Mediterranean got discussed in the context of history, culture, migration, and identity

A discussion titled “Round Table: The Mediterranean, such a strange word!” was organized in The Institut français İzmir. During the event, participants examined the Mediterranean in the context of history, culture, migration, memory, and identity.

The speakers at the discussion included Ezgi Şairoğlu from the Mediterranean Academy project team, French author Laurent Gaudé, sociologist Ferhat Kentel, researcher-writer Ruggero Mainetti, filmmaker Nesim Bencoya, and business person Guillaume Pagy.

As part of the Francophonie events organized by Institut Français Türkiye, Ezgi Şairoğlu introduced the Mediterranean Academy and presented its projects during the round table discussion.

Juliette Bompoint, Director of Institut Français Izmir, in the opening speech of the event stated, “The Mediterranean is not just a sea; it is a geography of memories, migrations, multilayered identities, encounters, and separations. Discussing this diversity and thinking together are very valuable for us. I sincerely thank Mr. Gaudé and all the speakers who contributed.”

Laurent Gaudé said on the other hand: “For me, the Mediterranean is not a geography; it is a state of mind. It is a sea of narratives carrying the traces of migrations, exiles, sorrows, and encounters. Perhaps that is why I keep writing; since the Mediterranean is still full of untold stories. In each of your stories, there was a truth that I could not put into words but that I felt. This diversity, this shared memory, fascinated me. Being here this evening felt like taking one more step toward those untold stories.”

Laurent Gaudé was awarded the Goncourt Prize in 2004 for his novel The Scorta’s Sun. Gaudé’s works have been translated into 34 languages.

Mediterranean Languages Center Becomes An Intercultural Bridge

İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mediterranean Languages Center establishes a bridge among cultures with language courses in French, Italian, Spanish, Greek and Arabic. Oğuz Malatya, a Greek course graduate, says, “The way to understand each other passes through culture”.

Integrated into İzmir Mediterranean Academy, Mediterranean Langauge Center introduces the people of İzmir to the languages of countries with coastlines on the Mediterranean. Operating under İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, the center attracts demand from almost every segment, including university students, workers and retired people. One of the people whose paths cross with Mediterranean Languages Center is Oğuz Malatya, a retired philosophy teacher.

Mr. Malatya was the first person to register as a trainee when the center first opened in 2020. What’s more is that he was the oldest graduate that was entitled to receive a certificate. His curiosity for Greek dates back to his childhood. In a theather play depicting the War of Independence, he was performing a Greek officer and afterwards received bad nicknames by his friends. “However this state created an opposite effect on me; i started to develop an interest in Greek and philosophy” Mr. Malatya says.

“We have to live together”

He tells about how his paths cross Mediterranean Languages Center this way: “From time to time, i look at events from İzmir Metropolitan Municipality’s website. When i saw the Greek course in pandemic time, i decided to participate. Because as people from same shores, we have to live together. The way to understand one another passes through culture and language. Once we understand each other, we realize that we are not different and hostility is artificial and bad. Mediterranean Language Center does a good job and offers us an invaluable opportunity. I am sure that people will be happy when they learn the Greek language”.

Mr. Malatya wishes to go to Greece in a short time and do Greek practice.

“There is a high demand”

On the other hand, Greek teacher Ramazan Gırız says these: “İzmir is very lucky about Greek since we have Mediterranean Languages Center. There is a high demand. Some trainees join because of their family past, some because they do not want to face any issues when they go to vacation, some because of their cultural interest. Here we start teaching Greek from the alphabet and give 3 months long education for each level.

Course services in five languages

İzmir Mediterranean Academy Director Zeynep Özen Barkot says “İzmir Mediterranean Academy is a think thank that operates in the fields of city, culture and design under the Mediterranean context. We can define it as a democratic platform as well. The knowledge produced by the Academy is shared with public through its activities and publications. Lastly, Mediterranean Languages Center joined us. We are quite happy about this development”.

