Istanbul, April 25 – The 106-year-old Karaköy Palas, a landmark building in Istanbul, has officially reopened its doors, marking a significant stride in the city’s cultural and artistic landscape. The extensive restoration project, spearheaded by the Culture and Civilization Foundation (KÜME), has transformed the historic structure from a building with various functions over the years into a dynamic hub for contemporary artistic production and interaction.
Minister Ersoy Emphasizes Functional Restoration of Cultural Assets
The reopening ceremony was attended by Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism, who highlighted the importance of not only restoring cultural assets but also integrating them into modern life to serve the city and its people. “As a Ministry, our sensitivity in the restoration of our cultural assets is not limited to mere repair but is shaped by the priority of always including them in life by giving them functionality, offering services to the city and people,” Ersoy stated.
Minister Ersoy further emphasized that a nation’s historical and cultural memory is recorded in various fields, with art serving as one of its most crucial carriers. He articulated that art is a powerful domain reflecting society’s accumulation, experiences, and values, noting that productions ranging from traditional to contemporary are rooted in these foundations.
KÜME’s Vision and Key Projects: ArtıKÜME and ODAK
The event was hosted by Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman of the KÜME Board of Trustees, and Abdullah Eren, Chairman of the KÜME Executive Board. Distinguished guests included Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, Presidential Culture and Arts Policies Board Deputy Chairman, academician and writer Prof. Dr. İskender Pala, and Women and Democracy Foundation (KADEM) Board of Trustees Chair Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar.
During the opening, the “ArtıKÜME 2025” selection, the foundation’s data-driven cultural memory project ODAK, and the printed selection “ODAK 2025” were introduced. The program, organized by KÜME, featured comprehensive content bringing together artistic productions from various disciplines.
Minister Ersoy specifically praised KÜME’s “ArtıKÜME Art Support Program” and the ODAK project, recognizing them as initiatives undertaken with a significant sense of responsibility in the field of culture and art. He noted that the “ArtıKÜME 2025” selection, presented to art lovers, encompasses a wide range of 25 projects, bringing different disciplines together on a common platform.
The ODAK project, according to Ersoy, will serve a crucial function in systematically recording art productions and events, acting as a comprehensive guide for both artists and researchers.
Digital and Traditional Advancements in Culture and Arts
Minister Ersoy also elaborated on the Ministry’s ongoing efforts in the cultural and artistic domain, including competitions, exhibitions, and projects that support various art forms, thereby creating opportunities for artists. He highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to digitalization, mentioning the development of databases and inventory projects aimed at documenting cultural heritage and facilitating access to information.
Ersoy detailed these initiatives: “We are also taking the necessary steps required by the digital world and technological developments, such as the Artworks Management Information System, the Museum National Information System, the Turkish-Islamic Period Tombstones and Inscriptions National Inventory Project, the Project for the Identification of Historical Artifacts for Security, and the Manuscript Database. We are both securing and documenting our existing works, information, and knowledge, and enabling our relevant citizens, researchers, and academics to access information quickly and on the broadest scale possible.”
KÜME and Bayraktar Family’s Contribution to National Vision
In his address, Ersoy also acknowledged KÜME’s institutional structure and activities, stating that the foundation creates a multi-layered platform for production and thought. He particularly emphasized Selçuk Bayraktar as a role model for young people, underlining the importance of the Bayraktar family’s projects for Turkey’s future. “The path he has drawn, the goals he has shown to our young people as a role model, and doing this not as an unattainable individual but as the ‘elder brother Selçuk’ to our young people, is very, very valuable.”
Ersoy continued, “As you know, the self-confidence of the children of this country has been continuously attacked for many years. Their paths were blocked with statements like ‘You can’t do it,’ ‘You won’t succeed,’ ‘It’s not worth the effort,’ ‘What’s the point?’ The national and domestic production vision of our President and the national technology move that has been implemented have broken down this barrier in front of our children. The late Özdemir Bayraktar, whom we commemorate with mercy and respect, dealt the strongest, most effective blow to that barrier; Baykar rose on the path he opened, adding unique strength to the Turkish defense industry by doing the best and the first in the world.”
The reopening of Karaköy Palas is expected to significantly enrich Istanbul’s cultural scene, offering a new venue for artistic expression, collaboration, and engagement for both local and international audiences.
Source: https://www.istanbulgazetesi.com.tr/106-yillik-karakoy-palas-yeniden-kapilarini-acti/amp
