The Colours of 100 Countries Met At Taksim Square
The opening of the 24th International Istanbul Büyükçekmece Culture and Art Festival was celebrated with a visual spectacle at Taksim Square.
Cultural and art ambassadors from 100 countries participating in the festival from all around the world, decked in their country’s flags and traditional costumes, once again brought unforgettable moments to Taksim Square this year.
1580 Culture and Art Ambassadors Participating from 100 Countries
In the ceremony where messages of love, peace, and brotherhood were conveyed to the whole world, a visual feast was presented. Due to the 100th anniversary of the Republic, this year’s festival saw the participation of 1,580 artists from 100 countries and will continue in Büyükçekmece until the night of August 5th. The International Istanbul Büyükçekmece Culture and Art Festival, hosting dozens of international workshops, exhibitions, competitions, concerts, shows, and cultural-art events, has been awarded the ‘World’s Best Culture and Art Festival’ by the World Festival Association for 8 consecutive times.
Dance troupes from all around the world, adorned in their country’s flags, national folkloric costumes, and music, created a visual spectacle at Taksim Square.
Büyükçekmece Mayor and Festival Committee Chairman Dr. Hasan Akgün, together with the 2nd Vice President of the International Dance Festival Federation, Gürhan Ozanoğlu, laid a wreath at the Atatürk Memorial. After a moment of silence, dance performances from the participating countries took place at the festival.
“We brought together the world’s biggest festival with Istanbul”
Büyükçekmece Mayor Dr. Hasan Akgün, providing information about the festival, emphasized that there is no other festival in the world with the participation of 100 countries. He stated the following: ‘Starting from today, on Mimar Sinan Bridge, in Büyükçekmece Kültürpark, we will present the cultures and arts of various countries to our people. What are these? Sculptures, handicrafts, photographs, puppets, and folk dances in five different categories. Istanbul will experience an amazing week-long cultural and artistic gathering. From 8:00 pm onwards, on Mimar Sinan Bridge, at Kemal Sunal Amphitheater, you can experience all kinds of cultural activities. From daytime workshops to other handicrafts, sculptures, puppets, and the exhibition of 5,580 photographs submitted to the photography contest, where the first, second, and third place photos are displayed, you can explore all facets of culture and enjoy various art exhibitions. You can benefit from every aspect of culture. From today, the people of Istanbul will embrace the Büyükçekmece community with the world’s largest festival. Best wishes to everyone. I wish everyone good luck and an enjoyable time. I invite the people of Istanbul, art lovers, and those interested in culture to Mimar Sinan Bridge and Kültürpark in Büyükçekmece, as there are exhibitions and other artistic activities. There are folk dance shows in the evenings. There are puppets. There are many different things there.’