Since 2020, the Mediterranean Language Center has reached out to over 5,000 people. 900 individuals have completed the language courses and earned certificates.

Details can be found in Mediterranean Languages Center’s social media accounts.

Mediterranean Dialogues continue

Women wrote their own feminist manifesto

“Mediterranean Dialogues” event series organized by İzmir Mediterranean Academy continues with the “Women’s Resistance in Art: Social Issues and Art” workshop.

“Mediterranean Dialogues” organized by the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality İzmir Mediterranean Academy dedicated its second event to women’s resistance in art. in celebration of March 8th, International Women’s Day.

Moderated by multidisciplinary artist Aynur Tıkıroğlu, “Women’s Resistance in Art: Social Issues and Art” workshop was held on Thursday, March 6th at İzmir Mediterranean Academy meeting hall.

Tıkıroğlu, in the first part of the event, mentioned feminist art and women’s struggle to transform public space by stating that “Art is not independent of social events since art is a space for life. It also takes inspiration from cultural issues and social movements”.

On the second part, participants created their own manifestos from feminist artists’ manifestos, using visual materials. The manifestos were then elaborated together.

Mediterranean Academy Appears on Apaçık Radio! 

Zeynep Özen Barkot and Ayşegül Sabuktay from the Mediterranean Academy joined the “Bağımsızlar” (“Independents”) program to talk about the Mediterranean Academy and the Cultural Initiatives Meeting within the framework of the Izmir Cultural Action Plan preparations.

You can listen to the program through the links below.

Click to listen on the “Apaçık Radyo” website.

Click to listen on “Bağımsızlar” Spotify channel.

The first step for the Izmir Cultural Policies Action Plan

Izmir Mediterranean Academy has rolled up its sleeves for the Izmir Cultural Policies Action Plan. The first meeting of the preparatory works was held with the cultural and artistic representatives of the district municipalities in Izmir. Prof. Dr. Pınar Okyay, Deputy Secretary General of the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, and Sedat Kirt, Director of the Department of Culture and Social Affairs attended the event as well.

Prof. Dr. Pınar Okyay gave the opening speech and emphasized the importance of district municipalities as stakeholders in determining Izmir’s cultural policy.

The focus group meetings, which were divided into four groups, assessed the current status of cultural activities and their potential in the districts.

These meetings represent a significant phase in shaping Izmir’s cultural policies with stakeholders.

Good Design İzmir Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary:

Good Design İzmir is getting ready to mark its 10th year! This influential platform, which has grown over the years by bringing together design initiatives in the city and fostering the dissemination and discussion of design, continues to leave its mark on the design world.

Theme Announcement at the End of February

Thanks to its democratic and participatory approach, Good Design İzmir works to bring together more participants and thus allows design events to reach a broader audience. İzmir Mediterranean Academy aims to determine the theme of Good Design İzmir_10 in collaboration with participants and relevant stakeholders from various design fields. More precisely, this process will be led democratically, welcoming contributions from all players in the design community. The final theme will be announced publicly at the end of February. As in previous years, Good Design İzmir_10 will once again focus on the social and cultural impacts of design, bringing together design initiatives in İzmir.

Mediterranean Music and Dance Festival

İzmir Mediterranean Academy is excited to invite artists who wish to perform at the Mediterranean Music and Dance Festival, which will take place from May 16 to 19, 2025.

Artists wishing to bring the music and dance of the Mediterranean to İzmir’s historic sites, squares, and cultural centers can find the open call text and application form attached. Feel free to share this call with anyone you think would be interested, and help us create a new festival for İzmir.

You can apply to the open call by February 21, 2025, Friday, at 5:30 PM (Turkey time).

We sincerely thank you for your interest and participation. We would be delighted to welcome you at the festival!

Please send your application forms to izmirmedfest@izmir.bel.tr by February 21, 2025, Friday, at 5:30 PM.

For any questions or comments, feel free to contact us at izmirmedfest@izmir.bel.tr or call us at +90 232 293 4611.

