İstanbul Kültürlerarası Sanat Diyalogları Derneği - IKASD

Türkiye

Contact: +90 (212) 293 9150; +90 544 496 39 59
Postal address: Güneşli Sk. No:33 Cihangir 34433 Beyoğlu İstanbul
Geographic Coverage of NGO’s expertise: Albania, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, France, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Nigeria, Qatar, Romania, Serbia, Türkiye, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America

URL: https://www.ikasd.org/tr//

Year of creation: 2012

Main areas of work related to the Convention:

Istanbul Intercultural Art Dialogues Association (IKASD) has developed a wide range of activities at both national and international levels aimed at safeguarding, promoting, and transmitting intangible cultural heritage. Safeguarding Through Exhibitions IKASD organizes major exhibitions that highlight traditional crafts, oral traditions, and social practices. “The Genius of the 16th Century: Matrakçı Nasuh” (recognized in 2014 by UNESCO on the 450th anniversary of his death and exhibited in UNESCO Paris, Sarajevo, Belgrade, Istanbul, G20 Antalya, Rome, Tokyo, Washington D.C., Vienna, and Budapest) has been presented 10 times in 9 countries. As of 2024, the follow-up project “Matraki: An Ottoman Star” focuses entirely on traditional Turkish arts and includes an international documentary film featuring interviews with renowned historians. Other exhibitions such as “Silent and Patient Colors” (Anatolian oya lacework), “Enchanting Istanbul” (miniature art), and “Once Upon a Time in Sarajevo” (Ottoman-era Bosnian heritage) convey traditional knowledge and collective memory to diverse audiences. These exhibitions serve not only to increase visibility, but also to educate and raise awareness among future generations. Transmission Through Workshops and Educational Programs IKASD promotes intergenerational knowledge transfer through initiatives such as the “Tribute to the Masters” ceramics workshop and the “Augmented Reality” textile art project. These events feature traditional techniques such as miniature painting (inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2019 as part of a multinational file), illumination (tezhip, inscribed in 2022), marbling (ebru), felt-making, and others—reinterpreted with contemporary approaches. Performing Arts and Festivals IKASD actively incorporates performing arts into its safeguarding strategy, including concerts of 16th-century Turkish classical music, the “Matrakçı Nasuh” documentary, a digital app based on his Istanbul miniature, traditional African music and dance through the Colors of Africa project, and cultural performances during the Republic of Türkiye’s centennial celebrations. Intercultural Dialogue Projects Through projects such as “I Have a Story” and “Coexistence,” IKASD fosters mutual understanding between cultures across the Balkans, Africa, and Europe. These initiatives are carried out in collaboration with the Yunus Emre Institute, ministries of culture, and various embassies. “Coexistence” and “Valuable Scraps,” IKASD addressed environmental awareness and the human–nature relationship through artistic expression. These initiatives focused on themes of sustainability, recycling, and ecological consciousness, using repurposed materials as a core medium. In line with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, IKASD launched the “Valuable Scraps” label to promote the zero-waste principle and enhance awareness through art. This international initiative was inspired by the resolution adopted at the 77th United Nations General Assembly on December 14, 2022, recognizing the importance of zero-waste practices for a sustainable future. Documentation and Academic Collaboration IKASD collaborates with museums, foundations, and universities to document and study intangible cultural heritage. Academic partnerships such as the retrospective exhibition of Prof. Devrim Erbil and the cooperation protocol between Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University and the Academy of Arts in Tirana demonstrate IKASD’s role in preserving historical memory. With its holistic and participatory approach, IKASD demonstrates strong capacity in safeguarding, promoting, revitalizing, and transmitting intangible cultural heritage, fully aligned with the principles of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Objectives

IKASD (Istanbul Intercultural Art Dialogues Association) was established in 2012 as a non-profit civil society organization, inspired by Istanbul’s deep and layered cultural memory and its status as a global cultural capital. The Association’s founding vision was shaped under the honorary presidency of the late researcher and author M. Kamil Dürüst. IKASD aims to promote and sustain Turkey’s cultural heritage, especially intangible cultural heritage elements such as traditional arts, music, literature, oral traditions, ceremonies, and social practices. It seeks to increase the visibility of these living traditions, support their transmission across generations, strengthen cultural identity, and foster social solidarity through artistic and cultural initiatives. By contributing to the sustainability of diverse cultural expressions, IKASD promotes both traditional and contemporary practices in an integrated manner. In its activities at both local and international levels, IKASD draws inspiration from UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. The principles embraced by these Conventions—community-based safeguarding, respect for cultural diversity, freedom of expression, sustainability, international cooperation, and intercultural dialogue—constitute the core of IKASD’s mission. In line with this vision, IKASD: ● Provides international cultural and artistic consultancy services to individuals, institutions, and countries wishing to collaborate with Turkey; ● Designs and implements multicultural art projects between the European Union, candidate countries, and other regions; ● Organizes educational and scholarship programs for young artists, scholars, and students; ● Enhances the visibility and interaction of intangible cultural heritage and diverse cultural expressions through artistic events, festivals, exhibitions, panels, literary gatherings, and symposia. ● International artist exchange programs. ● Supports cultural policies in its international projects by taking into account public and cultural diplomacy.

Cooperation

IKASD places community-based cooperation and participatory approaches at the heart of its safeguarding activities. The organization works actively with communities, groups, and individuals who create, practice, and transmit intangible cultural heritage. It engages directly with master artists specialized in miniature painting, illumination (tezhip), ceramics, calligraphy, weaving, felt-making, marbling (ebru), paper-cutting (katı), and traditional Turkish lacework (oya), ensuring their active involvement in the design and implementation of exhibitions, workshops, and educational programs. For instance, the “Tribute to the Masters” workshops foster intergenerational transmission by pairing young artists with experienced masters. Projects such as “The Colors of Silence and Patience,” “Matraki: An Ottoman Star,” and “Enchanting Istanbul” empower female artisans to share their traditional skills with broader audiences. Similarly, “100% Coexistence” brings together artists from diverse cultural backgrounds, promoting community engagement and cultural dialogue. In all projects, practitioners are not merely participants but serve as active agents in the creation and transmission of heritage. Activities are co-designed and implemented based on local knowledge systems, artistic traditions, and cultural values. IKASD strengthens its outreach and engagement through partnerships with municipalities, ministries of culture, museums, and academic institutions. A comprehensive list of all institutional partners, including UNESCO, national cultural authorities, and international museums, is provided in the supporting documentation. By involving heritage bearers in all phases of project planning, implementation, and evaluation, IKASD promotes a sustainable, culturally sensitive, and community-driven safeguarding model. Through its commitment to participatory safeguarding methods, IKASD demonstrates a strong capacity to cooperate with communities, in full alignment with paragraph 91(d) of the Operational Directives.