The Borusan Center for Culture and Arts

Borusan has been taking determined and steady steps to develop a greater appreciation of classical music in Turkey, as well as to use this medium of artistic expression to build a bridge between our country and Europe.

All the projects and programs relating to this are coordinated under the umbrella of The Borusan Center For Culture and Arts

In 2006, Borusan took on the primary role of sponsoring the International İstanbul Music Festival for a period of ten years. Furthermore, the Borusan İstanbul Philharmonic Orchestra accompanied the renowned soprano Angela Gheorghiu during the 35th International İstanbul Music Festival which was held in June of 2007.

In 2006, the Chairman of the Board of Borusan Holding, Mr. A. Ahmet Kocabıyık launched the Guest Conductor Series project when he was the first businessman to conduct the Borusan İstanbul Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Rahmi M. Koç was the honorary conductor for the second annual concert, held in September of 2007. Donations made by business community leaders for a chance to conduct the Borusan İstanbul Philharmonic Orchestra are used to fund a music scholarship abroad for budding musicians who are especially gifted in classical music. This year’s scholarship recipient is Burak Özdemir, a budding bassoonist.

After an extended break and following a restructuring process, the Borusan Chamber Orchestra resurfaced in 2007 to bring much joy to ‹stanbul’s music lovers. Led by the young and talented conductor Joseph Wolfe, the Borusan Chamber Orchestra gave ten concerts during its 2007-2008 season. The Orchestra also performed at the 35th International İstanbul Music Festival featuring soloist Çağ Erçağ, a member of the Borusan String Quartet.

The Borusan Children’s Choir continued their good work during 2007 by giving two concerts. Meanwhile, the Borusan Music Library expanded its collection and began a fresh start in operations.

In keeping with their ongoing vision to introduce Turkey’s rich historical and cultural heritage to the world, in 2007 Ertuğ & Kocabıyık Publications released the Sacred Art of Cappadoccia for discerning art-lovers. The articles in the book were authoritatively written by Catherine Jolivet-Lévy and portraits displaying the astonishing Byzantine wall art of Cappadoccia from the 6th through the 13th centuries were splendidly photographed by Ahmet Ertuğ.

The Borusan Center For Culture and Arts, representing Turkey, participated in the 2007 annual meetings of the International Society of Contemporary Music (ISCM) and the European Music Council (EMC).

One of The Borusan Center For Culture and Arts most important milestones in 2007 was the completion of a contemporary art center dedicated, among other things, to providing promising young artists with studio space in which to develop their skills. One of the primary objectives of ArtCenter/Istanbul, located on Ayhan Işık Street in Beyoğlu, the hub of Istanbul’s rich cultural and artistic life, is to provide encouragement and support to the experimental and creative student of the arts while creating an environment that fosters the free exchange of ideas among different disciplines. Young and talented artists are able to benefit from numerous workshop activities in the areas of painting, sculpture, photography and multimedia at rather reasonable fees.

In every area of its focus The Borusan Center For Culture and Arts is working to support İstanbul’s aim of becoming “The Culture Capital of Europe” in 2010.