The seventh Istanbul Children and Youth Art Biennial, the only event of its kind in Turkey and the world, will take place this year from 22 April to 23 May. Amid strong interest, 40 NGOs have announced their support for the Biennial. With ‘hope’ chosen as the concept of the 7th Istanbul Children and Youth Art Biennial, a record 879 projects were submitted in the visual arts.
The seventh International Istanbul Children and Youth Art Biennial, the world’s largest and most comprehensive children and youth art organisation, takes place this year. Forty non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have come together to support the Biennial, which will run from 22 April to 23 May. Joining forces to contribute to the development of children and young people and to reach a wider public, the NGOs stated that they would support the 7th Istanbul Children and Youth Art Biennial both through the projects they have developed and through direct and indirect contributions.
The NGOs will support children and young people as they look for answers to the question of what can be done to nurture hope in areas such as science, art, literature, creative writing, digital media, technology, disadvantaged groups, children affected by the earthquake, the bond between people and technology, climate pioneers saving the world, sharing experiences, making dreams come true, the climate crisis, climate justice and inclusion.
Strong Interest
The 7th Istanbul Children and Youth Art Biennial has attracted strong interest, with a record 879 projects submitted in the visual arts. For the Biennial, organised by Palet Culture, Art and Education Association, applications for music, performing arts and performance projects can be submitted online at www.cocukgenclikbienal.org until 22 March 2024. Following a preliminary review of the record 879 visual arts projects by 21,350 children, 579 projects by 5,250 children and young people were deemed eligible for evaluation. Of the applicants behind these 579 projects, 275 were state schools, 264 private schools, 35 other applicants or parents and 5 NGOs. By school level, the accepted projects came from 19 kindergartens, 105 primary schools, 184 middle schools and 275 high schools (fine arts, Anatolian, general and vocational high schools).
The Concept Will Be ‘Hope’
‘Hope’ has been chosen as the concept of the 7th Istanbul Children and Youth Art Biennial, taking place from 22 April to 23 May 2024. The Biennial sets out to imagine a better future than our present reality and to find the different branches of art that inspire the ideas through which we can turn our dreams into reality. Esra Özkan, artistic director of the Istanbul Digital Art Festival, is the Biennial’s curator.
The Biennial explores hope through a number of sub-themes, posing specific questions in certain sections and seeking answers from the perspective of children and young people. By involving children and young people in the ‘discovery of hope’, it aims to shape the horizons of the future through their fresh perspectives and untapped potential. Its approach is that their unique insights will bring a deeper understanding of how hope can shape our present and future, and make a difference in finding innovative solutions to the challenges we face as a society.
Artificial Intelligence at the Biennial
While continuing to host works ranging from painting and sculpture to photography and performance, as in previous years, the Biennial will this year also welcome works in newly added fields such as artificial intelligence and digital arts.
As part of the Biennial’s 2024 programme, children and young people will present the works and performances they have prepared in Istanbul’s squares, on ferries and at designated performance venues. The programme also includes nearly 200 workshops, talks and events of various kinds with many artists, academics and educators who are experts in their fields, including İsmail Acar, Devrim Erbil, Tülün Onat, Özgür Bolat, Güven Kıraç and Ahmet Ümit.
Held Every Two Years
The Istanbul Children and Youth Art Biennial is an international arts education organisation created to enable children and young people aged 4–18 to take part in contemporary art and to present their original artistic work to audiences in public spaces. A first in Turkey and the world, it has been held every two years since 2010.
The Biennial encompasses current practices and presentations in the visual arts disciplines of painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, film, video art and new media, as well as events such as artist presentations, performances, video screenings, workshops, panels, talks, meetings with writers and concerts. Its aims also include raising the quality of arts education through teacher training, workshops, talks and other events; creating an effective platform for intercultural communication where people can meet in a common language; contributing to the development of young artists and key players in the cultural industries; and, in the long term, creating new producers and followers of arts and culture.
More Than 300,000 Visitors
The sixth Biennial, held in 2022, hosted works and projects by 5,391 children and young people from 438 institutions and schools in 8 countries and 35 provinces. Nearly 63,000 people visited the Biennial at MKM Beşiktaş Çağdaş, on Şehir Hatları ferries, and in Beşiktaş Pier Square and Kadıköy Pier Square.
Over the six Biennials held since 2010, works by nearly 35,000 children and young people from a total of 31 countries and 55 provinces of Turkey have been shown to more than 300,000 visitors.
Strong Support from NGOs
The NGOs supporting this year’s Biennial, organised by PALETDER (Palet Culture, Art and Education Association), are as follows:
AÇEV, Anne Çocuk Eğitim Vakfı, Akbank Sanat, ARTER, Pera Müzesi, Babil Toplum Kültür Sanat Çalışmaları Derneği, TOG, Toplum Gönüllüleri Vakfı, ÖRAV, Defne Barış Derneği, Komşu Kapısı Derneği, Bilgi Üniversitesi Enerji Müzesi, Bilim Kahramanları Derneği, Bizim Dünyamız Vakfı, Bomovu-Sosyal Güçlendirme İçin Spor ve Beden Hareketi Derneği, DC Art Sanat Eğitim, Crea Center, Çağdaş Drama Derneği İstanbul Şubesi, Çağdaş Yaşamı Destekleme Derneği, ÇEV Sanat, Çocuk ve Gençlik Yayınları Derneği, Dönüşüm Derneği, Eğitim Sanatı Dostları Derneği, Gönüllü Hizmetler Derneği, Haber Atölyesi, Habitat Derneği, Herkes İçin Mimarlık, İklim Öncüleri, İstanbul Fotoğraf ve Sinema Amatörleri Derneği (İFSAK), İstanbul Oyuncak Müzesi, Köy Okulları Değişim Ağı Derneği (KODA), Kırmızı Çocuklar Derneği, LÖSEV, Maya Vakfı, Musiki Eğitim Vakfı, Sabancı Üniversitesi – Eğitim Reformu Girişimi (ERG), Sakıp Sabancı Müzesi, Talebeyiz Biz Derneği, Teşkilat ICOM, Tomurcuk Kooperatifi, TOÇEV, Türkiye Eğitim Gönüllüleri Vakfı (TEGV), Türkiye Spina Bifida Derneği İstanbul Şubesi, UNHCR, Yılmaz Yalçınkaya Cam Ocağı Vakfı, Hip Hop Ladies Turkey team.
