We are pleased to share with you the annual report of the Turkish Cultural Foundation (TCF) and the progress we have made in implementing our mission and programs in 2018.
In 2018, TCF allocated a total of $378,921 to grants and operational and program disbursements to pursue its goals.
TCF continued to be a leading private grant maker in the area of Turkish cultural preservation and promotion, providing a total of $11,900 in grants and fellowships to organizations and individuals.
Two TCF fellowship programs help build artistic, cultural, and scholarly exchanges across the globe.
The TCF Fellowship in Turkish Culture and Art and the TCF Cultural Exchange Fellowship provide funding to culture professionals, including musicians, visual and performing artists, writers, curators, scholars and many others. In 2018, we offered six fellowships, bringing the total to 210 awards since we launched the programs. The recipients participate in various cultural and artistic showcases, as well as in academic events in Turkey and internationally.
In 2018, TCF continued to research, document, preserve, and promote Turkey’s textile heritage through the work of the TCF Cultural Heritage Preservation and Natural Dyes Project. Headed by Professor Recep Karadağ, the project undertakes scientific work year-round and shares it with the scholarly community worldwide at conferences and through publications. In line with the mission of TCF to preserve Turkey’s cultural heritage, we help cultural institutions conserve and restore historical artifacts. In 2018, we provided pro bono analytical services to one institution and three museums in Turkey.
TCF aims to disseminate knowledge about the rich cultural, artistic, and culinary heritage of Turkey through the TCF Lecture Series. It also sponsors the participation of its resident scholars and other experts in international events. The more than 100 lecture videos, which are available on the TCF digital Video Gallery, have been viewed over 6,580 times by visitors from all over the world. In addition, TCF scholars participated in conferences, workshops, and other events throughout the year and shared their knowledge with audiences across the world.
The TCF Portals, gateways to learn more about Turkish culture, music, and cuisine, were visited by more than 4.15 million people from 37 countries and regions in 2018. The TCF Education Portal continued to be a resource on Turkey for the educational community. Teachers can download 104 free lesson plans on Turkey that cover history, geography, women’s rights, the environment and culture, and various political and economic issues. Prepared by participants of the TCF Teacher Study Tours to Turkey, the lesson plans have been downloaded nearly 6,250 times and enabled educators who wish to teach about Turkey to access accurate information in a format that conforms with U.S. curriculum standards.
We thank everyone who participated in our work in 2018 and reaffirm our commitment to promote Turkey’s past, present, and future, to strengthen the bonds of friendship among people, and to build cultural bridges across the world.
In 2018, TCF funds were distributed as follows:
| 1. |
PROGRAMS & PROJECTS |
$288,695.00 |
| 2. |
GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS |
$11,900.00 |
| 3. |
OPERATIONAL |
$78,326.00 |
PROGRAMS & PROJECTS
TCF Lectures
TCF aims to disseminate knowledge about the rich cultural, artistic and culinary heritage of Turkey through the TCF Lecture Series. TCF also sponsors the participation of its resident scholars and other experts in international events.
TCF lectures reach an even wider audience through the TCF Video Gallery, where they were viewed 6,580 times in 2013 by people from 13 countries.
TCF Scholars' Lectures
TCF works to advance knowledge and research on Turkish culture and art through the active participation of its scholars in relevant scientific conferences and other forums. In 2018, TCF scholars attended events in Ukraine, Japan and Turkey, presenting their research and the work of TCF to diverse audiences.
Prof. Dr. Recep Karadağ, TCF senior scholar and head of the TCF Cultural Heritage Preservation and Natural Dyes Project (DATU), and his colleagues participated in various conferences throughout the year (please see DATU for details).
TCF and the Media
In 2018, TCF continued to grow its social media presence. The organization expanded its robust content strategy, highlighting the rich cultural knowledge found on TCF Portals, as well as providing regular updates on TCF-sponsored events and programs. Through social media, TCF presented this content in a way that encouraged engagement and increased the organization’s reach. Over the year, the organization’s Facebook audience grew steadily, expanding by 12.3 percent, while its Twitter audience rose by more than 8.6 percent.
