
The Bursa Metropolitan Municipality is organizing the 'Bursa Art Workshop' between February 4-12 to support the original productions of artists and to bring artists and the public together. The workshop, which will take place at the Mehmet Akif Ersoy Cultural Center, which has been opened with its renewed face, aims to make painting permeate every aspect of life this year.
Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, which continues its work to spread and sustain culture and art to all corners of the city, is organizing the 'Bursa Art Workshop' with the Department of Culture and Social Affairs between February 4-12. In addition to artists from different cities, young people receiving art education in the city, especially Bursa Uludağ University Fine Arts Faculty students and Zeki Müren Fine Arts High School students, will contribute to the workshop held at Mehmet Akif Ersoy Culture House, which has opened to art and artists with its renewed face. The productions that emerge at the end of the workshop, where talks, portfolio evaluations and workshops will be held, will meet art lovers in an exhibition to be opened on February 13.
The house where Müzeyyen Senar was born will become a museum
Speaking at the opening program of the Bursa Art Workshop, Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mustafa Bozbey said that they opened a door in Bursa’s artistic journey and added a new dimension to the city’s cultural identity. Stating that the Bursa Art Workshop, which was organized for the first time, and the renovation of Mehmet Akif Ersoy Culture House and its opening to art and artists would encourage artistic production in the city and inspire new generations, Mayor Bozbey stated that Bursa also has a rich cultural infrastructure. Reminding that they witnessed a history of 8 years, Mayor Bozbey said, “Bursa is one of the cities that stands out with its history, culture and art. We are working to make Bursa stand out more in these areas. We are carrying out projects to tell our stories to tourists who come to get to know Bursa. We have many values. Zeki Müren and Müzeyyen Senar are separate values of ours. We are taking initiatives to purchase the house where Müzeyyen Senar was born. We will transform it into a structure that tells the stories of Müzeyyen Senar. "From now on, we will first introduce our artists to the people of Bursa through our art works," he said.
“We support young artists”
Stating that they want to carry Bursa's deep-rooted heritage into the future and enrich the city with art, Mayor Bozbey said that they will support the original productions of artists with the Bursa Art Workshop, bring artists together with the public, and ensure that painting penetrates every aspect of life this year. Stating that the painting artists will interpret the texture and social change of Bursa with an artistic perspective, Mayor Bozbey said, “We will bring the works that will emerge at the end of the workshop together with art lovers in the exhibition we will organize on February 13. We will add the works that will be produced in different painting techniques throughout the process to the 'Contemporary Arts Center' collection that we plan to establish within the body of our Department of Culture and Social Affairs. We support young artists and care about creating spaces for them to express themselves. We find it extremely valuable that students who receive art education in our city, especially at Bursa Uludağ University Faculty of Fine Arts and Zeki Müren Fine Arts High School, take part in our workshop.”
“Training will be provided in many branches of art”
Stating that they have also renovated the Mehmet Âkif Ersoy Cultural Center and made it more functional, Mayor Bozbey stated that the cultural center named after the Independence Poet Mehmet Âkif Ersoy is a tribute to the past. Stating that they have brought Mehmet Âkif’s books and approximately 500 works written about him to the city under the name of ‘Mehmet Âkif Ersoy Library’, Mayor Bozbey said, “We are happy and proud to offer such a cultural service to our city and to be able to carry Mehmet Âkif Ersoy’s legacy to future generations. This venue will be a comprehensive culture and art center with visual art workshops where artists can produce, from creative writing to drama lessons. In addition, under the ‘Culture Factory’ established together with the cultural center, training will be given in many branches of art such as ballet, modern dance, piano, bağlama, rhythm and percussion instruments. Our cultural center now exists to be involved with art, to participate and to produce. The sound of our streets, the spirit of our nature, and the stories of our people will turn into art. "We will continue to produce projects to nourish our city with art and to ensure that it breathes with art. I hope that our workshop will strengthen art production and inspire our artists. I hope that the Cultural Center will be a home for art, thought and creation," he said.
Artist İrfan Önürmen stated that the workshop provided an opportunity to experience artistic expression possibilities on current issues in a dynamic environment with young people. Önürmen stated that it was exciting to see the city transformed into an art center and expressed his belief that these initiatives would be successful.
One of the workshop advisors, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Meryem Uzunoğlu, thanked Mayor Mustafa Bozbey and his team for bringing the Mehmet Akif Ersoy Cultural Center to the city and said that the workshop would contribute to the creation of a dynamic art environment in the city.
Hocaalizade Headman Mustafa Kemal Aktaş stated that they were very happy to host the workshop in their neighborhood and thanked those who contributed.