Audience development

Istanbul’s booming art scene not only attracts its loyal audiences, but also begins to attract the attention of other people. There is a significant increase in the number of participants coming to art activities such as exhibitions, performances, fairs, expos and installations. Important art exhibitions arranged by Biennials, international fairs, artist initiatives, and big museums have made a major contribution to the attendance of visitors to these activities. The Picasso and Dali exhibitions in particular, which were arranged by the Sabancı Muesum, had a heavy inflow of visitors from both Istanbul and other cities. 250.000 people visited the Dali Exhibition between 20 September 2008 and 1 February 2009. [[1]] Many primary and high school students from Istanbul and other cities also visited museums with private tours. Interestingly, Istanbul Modern, Akbank Sanat and the Pera Museum also introduce children to art at an early age by providing children workshops. Children of both families with a high and a low income were included in these activities, which were made known thanks to activities arranged by art initiatives, the efforts of displaying art in the public sphere, and the free maps of art activities that were prepared by PIST and Akbank Sanat.