TCF Chairman Interviewed by VOA
Dr. Yalcin Ayasli, founder and chairman of the Turkish Cultural Foundation, was interviewed by Voice of America. The interview can be watched here.
TCF on the Web
The TCF online portals continued to be major publicly available resources to learn more about Turkish culture, music, and cuisine. They were visited by over 4.15 million people from 13 countries and regions in 2018.
The TCF Education Portal was added to this line-up in 2014 as an online resource featuring lesson plans and other materials on Turkey. It contains 104 English lesson plans on Turkey that educators can download for free for use in their classrooms. So far, the lesson plans have been downloaded 5,500 times.
Turkish Cultural Foundation
www.turkishculturalfoundation.org
The Turkish Culture Portal highlights some of the distinct characteristics and qualities of Turkish culture and its contributions to human work and thought. The website is intended as a casual and entertaining overview of topics related to Turkey’s rich culture. Its content is constantly updated, given the depth and multiple dimensions of the subject.
Turkish Culture Portal
www.turkishculture.org
The Turkish Culture Portal highlights some of the distinct characteristics and qualities of Turkish culture and its contributions to human work and thought. The website is intended as a casual and entertaining overview of topics related to Turkey’s rich culture. Its content is constantly updated, given the depth and multiple dimensions of the subject.
Turkish Music Portal
www.turkishmusicportal.org
The Turkish Music Portal explores the history of Turkish music, reviews the instruments of the Turkish classical and folk repertoires, and introduces Turkish composers and performers in all musical genres. Available in Turkish, English, French, and German, the portal also features the first online Turkish music dictionary.
Turkish Cuisine Portal
www.turkish-cuisine.org
Available in English and Turkish, the Turkish Cuisine Portal is a rich resource on the many aspects of Turkey’s diverse culinary culture, including its history, sociology, traditions, ingredients, techniques, and recipes.
TCF YESAM Portal
www.culinaryartcenter.org
TThe TCF Culinary Arts Center (YESAM) Portal features listing of YESAM events, lectures, summaries and videos, monthly recipes, and other information on Turkish cuisine.
TCF DATU Portal
www.tcfdatu.org
The TCF Cultural Heritage Preservation and Natural Dyes Project (DATU) Portal contains information on natural dyes and features an extensive database of plants, insects, and other materials used in their production. The portal also provides information on the institutional work of DATU, as well as scientific articles published by the DATU research team.
TCF Education Portal
turkishculturalfoundation.org/education
The TCF Education Portal is dedicated to education about Turkey and the TCF Spotlight on Turkey program. It is designed to provide educators easy access to lesson plans and other resources on Turkey. The portal is configured to allow teachers to upload and share relevant lesson plans.
TCF Cultural Heritage Preservation and Natural Dyes Project
The TCF Cultural Heritage Preservation and Natural Dyes Project is designed to preserve and promote Turkey’s textile heritage through research and development. The Project was started in 2010 with the establishment of a state of the art laboratory in İstanbul with support from the ARMAGGAN brand. Through the years, the TCF team contributed to the redevelopment of the natural dye production process by creating a scientific inventory of natural dyes, as well as by spreading the use of natural dyes in contemporary textile production through collaborative projects.
The TCF Cultural Heritage Preservation and Natural Dyes Project holds the richest collection of natural dye materials in the world. The collection currently includes 750 natural dye plants, organic pigments, and dye insects and provides an important reference database for the analysis of naturally dyed material.
TCF has provided free analytical services to assist preservation and conservation efforts. This work is conducted at the internationally recognized laboratory in İstanbul, which is accredited by the Turkish Accreditation Agency (TÜRKAK) under the TS EN ISO/IEC 17025 standards, the European Cooperation for Accreditation (EA), and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).