Mediterranean Music and Dance Festival Open Call Text

Click here for the Mediterranean Music and Dance Festival Application Form.

Following program of the Academy
Instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi
Linkedin:  İzmir Akdeniz Akademisi / İzmir Mediterranean Academy

On the evening of Tuesday, October 8, Eren and Can Cihan joined us on the guest seats of our “I am new to Izmir and…” series.

Our guests shared how İzmir’s unique energy, cultural richness, climate, and nature inspired them, and how the city’s diverse food offerings strengthened their desire to live here. They also took us on a nostalgic journey, reminding us of the beauty of old İzmir. Both emphasized the importance of preserving İzmir and reforesting the city, underlining the value that nature’s embracing texture adds to the city.

Thanks to everyone who took part in our event, where newcomers to Izmir shared their experiences and became the voice of the city! We look forward to seeing you again at our next “I am new to Izmir and…” gathering!

Following program of the Academy:
Instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi
Linkedin:  İzmir Akdeniz Akademisi / İzmir Mediterranean Academy

On the evening of Tuesday, September 24th, Burcu and Hasan joined us as guests in our series “I am new to İzmir and …”.

We talked about the flexible lifestyle in Izmir with our guests. Both emphasized the city’s calm atmosphere and the beauty of living without rushing. While Burcu mentioned the sense of loneliness that comes with working from home, Hasan described how time in Izmir feels ample and shaped by the Mediterranean breeze. They also shared how the social spaces İzmir offers enrich urban life.

We’d like to thank everyone who participated in our event, where newcomers to Izmir shared their experiences and became the voice of the city dwellers. See you at the next session of our “I am new to Izmir and…” talk series!

Following program of the Academy
Instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

On Tuesday, September 17th, we gathered with Efe Akışık in our “I am new to Izmir and…” series, moderated by Merve Tufan.

We kicked off the first event of the season with Efe’s pleasant and interactive conversation. He shared his experiences and opinions about Izmir under the theme “Is it where you were born or where you thrive?” After living in Istanbul for many years, Efe, who moved to Izmir, described the tranquility of Izmir as a shift from turbulent seas to calm waters, following the fast-paced life of Istanbul.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our “I am new to Izmir and…” series, where newcomers to our city share their experiences. See you at the next events!

Following program of the Academy
Instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

We are inviting content proposals for Good Design İzmir_9, themed “Dialogue,” happening between October 23 – November 16, 2024! Shape our event with your contributions.

For detailed information and application criteria, visit: www.iyitasarimizmir.org

Event Dates: October 23 – November 16, 2024
Application Deadline: Wednesday, July 10, 16:00

We eagerly await your applications!

Grab Fırtına to discover! 🌪️

📖 The rest of the content is in our magazine.

#firtinafortunafurtuna

“Fırtına Occurred in İzmir” talk moderated by Mediterranean Academy Board President Serhan Ada took place in Kulturpark on Friday, April 19th as part of Izmir Book Fair.

During the event in which Fırtına publication team members Gizem Saraçer and Özgür Duygu Durgun were speakers, information on Fırtına was conveyed and with questions from the audience, Fırtına was in high demand.

You can follow our page so as to get acquianted with talks, events and content about Fırtına.

We hosted İçten and Onur in the fifteenth edition of our “I am new to İzmir and …” series, which took place on Tuesday, June 25th. This week’s guests of our mansion shared their life experiences with us as they came from Ankara to Izmir. The differences between these two cities, from the eyes of a white-collar person, were blended with a completely different perspective from the eyes of a second-hand bookseller, and took its place in our classic on a Tuesday evening.

Our “I am new to İzmir and …” series is on season break as of July. See you in cooler Izmir evenings with our new guests in September!

We came together with photographer Oğuz Meriç in our “I am new to İzmir and …” series, moderated by Esra Kökkılıç, on Tuesday, June 4th.

Our guest, who is also an aerial photographer, explained to us the difference of seeing the city from the sky and the ground through Izmir.

