Held for the fifth time with the aim of creating the right climate for creative new generations to emerge, the Istanbul Children and Youth Art Biennial takes place from 19 April to 23 May 2018 under the concept “Here and Now!” The Biennial presents paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs, new media, video, music and dance performances by 7,000 students to the public. With the support of non-governmental organisations, the Biennial will feature 80 workshops, 200 guided tours, 20 talks, and 60 concerts, recitals and performances.
Brought to life by PALETDER (Palet Culture, Art and Education Association), the 5th Istanbul Children and Youth Art Biennial takes place from 19 April to 23 May 2018, hosted by Beşiktaş Municipality and supported by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, at MKM Beşiktaş Çağdaş Akatlar, Şişhane Metro Station, on Şehir Hatları ferries and on a stage set up in Ortaköy Square. Besides Istanbul, the Biennial brings together schools from across Anatolia, particularly Gaziantep, Erzincan, Hatay and Urfa, as well as children and artists from 10 countries. At the Biennial, creative art projects produced by children and young people aged 4–18 meet audiences in public spaces.
Works by thousands of students
As part of the Biennial, children and young people from Istanbul, İzmir, Samsun, Erzincan, Gaziantep, Urfa, Hatay and 48 provinces of Turkey, and from 10 countries including Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, took part in the events. This year the Biennial received applications from 1,200 schools, of which 480 could be included. Projects by around 7,000 students from state and private primary and secondary schools are on show, and through partnerships with Kızılay, ASAM and NGOs, Syrian refugees, children with disabilities and disadvantaged children in particular are also represented at the Biennial. This year 60,000 visitors are expected to see the exhibitions and events.
Artworks by 7,000 students, 60 concerts, 80 workshops
The Biennial’s events include the main exhibition, workshops, music on the ferries, a maker space, music and movement performances, meetings with writers, encounters with artists, guided tours, teacher training, and spoken events such as conferences, panels and talks. The main exhibition, workshops and events will be held at Beşiktaş Çağdaş MKM, the Biennial’s main venue. As part of the Biennial, students’ paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs, new media and video works will be exhibited, and with the support of NGOs, artists, volunteers and sponsors, 80 workshops, 200 guided tours, 20 talks, and 60 concerts, recitals and performances will be held. During the Biennial, many experts invited from abroad will run workshops and carry out projects with teachers and young people.
A first in Turkey and the world
Speaking on behalf of the Biennial’s curators, Leyla Sakpınar said that the Biennial, a first in Turkey and the world, aims to raise the quality of arts education; to involve the 3 million students who make up 20 per cent of Istanbul’s population in contemporary art practice; to enable disadvantaged groups to make art; to share original works of art produced by children and young people with the public in public spaces; and to improve teachers’ professional skills. Biennial Director Gazi Selçuk stated that the concept of this year’s Biennial, curated by Leyla Sakpınar, Kader Akçay, Fırat Bingöl, Özgür Yener and Levent Güler, had been set as “Here and Now”.
An art biennial of children and young people
Participation in the Istanbul Children and Youth Art Biennial grows every year. According to figures for 2010–2016, 24,736 students from 21 countries and 45 provinces of Turkey took part in the Istanbul Children and Youth Art Biennial with their works, projects and stage performances. 1,521 schools, NGOs and institutions were represented at the Biennial, 6,230 teachers produced and managed projects while guiding students in the events, and 180,800 students and adults took part in the Biennial’s events.
Looking at the demographic data, state schools made up 48 per cent of participating schools at previous Biennials and private educational institutions 52 per cent. Boys accounted for 48 per cent of students and girls for 52 per cent, while disadvantaged children and young people made up 12 per cent of participants.
Support for the Biennial is growing
Held for the fifth time this year, the Istanbul Children and Youth Art Biennial was prepared by a large volunteer group of 30 people – mothers, businesspeople, scientists, teachers, artists and students. In this respect, too, the Biennial is a first: an organisation open to contributions from anyone who wishes to support it.
Alongside the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of National Education, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Beşiktaş Municipality, Şehir Hatları A.Ş. and Istanbul Metro, the Biennial carries out its work in collaboration with more than 40 NGOs working in art and education, such as ÖRAV, DC Art, Akbank Sanat, Istanbul Bilgi University, Türk Kızılayı, DASİFED (Doğu Akdeniz Sanayici ve İşadamları Dernekleri Federasyonu), the Consulate of the Netherlands, TEMA, WWF, Kent ve Çocuk Derneği, ÇEKÜL, Mülteci Destek Derneği and Nesin Vakfı, and with the support of THY, BKM Troy, Edding, Raid, Alem FM, TV 360 and Akşam newspaper.
Raising the creative new generations of the future
One of the largest organisations of its kind in the world, the Istanbul Children and Youth Art Biennial creates a space for sharing grounded in multiculturalism on a global scale, enabling different geographies and cultures to be expressed through the eyes and aesthetics of children. Children and young people, who can create work in many fields at the Biennial, from performance to dance and from video art to sculpture, also lead the way in building effective intercultural communication.
Enriched by the exhibitions, concerts, events and workshops of students on their way to becoming creators who shape the future and its technology, as well as producers and audiences of arts and culture, the Istanbul Children and Youth Art Biennial is followed by a wide audience of writers, artists, art lovers, teachers, students, parents and members of the press. Previous Biennials, held at a variety of venues across Istanbul including its ferries, squares, railway stations, warehouses, galleries and museums, have been visited by 180,000 people.
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