As a hub for artistic expression, Istanbul Airport has consolidated its collection of artworks under the auspices of İGA ART, in an effort to bolster cultural and artistic expression. Istanbul Airport now hosts a multitude of exhibitions, workshops, and live music performances, in addition to pioneering initiatives such as the airport museum and library. Through the endeavors of İGA ART, the intention is to create additional spaces for artistic expression and further inspire artists.

Under the guidance of Painter and Academician Prof. Dr. Hüsamettin Koçan, Chairman of the Executive Committee, İGA ART seeks to actualize projects spanning a diverse range of artistic disciplines, including painting, sculpture, architecture, criticism, and curating, as well as academia. The executive committee, comprised of nine distinguished individuals including Painter and Academician Prof. Dr. Hüsamettin Koçan, Prof. Dr. Gülveli Kaya, Nazlı Pektaş, Deniz Odabaş, Prof. Dr. Marcus Graf, Gökhan Şengül, Murat Tabanlıoğlu, Mehmet Ali Güveli, and Mehmet Fehmi Bilge, are joining forces to develop and implement projects that prioritize social welfare and benefit.

Our objective is to become the world's premier airport

In his address, iGA Airport CEO Kadri Samsunlu, expressed their ambition to merge the travel experience with arts and culture, stating, "Since its inauguration, Istanbul Airport has had a flawless operational record and has quickly emerged as one of the world's top airports, rivaling those in Qatar, London, and Dubai." The airport shares many of its attributes with its namesake, Istanbul, a city rich in art, culture, and history... This essence can be felt throughout the airport. A thriving city that operates 24/7, is constantly evolving, and serves as a center of trade. A significant volume of the trade at Istanbul Airport, is facilitated through its hotel, shopping and advertising spaces, and food and beverage courts. In addition to this, we are progressing towards our goal of not only being one of the world's finest airports, but also providing passengers with a distinctive experience, making Istanbul Airport a destination they would wish to return to. Today, we are together to turn Istanbul Airport into a gateway for the arts. We will ensure that the buildings emanate a distinctive spirit and identity, contributing to the brand of Istanbul. We will provide our full and unwavering support to the İGA ART project, using our terminal facilities and managerial expertise, diligently following the path determined by the esteemed executive committee, led by the distinguished Painter and Academician Prof. Dr. Hüsamettin Koçan, with their independent decision-making authority."

İGA ART will make a significant contribution to the cultural and artistic landscape of Türkiye...

At the İGA ART launch, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Painter and Academician Prof. Dr. Hüsamettin Koçan, emphasized the increased importance of supporting art and its artists during the global pandemic era. He further noted that the activities conducted under İGA ART, particularly the competition planned for the initial phase, hold significant value in this regard. Koçan concluded his remarks by stating, "Istanbul Airport serves as a neutral and unbiased meeting point for passengers from diverse cultures and beliefs, all sharing the common goal of reaching their destinations, yet unaware of one another. This space allows individuals to feel liberated and be open to communication. Creating a common space where individuals and artists can meet, inspired by this unique aspect of the airport, is indeed significant," he continued. Drawing attention to the fact that within the competition to be conducted under İGA ART, the artists are not limited in any way, except for the venue definition. Koçan has noted that this competition offers artists the freedom to create and suggest while still protecting the material rights of the artist. He stated that one channel of the competition has been exclusively reserved for young artists under the age of 35, who represent our future, and to ensure that their responsibilities towards art have also been fulfilled. Koçan concluded his remarks by stating, "Fostering new artistic energy that is receptive to all suggestions and techniques, with each person significantly contributing to the cultural and artistic landscape of our country".

The grand prize of TRY 1 million awaits its winner...

At the launch, the İGA ART Art Project Competition, one of the initial activities undertaken within the scope of the project, received extensive publicity. An open invitation has been extended to applicants for the first two stages of the İGA ART Art Project Competition, encompassing a diverse range of project areas and catering to artists specializing in the field of plastic arts. The competition comprises 17 different project areas. During the first stage of the competition, the Category-1 project area, which covers the "Visions Under the Viaduct" section, located at the subway exit, will only be accessible to artists under the age of 35. Subsequent stages will be open for competition in 2022. Thanks to these specific aspects, the competition is expected to open up a space for young artists. For each project category within the competition, the top three finalist projects will be awarded TRY 10,000, with the grand prize set as a royalty fee of TRY 1,000,000 for the creator of the winning project. Additionally, iGA will cover the cost of the application process. The competition panel is comprised of İGA ART Executive Committee Chairman Prof. Dr. Hüsamettin Koçan, İGA ART Executive Committee Members Deniz Odabaş, Prof. Dr. Gülveli Kaya, Prof. Dr. Marcus Graf, Mehmet Ali Güveli, Murat Tabanlıoğlu, Nazlı Pektaş, and sculptors Seyhun Topuz and Seçkin Pirim.

The İGA ART Art Project will commence with venue promotion tours scheduled for September. Transportation will be provided by the shuttle service departing from the Beşiktaş ferry port on Tuesdays, September 21 and 28, and Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at 12:00 PM. The competition application period will be between September 15 - November 1, 2021. The winning project will be announced on December 20, 2021. Another noteworthy aspect from the introductory meeting on the İGA ART competition, is the emphasis on using environmentally-friendly materials, in line with iGA's sustainability policy.

Detailed information about the activities under İGA ART and the İGA ART Art Project Competition can be found at https://igart.istanbul/en/