We would like to thank everyone who participated in our “I am new to İzmir and …” series, where people new to our city share their experiences. See you in the upcoming events!

The “Memphis Type” exhibition opened at Tırtıl exhibition unit on Friday, May 24, at 18:00. The opening took place with the participation of the exhibition’s designer, Emre Yıldız, and accompanied by a duo music recital.

You can visit the exhibition between May 24th and June 30th, 2024.

“Memphis Type” Exhibition
Curator: Emre Yıldız
Date: May 24th – June 30th, 2024
Place: Tırtıl Exhibition Unit, in front of Alsancak Ferry Terminal

The 13th of our talk series “I am new to İzmir and …” took place on Tuesday, May 21st with the participation of our guests Gül and Güneş in İzmir Mediterranean Academy.

Güneş shared with us her transition from her quiet life in Assos to the lively life of Izmir. She stated that she returned to metropolitan life due to the ease of access to cultural events. She also touched upon both the positive and negative aspects of cycling in İzmir. While she said that it is more difficult to get around the city by bike than before, she pointed out the convenience of being able to ride public transportation by bike.

After her experiences in Ankara and Istanbul, Gül opened a new page in life in Izmir. She stated that she established closer and deeper relationships with people in İzmir. The İzmir adventure had a positive impact on her, with the warmth of the weather reflecting upon people.

Following program of the Academy
“I am new to İzmir and…”
25 June, Tuesday 18:30
Place: İzmir Mediterranean Academy

Following program of the Academy
Instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

The ” MemphisType” exhibition will be open to the public on Friday, May 24th at 18.00 at Tırtıl exhibition unit. The opening will take place with the participation of the exhibition’s designer, Emre Yıldız.

The isometric letter set project, inspired by the original style of the Memphis Group, which originated in Milan, Italy in 1980 and made a mark on the eighties, influencing not only interior design but all design disciplines, consists of typographic designs that carry the visual and aesthetic characteristics of the period.

These graphic compositions, which won the GMK Typography Achievement Award in 2021, aim to make the visual preferences from which they are inspired more visible in terms of design culture.

You can visit the exhibition between May 24th and June 30th, 2024.

🔔Tırtıl Exhibition Unit: MemphisType
🎨Designer: Emre Yıldız
⏰Friday, May 24th, 18.00
📍Tırtıl Exhibition Unit, in front of Alsancak Ferry Terminal

We held the 12th of our talk series “I am new to İzmir and…” on Tuesday, May 7th at İzmir Mediterranean Academy with the valuable contributions of our guests Başak and Eren.

A new beginning, a new breath…Eren and his family have moved away from the cold and gloomy atmosphere of Berlin to Bergama, the heart of nature. He expresses that he now feels every moment of life more intensely in this beautiful city where İzmir’s fresh warm air and nature are intertwined. Finding tranquility in the embrace of nature precedes everything else.

A new life with the warm embrace of İzmir…After the hustle and bustle of Ankara and İstanbul, Başak has now opened a new chapter with her family in the peaceful atmosphere of İzmir. While continuing her theater career with full speed, on the other hand, this change that started with İzmir not only nourishes her soul but also enables her to form deeper bonds with her family.

Are you ready to join us to listen to both our guests’ own experiences and also their exploration of our city through different perspectives in our upcoming events? We would be delighted to see you among us!

Following program of the Academy
“I am new to İzmir and…”
21 May, Tuesday 18:30
Place: İzmirMediterranean Academy

Following program of the Academy
Instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

The 5th Board Meeting of the İzmir Mediterranean Academy took place in the Academy’s venue located in Kemeraltı on March, 28th, 2024.

The two publications of the Academy, namely “Meltem” and “Fırtına” were addressed in the meeting. Academy Teos programs that will occur in the new rural space of the Academy were on the agenda as well. Moreover, developments on the “Good Deisgn Izmir”, 9th of which will be taking place this year, and possible international partnerships were discussed.