Cultural Preservation
In line with our mission to preserve Turkey’s cultural heritage, TCF provides free analytical services to museums, as well as cultural and educational institutions in Turkey and elsewhere. The analyses that the TCF team conducts at the laboratory help identify, date, restore, and conserve historical artifacts, particularly textiles.
In 2018, TCF provided such services to one institution and three museums, conducting 42 dye analyses, 11 metal thread analyses, six color measurements, and six microscopic measurements for a total of 65 analytical processes. The institutions and museums that received the services are:
- Mevlana Museum in Konya
- Arkeoloji Museum in İstanbul
- VEKAM (Koc University Vehbi Koc Ankara Research Center) in İstanbul
- Kırklareli Museum in Kırklareli
Yenikapı Byzantine Shipwrecks Excavation
Salvage excavations conducted in the Yenikapı quarter of the historic peninsula of İstanbul by the İstanbul Archaeology Museums since 2004 have brought to light the Theodosian Harbor on the Sea of Marmara. In addition to thousands of archaeological artifacts, 37 shipwrecks dating from the fifth to the eleventh centuries AD were uncovered, constituting the biggest collection of medieval ships found at a single excavation site. Under the auspices of the İstanbul University Yenikapı Shipwrecks Project, carried out by İstanbul University’s Department of Conservation of Marine Archaeological Objects, a team led by Professor Ufuk Kocabaş has undertaken the recording and dismantling of 27 shipwrecks and the conservation/restoration and reconstruction of 31.
Analytical services were provided pro bono by TCF through the Cultural Heritage and Natural Dyes Project. Professor Karadağ and his team worked on this special project and offered input to the excavation team on the filling and binding material used in the ships. In particular, analysis of one of the most important shipwrecks (inventory number YK12) revealed that four different resins were used in the construction. The findings established that one resin was used during the construction of the entire ship, while the others must have been used when the ship underwent repairs at different harbors. The analysis also found that horsehair was used as filling material because it was water repellent and protective against pest; areas that had horsehair filling were undamaged, while those that did not had been damaged by shipworms.
The analysis provided by the TCF team identified the types of resins and filling materials, as well as their physical and chemical specifications and reactions, guiding the effort to establish conservation and preservation methods for the project.
The preliminary findings from this analysis were shared at two conferences: the 2nd International Conference on Art and Archaeology 2016 and the 21st International Conference on Cultural Heritage and New Technologies.
Analysis of Encyclopedia of Animals
Held at the Manuscripts Library of the Süleymaniye Library in İstanbul, the Encyclopedia of Animals is the first book about animals written in the Ottoman Empire. The 62-volume collection was produced relevant from 1487 until the death of the author in 1501. Hand written, the books are leather bound and decorated with colorful illustrations, and are regarded as a highly valuable manuscript collection.
In need of extensive restoration, the most damaged volumes were brought to the laboratory for analysis. The team analyzed the leather binding, the ink used in the writing, the colored illustrations, and the paper to determine the causes of its discoloration and carbonization.
As a result of this work, the team documented the composition and ingredients of the ink and its source material, as well as of the dyes and binders in the leather binding. Most importantly, it was determined that the damage and discoloration of the paper were caused by the dye produced by a certain type of bacteria. Based on these findings, the TCF team made recommendations on restoration procedures for the volumes. These findings may also inform restoration efforts on other manuscripts.
The DATU team also continued to share its work and knowledge by presented at scientific conferences and publishing papers. Prof. Dr. Recep Karadağ, TCF senior scholar and head of the project, participated in a variety of conferences in 2018.
Dr. Karadağ participated in the 8th International Istanbul Conference on the Evolution on Technical Textiles (ETT2018) a TUYAP Fair and Exhibition Center in Istanbul, Turkey, on April 14-16 and gave two presentations entitled “Reproduction of the Ottoman Palace Fabrics Using Natural Dyes” and “Multidirectional Investigation of Organic Cotton Fabrics Dyed with Gall Oak.”
