In collaboration by Open Dialogue Istanbul and Akbank Sanat, we have successfully completed yet another "Curating Contemporary Art an" Seminar Program. As we set sail for the fifth edition, we take great honor and joy in announcing that our alumni network has now reached sixty graduates.
Of the 22 participants admitted to our program, which took place between December 2022 and September 2023, 16 successfully completed the program.
This year, applications were received from candidates residing in Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir.
Despite their diverse academic backgrounds—including Philosophy, Contemporary Art Theory, Visual Communication Design, Visual Arts/Art Theory and Criticism, Public Administration, Comparative History/Archival Theory and Practice, Cultural Studies, Architecture, Plastic Arts, Art History, Arts and Cultural Management, Sociology, Urban and Regional Planning, Theatre Criticism and Dramaturgy, and International Relations—participants developed final projects that engaged in a dynamic dialogue with one another.
The topics they explored included; waiting, memory, selfhood, dictatorship, awareness, vicious circles, migration, impossible justice, encounters, the cultural identity of the city, comfort zones, building connections between the past and the future through works of art, being outside the magic circle, foreignness, and temporality.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to our graduates for their dedication and commitment in successfully completing the program.
We also express our deepest gratitude to the Akbank Sanat administration for elevating this program to new heights and ensuring its sustainability, to our esteemed speakers whose presence enriched the program, and to the institutions that provided their invaluable support.
Billur Tansel
Open Dialogue Istanbul
Director of the “Curating Contemporary Art” Seminar Program
“Curating Contemporary Art” is a seminar series combining theory and practice, organized in collaboration by Open Dialogue Istanbul and Akbank Sanat.
The fourth edition of the program took place between December 2022 and September 2023. Its primary goal is to establish a comprehensive, internationally oriented, and sustainable curatorial program while creating a prestigious educational platform in Turkey that offers both theoretical and practical insights into exhibition-making and its ideological framework.
Directed by Billur Tansel, the program is designed with an educational, hands-on, and research-driven approach. The speakers are well-known figures from the international art scene, providing both theoretical knowledge and practical engagement opportunities. The program includes case studies on biennials, galleries, museums, and art fairs, offering participants valuable insights into the field.
In the final stage, each participant will develop an individual graduation project. If their overall performance and final project meet the jury’s criteria, they will be awarded a certificate of completion. Throughout the program, internship opportunities are provided in collaboration with various institutions, enabling participants to gain real-world experience.