We conducted the 11th one of the “I am new to Izmir and …” talk series on April 16, 2024. This week, we met at Izmir Mediterranean Academy to listen to experiences linked to Izmir from the eyes and perspectives of the musician and painter Roja and theatre artist Sibel.

✨Sibel shared her theatre career and her experiences abroad while comparing them with her Izmir perspective. While Roja was talking about differences between Tehran and Izmir, she also underlined that Izmir people are quite hospitable and their intellectual level is quite high. Our event got more colorful when she sang her song.

📌We are waiting for you as well in our next sessions to listen to our guests together with us and explore our city from various angles.

Following program of the Academy
Around the …sea
30 April, Tuesday 18:30
Place: Mediterranean Academy

Following program of the Academy
Instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

The “Turkey’s Automobiles 1972” exhibition will be open to public on Friday, April 5th at 18:00 at Tırtıl exhibition unit. The opening will take place with the participation of the exhibition’s curator, Mehmet Gözetlik.

Invited illustrators and designers came together and interpreted today’s classic 1972 model vehicles with the imagination and digital techniques of the 21st century. You can see the exhibition between April 5th and May 5th, 2024.

Tırtıl Exhibition Unit: Turkey’s Automobiles 1972
Curator: Mehmet Gözetlik
⏰: Friday, April 5th, 18:00
📍: Tırtıl Exhibition Unit, in front of Alsancak Ferry Terminal

This week in our talk series “I am new to İzmir and…”, we hosted architect, researcher, writer, and editor Melis Cankara. During the event facilitated by designer and lecturer Gizem Saraçer, we listened to Melis’s story of reconnecting with Izmir, her hometown.

While sharing her journey from Crete to İzmir, Melis mentioned that taking on the role of Coordinator at the Good Design İzmir_8, in an effort to build a community in İzmir, opened up a new space for her.

Photos: Oğuz Meriç

Following program of the Academy
“I am new to İzmir and…”
12 March, Tuesday 18:30
Place: Mediterranean Academy

Instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

The guest for the month of February on the series “Around the …Sea,” which we have developed to celebrate the cultural richness and musical diversity of the Mediterranean, is the artist, curator, and academic Borga Kantürk. Borga Kantürk shared his selection of Mediterranean music with us, accompanied by vinyl records.

Following program of the Academy
“I am new to İzmir and…”
27 February 2024, 18:30
Place: Mediterranean Academy

To follow the rest of the program:
Instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

As the İzmir Mediterranean Academy, we continue to rediscover the city’s story through the narratives of our new neighbors, who come from different paths, roots, and experiences, with our “I am new to İzmir and…” talk series. On the evening of February 13th, we hosted Cevahir, who specialized in visual storytelling and works related to the appetizer food culture, and publisher Esra.

The guests shared their admiration for the intense food culture omnipresent in the old bazaar atmosphere of Kemeraltı. They emphasized that Kemeraltı has features reminiscent of Istanbul, attracting particularly those from Istanbul. While Cevahir expressed his preference for İzmir due to its tranquility and proximity to nature, Esra highlighted Izmir’s integration with nature, sharing observations during her ferry rides from Karşıyaka.

Following program of the Academy
Around the …sea
Musicoman: Borga Kantürk
20 February, Tuesday 18:30
Place: Mediterranean Academy

To follow Izmir Mediterranean Academy’s event program:
Instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

The first guest of the “Around the …Sea” series for the year 2024, which was created to celebrate the cultural richness and musical diversity of the Mediterranean, was French Actress/Director Julie Gallasse.

Following program of the Academy
“I am new to İzmir and…”
13 February 2024, 18:30
Place: Mediterranean Academy

To follow Izmir Mediterranean Academy’s event program:
Instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

The Mediterranean Academy’s new publication process is still ongoing. Collaborative efforts involving the International Academy Board members, experts on the subject, and the new publication team were pursued with a meeting on January 23 at the Academy’s new building in Kemeraltı.

