Biennials

11th Istanbul Biennial
12 Sept. - 8 Nov. 2009
Curators: What, How & for Whom / WHW

City Tour

International Istanbul Biennale

The organizer of the biennial, the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Art, was founded in 1973 under the direction of Dr. Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı, with the purpose of organizing an annual international art festival (music, jazz, film, theater, visual arts). The unique position of the city as a bridge between Europe and Asia, between east and west, seemed to predetermine it as a location for cross-cultural dialog.

The first festival was organized in June and July 1973, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic. Beginning with the film festival in 1984, individual events in every genre began splintering off, but remained as always under the umbrella of the foundation.

The first biennial for the visual arts was held in 1987. Serving as general coordinator and curator, Istanbul native Beral Madra was responsible for this edition, as well as the one that followed. The city was lacking in large exhibition venues, so after the second biennial a virtue was made of necessity, and with the motto "Contemporary Art in Traditional Spaces" historical buildings began to be included conceptually. Since then, this has become a unique and especially interesting aspect of the Istanbul Biennial.

Organizer:

Istanbul Foundation for Culture & Arts

Address:

International Istanbul Biennial
Istanbul Foundation For Culture and Arts
İstiklal Caddesi 146
Beyoğlu 34435 Istanbul
Turkey

Phone: (+90 212) 334 07 00, ext. 763 and 764
Fax: (+90 212) 334 07 18

Email: ist.biennial@iksv.org

Website: http://www.iksv.org/bienal/english/

10th Istanbul Biennial
8 Sept. - 4 Nov. 2007
extensive photo tour

9th Istanbul Biennial
16 Sept. - 30 Oct. 2005

8th Istanbul Biennial
20 Sept. - 16 Nov. 2003
extensive photo report

Biennials 1987 - 2001
Brief overview on all Biennials

Venues
Photos, information

Biennials