He also addressed the Heritage İstanbul Restoration, Archaeology Museum Technologies Fair and Conferences on April 12-14 with a presentation on “Analysis Important to Cultural Heritage Preservation.”
In addition, Dr. Karadağ participated in the 4th International Conference on Engineering and Natural Sciences in Kiev, Ukraine, on May 2-6 with a presentation on “Antimicrobial Properties and Dyeing of Organic Cotton Products with Natural Dye.”
On May 7, Dr. Karadağ gave presentations on “Pigment Analysis of the Kanlıtaş Mount Excavation Findings” and “Archaeometric Investigations of Archaeological Textile Works and Storage Conditions” at the 40th International Symposium on Excavations, Surveys, and Archaeometry. The symposium was organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Çanakkale, Turkey.
Finally, Dr. Karadağ delivered a keynote presentation at the Fiber Society’s 2018 Spring Conference in Tokyo, Japan, on June 12-14. His presentation was called “Developing a Natural Dyeing Method for Obtaining Turkey Red Color.” He shared with scholars from across the world the history and rediscovery of Turkey red, a cotton dyeing method developed in the Ottoman Empire and lost for over 200 years. The multi-year project, supported by TCF and led by Prof. Karadag, rediscovered the recipe and dyeing method for Turkey red, which is now patented to the Turkish Cultural Foundation.
ADDITIONAL PUBLICATIONS in 2017–2018
• Karadag, R. (2018). Investigation of natural lake pigments prepared with a mixture of hemp (Datisca cannabina L.) and weld (Reseda luteola L.). Jordan Journal of Chemistry, 13(2), 103-114.
• Karadag,R.(2018). Dyeing of silk fabric with natural dyes extracted from cochineal (Dactylopius coccus Costa) and galloak (Quercus infectoria Olivier). Journal of Natural Fibers, 15(4), 559-574. DOI:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15440478.2017.1349708
• Karadag, R., Emine, T., & Kaan, I. (2017). Ancient plant remains with special reference to buckthorn, Frangula alnus Mill., pyrenes from Dascyleum, Balıkesir, NW Turkey. Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae, 86(1).
• Karadag, R. (2017). The investigation of antifungal activity and durability of natural silk fabrics dyed with madder and gallnut. Journal of Natural Fibers, 14(6), 769-780. DOI: 10.1080/15440478.2017.1279101
• Karadag, R. (2017). FTIR imaging and HPLC reveal ancient painting and dyeing techniques of molluskan purple. Archaeol Anthropol Sci, 9(2), 197-208. DOI:0.1007/s12520-015-0270-3
• Karadag, R. (2017). Characterization of sixteenth to nineteenth century Ottoman silk brocades by scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography. Analytical Letters, 50(10), 1553-1567. DOI:10.1080/00032719.2016.1236264
TCF Rediscovers Recipe of Turkey Red
In 2018, TCF concluded a 3-year research project on the historical color, and succeeded in the rediscovery of Turkey Red (Türk Kırmızısı), a natural dyeing process lost for over 200 years.
A color/dyeing recipe invented by dyers in 16th century Ottoman Empire, Turkey Red, sometimes referred to as Edirne (Adrianople) Red (after the western border town of Edirne in Turkey), was a highly guarded trade secret handed from master dyer to apprentice. The technique was introduced to Europe in 1746 when two master dyers from İzmir were taken to France. From there, the technique spread to England where in 19th Century Glasgow six dyeing factories dyed textiles in Turkey Red.
With the spread of synthetic dyes and the diminishing application of natural dyes in the textile industry, the recipe for Turkey Red was lost. Despite many ongoing academic research projects worldwide, the recipe remained elusive.