The outcomes of the creative workshop held on January 21 were presented during the related meetings. Additionally, a roadmap was developed on how the trial issue of the magazine which is aimed for release in February.

The “I’m new to Izmir and…” talk series at the İzmir Mediterranean Academy has been capturing the experiences of numerous newcomers and exploring the excitement of re-examining a city. On Tuesday, January 23rd, we hosted Iranian musician Moin and advertiser/retoucher Peri as part of our talk series.

The guests shared their experiences of adapting to the city of Izmir, focusing on the themes of being a mother and a musician. Additionally, they expressed that among the places where they feel the strongest connection to the city are parks, gardens, forests, and Kemeraltı.

Following program of the Academy
Around the …sea
Musicoman: Julie Gallasse
30 January, Tuesday 18:30
Place: Mediterranean Academy

To follow Izmir Mediterranean Academy’s event program:
Instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

The Izmir Mediterranean Academy organized a workshop on Sunday, January 21st, at the Academy’s venue in Kemeraltı with the aim of generating ideas for its new publication. The New Publication Workshop, led by Ezgi Çatori and facilitated by Çiçek Tezer, Elif Kocabıyık, Helin Küçük, and Sarp Keskiner, took place with the participation of 25 attendees from various disciplines and age groups.

The İzmir Mediterranean Academy embarked on the idea of conducting a workshop to create an original communication tool that would establish a connection between the city and urban dwellers in Izmir and the Mediterranean identity during the development of its new publication. Prior to the workshop, a survey was conducted through the Academy network, reaching 300 people. Utilizing the data obtained from the survey, productions were created to establish four different publication characters, drawing inspiration from the reading experiences of four distinct reader profiles.

The second guest musicoman of the series “Around the …sea,” which we have crafted to celebrate the cultural richness and musical diversity of the Mediterranean, was the designer and the architect Steph Gallia.

Following program of the Academy:
“I am new to İzmir and…”
Speakers: Ahmet and Ümit
26 December 2023, 18:30
Place: Academy Kemeraltı

To follow Izmir Mediterranean Academy’s event program:
Instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

The 4th Board Meeting of the İzmir Mediterranean Academy took place on December 8-9 at its venue located in Kemeraltı.

The Board Meeting, which took place with the participation of international Board members consisting of academics, artists, and experts from various disciplines, as well as the Academy team, lasted for two days.

At the meeting, discussions revolved around the projects and new partnerships planned by the İzmir Mediterranean Academy for the year 2024-2025, as well as the events initiated within the framework of the Academy’s new vision. Additionally, topics such as communication strategies, ongoing programs, and publications were addressed.

On the 14th of November, as part of our talk series “I am new to İzmir and…”, we hosted researcher and academic Menelaos, along with human rights lawyer Mehtap, who have both recently settled in İzmir.

Mehtap, who shared her experiences of living in Turkey and the Netherlands, currently works with immigrants in Izmir in the field of human rights. Menelaos, who has diverse experiences extending beyond Greece and Turkey, talked about his research focusing on rural areas.

Both speakers talked about their relationships with the city while addressing cross-cultural differences.

Following program of the Academy
Around the …sea – “Day of the Mediterranean”
Musicoman: Sarp Keskiner
28 November, Tuesday 18:30
Place: Mediterranean Academy

To follow Izmir Mediterranean Academy’s event program:
Instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

Izmir Mediterranean Academy Comes Together with its Stakeholders: Design Meeting

Izmir Mediterranean Academy, which considers the broad participation of stakeholders in the public, civil and private fields in Izmir in the fields it works, started to organize meetings with the actors with whom the institution has been collaborating since its establishment.

In the third of the stakeholder meeting, valuable contributors to the Academy in the field of design from past years gathered at the Academy’s new building. During the event, the transformation process of the Mediterranean Academy was mentioned, and the collaboration opportunities with stakeholders and the participants’ recommendations were discussed.

Izmir Mediterranean Academy stakeholders’ meetings will continue with the working groups that have contributed to the Academy in the past years.

