The colors of the world meet in Taksim Square

The International Istanbul Büyükçekmece Culture and Art Festival, which was awarded the "World’s Best Culture and Art Festival" 7 times by the World Festivals Association, started for the 22nd time in Taksim Square.

The visual feast created by art ambassadors from different parts of the world with country flags and folkloric costumes in Taksim Square made Istanbul experience another of its historical days.

This year, 367 art ambassadors from 65 countries attend the Istanbul Büyükçekmece Culture and Art Festival, which has been continuing for 22 years. It is the first and only festival in the A Category of UNESCO-affiliated CIOFF (International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts). The festival will be held by taking the Covid-19 precautions into account. The festival will mainly host outdoor events and international competitions will be held online.

"A festival that has won the world’s best festival award 7 times in a row"

At the traditional wreath-laying ceremony held in Taksim Republic Square, Dr. Hasan Akgün, the mayor of Büyükçekmece, said: “It first started with 17 countries in 1999. Since then, it has been accepted as an International Culture and Art Festival in the A category of CIOFF, the World Festivals Association. Because it’s a five-stage festival. It is a festival that has won the world’s best festival award 7 times in a row. It is not a festival based on a single subject. World Folk Dance Contest, World Handcrafts Symposium, World Sculpture Symposium, World Photography Contest, teaching and keeping children-themed puppet art alive. Therefore, when Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of IMM, came to Büyükçekmece International Culture and Art Festival, he said that “Istanbul’s name should be added in front of this world festival's name”. We were pleased with it. We are holding a festival that makes a very important contribution to world culture, country culture, peace, art and friendship, even if just a drop.”

 A festival known all over the world

Stating that the International Istanbul Büyükçekmece Culture and Art Festival is known and recognized all over the world, Mayor Akgün continued his speech as follows: “The contemporary dance competition was added to this festival last year and attracted great attention all over the world. The handcrafts that are on the verge of extinction and the folk dances that have come to the point of extinction reveal the history and folkloric lifestyle of the society. Because it contributed greatly to the revival of these, CIOFF and FIDAF always bring our festival to the fore in the world.”

“It received an Honor Festival Award that can set an example for festivals of all countries”

Mr. Gürhan Ozanoğlu, the second President of FIDAF (International Dance Festivals Federation), said: About 24 of our folk dance ensembles will compete online. Altınköprü Folk Dance results will be scored with the participation of jury members in 12 different countries of the world. Results will be announced on Saturday evening. Another stage is our contemporary dance competition. Currently, it continues at the Atatürk Cultural Center. Contemporary Dance Competition is a very important stage for the world. It is a dance that is gradually increasing in popularity in Turkey. These competitions will be held and concluded. Again, foreign jury members will participate online. Handcrafts symposium and handcrafts exhibition continues in Caravanserai. There are currently 60 craftsman stands from 30 countries together with handcraftsmen in Turkey. There is a puppet exhibition. Büyükçekmece Culture and Art Festival, which has been selected as the best festival in the world 7 times, received the 'Honor Festival Award' last year. Because it was a bit of an inconvenience that the first place always went to the same country. It received an Honor Festival Award, which can set an example for festivals of all countries.”

 

The festival will end on July 31.

After the official opening ceremony in Taksim Republic Square, the exhibition and award ceremony of the International Güler Ertan Photography Contest was held at Taksim Republic Art Gallery. Mr. Ümit Beyaz, Istanbul Deputy of IYI Party,  Mr. Mazen Kabbara, Consul General of Lebanon in Istanbul, Ms. Figen Ayhan Karakalle, Head of Culture Department of IMM, Mr. Dieter Wagner, Gelsenkirchen Cultural Advisor, attended the events in Taksim. The festival will end on Saturday, July 31, after 4 days of colorful culture and art events.