Istanbul 2010, European Capital of Culture

Following the EU Resolution in 1999 enlarging the ECOC Project as to include non-member countries, a group of civil society volunteers in Turkey arranged a meeting on 7 July 2000 in order to establish an “Enterprise Group” that would take the required steps for Istanbul to be a candidate for becoming European Capital of Culture. After long processes and endeavours of many civil society members, Istanbul was found to be ready on 11 April 2006 for being the European Capital of Culture in 2010 along with Pec (Hungary) and Essen (Germany). Conceding the view of the European Parliament and approval by the Council of Cultural Ministers of the European Union, on 13 November 2006 it was announced that Istanbul would be a European Capital of Culture for 2010.

On 2 November 2007, with the implementation of the law on Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture, an Agency had been established. This Agency was the main authority to coordinate the activities throughout the year 2010.

Soon after the establishment of the agency, it started funding projects on arts, culture and cultural management. The main group of projects funded by the agency were the restoration projects on different scales. As one of the main partners of the agency was the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, there were political interventions in the decision making process. In the last two years the agency was seen as the main “money source” for the projects on arts, culture and cultural heritage. One of the main projects on cultural heritage that is funded by the agency is the Inventory of Cultural Heritage and Cultural Economy of Istanbul Project.