To follow Izmir Mediterranean Academy’s event program:
Instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

This week’s guest for our talk series “I am new to İzmir and…” was photography artist Hale. After living in various places following including her time in Istanbul Yeldeğirmeni, she decided to settle in Bergama. During the discussion, Hale shared her experiences in Bergama and her artistic endeavors in various places, including Istanbul and Bergama.

The discussion revolved around the relationship between historical aspects of living spaces and their everyday life, the process of touristification of places,  the pine forests of Kozak Plateau, and mining exploration activities.

The next meeting of “I am new to İzmir and…” will take place on
November 14th, Tuesday, at 18:30 at İzmir Mediterranean Academy
Guests: Mehtap and Menelaos.

To follow the rest of the program:
Instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

The first musicoman of the series “Around the …sea,” which we have crafted to celebrate the cultural richness and musical diversity of the Mediterranean, was the artist Teoman Gürgan.

Upcoming gatherings within the meeting series:
November 28, Tuesday (World Mediterranean Day) at 19:00, Izmir Mediterranean Academy
Musicoman: Sarp Keskiner

December 19, Tuesday (In partnership with İyi Tasarım İzmir_8) at 19:00, Izmir Mediterranean Academy
Musicoman: Steph Gallia

To follow the rest of the program:
Instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

The İzmir Mediterranean Academy Board Meeting took place on Monday, October 20th, in the new venue of the Mediterranean Academy located in Kemeraltı, with the participation of Board Members, including academicians, artists, and experts from various disciplines.

During the meeting, discussions were held on the ongoing programs and publications, as well as the new events, projects, and partnerships initiated within the framework of the Academy’s new vision. Planned activities for 2024 were also reviewed and discussed by both the Academy team and the Board Members.

As İzmir Mediterranean Academy, we are preparing to commence our meeting series titled “Around the Sea,” which we have developed to celebrate the musical diversity of the Mediterranean, with a live performance to be held on Tuesday, October 24.

We have invited cultural creators, artists, researchers, and music enthusiasts who are closely related to music to share their playlists with us to remind us of the songs that make up the cultural richness of the Mediterranean.

We look forward to seeing you at the Academy on Tuesday, October 24th, at 7:00 PM!

Our address: 848 Sokak No:46 3. Beyler Kemeraltı (you can see our corner yellow building along Kemeraltı 3. Beyler Street)

To follow the rest of the program:
instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

Izmir Mediterranean Academy Comes Together with its Stakeholders: Neighborhood Meeting

Izmir Mediterranean Academy which seeks the broad participation of stakeholders in the public, civil and private fields in Izmir, continues to organize stakeholder meetings.

This week, we hosted our neighbors, tradesmen and artisans in Kemeraltı as part of the Izmir Mediterranean Academy stakeholders’ meetings. At the meeting, we shared the Academy’s working fields, listened to the areas in which our neighbors produce, and talked about our common values in the neighborhood.

Izmir Mediterranean Academy stakeholder meetings will continue with the working groups that have contributed to the Academy in the past years.

To follow the rest of the program:
instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

The Good Design İzmir/Good Design İzmir_8 program, in which we aim to increase, diversify and popularise the design capacity of the city with an egalitarian, collaborative, participatory approach and international discussions, is within the framework of the theme of “Reconciliation”. We received a large number of applications to our open call and we thank all participants.

The evaluation process of the applications were finalized after the evaluation meetings held with the participation of the Good Design Izmir_8 Program Board on September 29 and October 2.

Our work continues to finalize the Good Design Izmir / Good Design Izmir_8 program, which will take place between 1-23 December 2023.

To follow details and news about the Program:
iyitasarimizmir.org
instagram: iyitasarimizmir

In our second talk series “I am new to Izmir and…”, Çiğdem and Cahide, who are working in the fields of civil society and cultural communication, shared their experiences and their relations with the city as newcomers.

We invite you all to the Academy on Tuesday, October 17th, to hear Vera and Özcan’s experiences about the city.