TCF and ARMAGGAN partnered in an R&D project at the Cultural Heritage Preservation and Natural Dyes Laboratory to discover the recipe. The project included extensive literature research, micro- analysis of historical samples and trials of the multiple dyeing steps. It took the research team led by Professor Recep Karadağ over three years to establish the recipe of Turkey Red, which is now patented to the Turkish Cultural Foundation (Patent Number: TR 2015 00638 B).
Turkey Red is created through a dyeing process of cotton fiber with dyes extracted from the root of Rubia tinctorum L. a natural dye plant. The process includes nearly 40 dyeing steps with high coloring fastness and a special color tone. The dyeing requires a precise protocol of the application steps of the dye, which is a mixture of Rubia tinctorum L. madder dye and vegetable oil.
Who’s Who in Turkish Culture and Art
TCF continued to expand the Who’s Who in Turkish Culture and Art online database, which features living Turkish artists, artisans and experts. Accessible from the TCF Turkish Culture Portal, the database reached over 3,600 artist entries in 2018. The goal of the project is to identify and recognize practitioners of Turkish traditional and modern arts and to help to promote Turkish artists worldwide. It also enables people with common interests to connect and collaborate on artistic and cultural projects. Who’s Who in Turkish Culture and Art is divided into categories such as Visual Arts, Turkish Traditional Arts, Applied Arts, Literature, Music, Theater, Movies, Documentaries and TV, Dance and Ballet, Academics, Fashion Design, Restoration and Conservation, and in Memoriam.
GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS
Education Grants
University of Chicago – Ayaslı Lectureship
In 2000, the year TCF was founded, the trustees established a fund for Turkish language instruction at the University of Chicago. The gift continues to support the Ayaslı Lectureship in Turkish Language Instruction at the university to this day.
The lectureship is held by Dr. Kağan Arık, a scholar with substantial teaching experience in modern Turkish language and literature and a background in Central Asian Turkic studies.
During the 2017-2018 academic year, Dr. Arık continued teaching Elementary Kazakh (Levels 1-3), Elementary Turkish (Levels 1-3), Intermediate Turkish (Levels 1-3), Introduction to Old Turkic (Levels 1-3), and Shamans & Oral Poets of Central Asia. He also taught a full-year equivalent summer quarter intensive Turkish language class.
In the 2017-2018 academic year, 170 students took the courses taught by Dr. Arık. Over the 15 years since the Ayaslı Lectureship was established, 1,764 students enrolled in the Turkish language and related courses offered at the University of Chicago.
Ayaslı Research Center
In May 2011, TCF and the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara signed a protocol paving the way for the establishment of the Ayaslı Research Center (ARC). Bearing the name of METU graduates and TCF founders Drs. Yalçın and Serpil Ayaslı, the Ayaslı Research Center was donated to METU’s Electrical Engineering Department by TCF as part of its mission to advance cultural, educational, and scientific ties between the United States and Turkey. The construction of the building was completed in 2012 and it was inaugurated with an official ceremony on March 5, 2012.
The ARC houses 19 research labs, two clean rooms, an anechoic chamber, and an antenna tower, as well as seminar and meeting spaces, student reading rooms, and social areas. A fine example of a smart building, it minimizes water consumption via a rain-water collection system and generates its own electricity via flexible photovoltaic panels on the roof. Its relevant 50 kWh panels generated 60,000 kWh of electric energy in 2017-2018, saving 30,000 TL on the electricity bill and around 21 tons of CO2 emissions. During several days, the energy generated exceeded the ARC’s consumption requirements, allowing it to supply electricity to other buildings on the METU campus. The ARC is one of the buildings that will be integrated with the METU Smart Campus project, which is funded by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). The project aims to investigate priority areas to transform the METU campus into a more intelligent and sustainable site through the integration of technology.
Over 38 projects have been completed at the Ayaslı Research Center since its founding, with support from TUBITAK, the EU, and leading Turkish industrial partners like ASELSAN, HAVELSAN, Arçelik, and EnerjiSa. The center employs 86 full-time researchers and graduate students, and 24 faculty members are involved in its projects. In addition, several seminars and weekly research group meetings were held at the center. In 2018, five spin-out technology companies were established by the graduate students in the ARC.
