s for European Union countries to get acquainted with each other, and was later opened to other countries. In 2005 Russia, in 2009 China, in 2011 Brazil and in 2013 India were festival's guest countries. 

Belgium Yunus Emre Enstitüsü will be the main sponsor of the festival as well as the host of 22 activities to be organized.

Details on the festival can be reached via the link below.

http://europalia.eu