See you at the Academy!

Izmir Mediterranean Academy
848 Sokak No:46 3. Beyler Kemeraltı

To follow the rest of the program:
instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

Izmir Mediterranean Academy Comes Together with its Stakeholders:
IzmirCulture Pla+form Initiative Meeting

Izmir Mediterranean Academy, which considers the broad participation of stakeholders in the public, civil and private fields in Izmir in the fields it works, started to organize meetings with the actors with whom the institution has been collaborating since its establishment.

In the first of the stakeholder meetings, the executives and components of the IzmirCulture Pla+form Initiative (IKPG), which has become one of the important cultural subjects of Izmir, met at the Academy building. At the event, Academy President Serhan Ada gave information about the transformation process and current work of the Academy, and the opportunities for joint work with stakeholders and suggestions of the participants were discussed.

Izmir Mediterranean Academy stakeholders’ meetings will continue with the working groups that have contributed to the Academy in the past years as well as with Kemeraltı tradesmen, artisans and residents.

To follow the rest of the program:
instagram: @izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

Our talk series where we host newcomers migrated to Izmir in recent years, “I am new to Izmir and…” started on Tuesday, September 19. In the first session of our talk series, we listened to Simge and Ayça’s experiences about the city.

We will listen to the experiences of the new residents of the city and talk about the common areas, streets, sea, parks, neighborhood and countryside that bring us together in the talk series “I just came to Izmir and…” to be held twice a month on Tuesday evenings.

We would be pleased to have you participate in our second event, where we will host Cahide and Kelemet Çiğdem on Tuesday, October 3 at 19.00.

See you at the Academy!
Izmir Mediterranean Academy
848 Sokak No:46 3. Beyler Kemeraltı Konak

instagram: izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

After ten years of its establishment, İzmir Mediterranean Academy is being reconstructed with an approach renewing and tightening its relationship within the Mediterranean, developing collaborations, striving to include partners from various geographies, prioritising interdisciplinary works, adopting multilingual, participatory, questioning, criticizing and innovative methods.
With this aim, we are preparing an event program hosting people who have settled in recent years in İzmir, which became a destination for intellectual migration. The talk series titled “I’m new to İzmir and…” will take place twice a month on tuesday evenings in the new building of the Academy in Kemeraltı. In these talks, we will listen to the experiences of new residents of the city and talk about the commons, streets, sea, parks, neighborhood and countryside that bring us together.
We would be grateful to have your participation in our first talk, where we will host Ayça and Simge on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 19.00
See you at the Academy!

İzmir Mediterranean Academy
848 Sokak No:46 3. Beyler Kemeraltı
To follow the the program:
www.izmeda.org / instagram: izmir_akdeniz_akademisi

Within the framework of this year’s theme “Reconciliation”, we invite you to propose your ideas in order to shape the activities of the Good Design İzmir_8.

You can apply by filling out this form until 21 September, Thursday at 4pm:bit.ly/3OPBSzN

Please find the details about the theme and evaluation criteria in the attachment.

For more information about İyi Tasarım/Good Design İzmir_8: www.iyitasarimizmir.org

We eagerly look forward to your applications.
İzmir Mediterranean Academy

The Board meeting of İzmir Mediterranean Academy was held in Çukurhan with the participation of the members from abroad.
At the meeting, the projects planned for 2024, the ongoing projects, the publications, the communication structure, Good Design İzmir_8 event, circular culture, how a good Academy project should be, the future of the Academy were discussed. A roadmap of the restructuring process of the Academy was put forward.

İzmir Mediterranean Academy Board meeting was held on Monday 17 April, within the framework of the new vision of the Academy and with the participation of the Board members consisting of academics and experts from different disciplines. The main objectives of the meeting were  to establish the basic working principles and plan, to evaluate and develop the projects presented with an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspective by considering the strategic priorities of Izmir.

With this first meeting of the Academy Board, the members of the Board and the staff of the Academy started the preparatory work for the new term.