İzmir Culture Policies Action Plan Preparations Continue

Mediterranean Academy met representatives from culture and arts field in the city

İzmir Mediterranean Academy takes on a participative process for İzmir Culture Policies Action Plan. Mediterranean Academy Culture Policies Working Group met representatives from culture and arts field.

İzmir Metropolitan Municipality İzmir Metropolitan Academy continues to engage in preparatory works for İzmir Culture Policies Action Plan. Mediterranean Academy Culture Policies Working Group gathered with representatives of culture and arts institutions and initiatives on Monday, 24th February at İzmir Sanat Merkezi (İzmir Art Center).

The meeting was moderated by Mediterranean Academy Director Zeynep Özen Barkot. Mentioning the importance of representatives from culture and arts field as stakeholders when it comes to determine İzmir’s culture policy, Özen Barkot also said “We are here today as part of one of the stages in the preparation process of the Cultural Policies Action Plan. We will discuss how we can build a participatory process, and based on the results of this meeting, we will come together again”.

In the meeting attended by approximately 40 culture initiatives, participants shared their views and recommendations regarding İzmir’s cultural policies. The importance of participation and dialogue was emphasized. During this productive meeting, a request for the continuation of such meetings was highlighted.

After the meeting, Görkem Kiter, who took part on behalf of Birikim Atölyesi, said, “I find it positive that the Mediterranean Academy has brought us together again and allowed us to talk about possibilities. We hope that this will continue”.

Ali Kemal Ertem from the Marquis Project, which works specifically in Kemeraltı, stated: ‘I believe this meeting matters very much for the functioning of the participatory process in creating cultural policies. We are still at the beginning of the process, and I hope it evolves in much better directions”.

The Mediterranean Academy Cultural Policies Working Group had initially met with the cultural and art responsibles of İzmir’s district municipalities. In the focus group meetings which were held in four groups, the current state and potential of cultural activities in the districts were evaluated.