It was announced that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan deemed Münir Özkul worthy of “2015 Presidency Culture and Arts Grand Prize” in cinema, Orhan Gencebay in music, Rasim Özdenören in literature, Mehmet Genç in social sciences and history, and Hüseyin Kutlu in traditional arts. Late thinker Cemil Meriç was deemed suitable for the Culture and Arts Loyalty Prize. 

In Presidency Press Center's announcement, within the scope of “Presidency Culture and Arts Grand Prizes Regulations”, Presidency Culture and Arts Grand Prizes are envisaged to be granted with the aim of honoring and encouraging Turkish or foreign individual or organizations on behalf of the state, who greatly contribute in Turkish culture and art world with their services and works, who effort to promote Turkish culture and arts, and exhibit extraordinary talent in their works or services.  

The members of Assessment Authority for prizes were Presidency Secretary General Fahri Kasırga, Presidency Assistant Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Dr. İbrahim Kalın, Presidency Press Principal Consultant Lütfullah Göktaş, Presidency Consultant Hümeyra Şahin, Ministry of Culture and Tourism Undersecretary and Yunus Emre Enstitüsü Chairman of Board Prof. Dr. Ahmet Haluk Dursun, Head of Yunus Emre Enstitüsü Prof. Dr. Hayati Develi and writer Alev Alatlı. President Erdoğan determined the names to receive prizes upon Authority's suggestions.  

Münir Özkul will receive the cinema prize, both for his highly respected position in the art world and for setting a positive example to the youth throughout his professional life; Rasim Özdenören, member of Yunus Emre Enstitüsü Board of Trustees referred to as “Man growing roses” for the seeds he planted and saplings he grew; Orhan Gencebay for inspiring common emotions in different social classes with his authentic polyphonic music; Mehmet Genç for his groundbreaking works in social sciences and history; and Hüseyin Kutlu for being a great master among calligraphers by “embroidering Mushaf-ı Şerif (Pages of Holy Koran) revealed in Mecca, read in Cairo, written in Istanbul to hearts”.

Late thinker Cemil Meriç was deemed worthy of Culture and Arts Loyalty Prize for “devoting his life to take this country out of caves and carry it to wisdom and civilization, working to prepare the children of East to threats and opportunism of the West, calling intellectuals and youth to 'strip off straitjackets on their minds' and embrace all zones of thought, seeing with his heart's eye and writing philosophy and wisdom”.

2015 Presidency Culture and Arts Grand Prizes Ceremony will be held in Presidency Campus on a date to be announced.