A bridge
between two continents
ARTS CULTURE OF ISTANBUL

ARTS, CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT OF ISTANBUL

 Istanbul is international art and cultural center. The international Arts and Cultural Festival is held each year in June and July with famous artists coming from all over the world. These performances are held mostly at the Ataturk Cultural Center. The Istanbul Science Center (Bilim Merkezi), founded by the Science Center Foundation and located on the campus ol Istanbul Technical University, has hands-on experimental and theoretical opportunities for adults and children ol various educational levels. In March and April you can take in the International Film Festival. Those who enjoy classical music can hear it at the Cemal Resit Rey Hall. Operas, operettas, ballets, films, concerts. exhibitions and conferences all contribute to the cultural palette of the city.

 Istanbul also has a rich program of light entertainment. Nightclubs provide splendid entertainment throughout dinner, ranging from a selection of Turkish songs to belly dancing. Alongside these are modem discos, cabarets, and jazz clubs in the Taksim-Harbiyc district.

 In Sultanahmet, there are a number of restaurants in restored Byzantine and Ottoman buildings which offer a unique setting for an evening out.

 Kumkapi, with its many taverns, bars and fish restaurants, is another attractive district. People have been meeting for years at Cicek Pasaji in the district of Beyoðlu for snacks and seafood specialties. Also in the area near Cicek Pasaji is the narrow Nevizade street, which is the best place in Istanbul for eating Turkish specialties and drinking raki.

 On the Bosphorus, Ortakoy is the best place for nightlife in Istanbul, with its nightclubs, jazz clubs, fine seafood restaurants and bars.

 At Eminonu don't miss an opportunity to see fisherman dressed in mi traditional Ottoman clothes and their Ottoman-style boats which you may board to sample their delicious fried fish.

 Istanbul Biennale is a contemporary art festival, held every two years in Istanbul, Turkey, since 1987. The biennale is organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts.

 The 2005 Istanbul Biennale was held at several venues around Istanbul city. 53 artists and art groups from 28 countries exhibited their works of art and the venues of the biennial were visited by 51,000 visitors from Turkey and abroad.

 The 10th International Istanbul Biennial, is set for 15 September 4 November 2007 under the curatorship of Hou Hanru.

 Istanbul Arts and Culture fair is held each Autumn in the city's Tuyap Fair, Convention and Congress Centre, the Istanbul Arts Fair sees art dealers from across Turkey display their wares for the public in what is part gallery and part shop. This is a great way to spend a day browsing through the many stalls selling everything from paintings and sculptures to video art and photography.