CULTURAL PROMOTION & EXCHANGES
TCF continued to contribute to the promotion of Turkish art and culture across the United States. It also facilitated cultural and artistic exchanges between Turkey and the world by offering grants and fellowships to institutions and individuals.
TCF Fellowship Programs
The TCF fellowship programs facilitates cultural and artistic exchanges on a global scale. Since their inception, the TCF Fellowship in Turkish Culture and Art and the TCF Cultural Exchange Fellowship programs awarded a total of 204 fellowships to culture professionals.
TCF Fellowship in Turkish Culture and Art
Since its establishment in 2000, the Turkish Cultural Foundation has made significant contributions to advancing knowledge of Turkish culture, art, and language studies through its support of academic institutions and individual scholars. Since its launch, 91 scholars have been awarded the TCF Fellowship in Turkish Culture and Art.
The goal of the TCF Fellowship in Turkish Culture and Art program is to recognize and assist individuals whose scholastic achievements reflect the commitment of the Turkish Cultural Foundation to research, document, preserve, and promote Turkey’s historical and contemporary art and culture.
The fellowship is awarded for outstanding papers published in Turkish cultural and social studies, as well as to support the participation of scholars in leading conferences in this area.
TCF Cultural Exchange Fellowship
In 2018, TCF awarded six fellowships under its Cultural Exchange Fellowship program. The fellowships are awarded competitively each year to allow Turkish and non-Turkish culture professionals to participate in exhibitions, festivals, concerts, and other cultural projects and in artist residency programs.
2018 TCF Cultural Exchange Fellows
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Ayşe Gül Süter (Turkey, 2016 TCF Cultural Exchange Fellow) is a Turkish artist who integrates traditional art-making techniques with new media technologies. Ms. Süter received the TCF fellowship to support her residency at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine in Barcelona, Spain, where she was the sole resident artist in 2018. |
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Banu Özden (Turkey), a researcher and lecturer on Turkish cuisine, was asked to present a paper on “Political Power behind the Feasts: Food as a Symbol of Authority and Obedience in the History of Turks” at the annual Dublin Gastronomy Symposium held in May 2016. |
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Gülfidan Özmen (Turkey, 2014 TCF Cultural Exchange Fellow) is a glass artist who was selected for a three-month residency fellowship at the Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center and the Creative Glass Center of America in Millville, New Jersey. During her fellowship, Ms. Özmen created and exhibited new works and interacted with other artists. |
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Hüseyin Eryurt (Turkey) is the program manager of the Culture Routes Society, a Turkish NGO. Mr. Eryurt was awarded the TCF fellowship to participate in the International World Trails Conference in Santiago de Compostella, Spain, on September 26-29, 2018. The conference is organized by the World Trails Network (WTN) in partnership with the regional government of Galicia. |
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İrem Yılmaz (Turkey), a glass artist, participated in a two-week residency at the Corning Glass Museum in New York, for which she received a scholarship from the museum. During her residency, Ms. Yılmaz attended a class on Venetian glass techniques with master glassblower, scholar, and lecturer William Gudenrath. |
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Yasemin Kayabay (Turkey) is a ballet dancer and a student in the Performing Arts Department at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University (MSGSU). Ms. Kayabay received the TCF fellowship to support her participation in the 2019 Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) Barcelona, Spain International Semi-Final on December 6-9, 2018. |
Visit from Maryland Educators Delegation
The Turkish Cultural Foundation (TCF) hosted a Maryland higher education delegation at the ARMAGGAN Bosporus Suites in Istanbul, Turkey. The Turkish American National Steering Committee (TASC), co-chaired by Attorney Gunay Evinch and the Maryland-Kocaeli Sister State Committee, led by Dr. Ahmet Aydilek, co-hosted the visit, which included meetings with the boards of directors of Bosphorus University, Bahçeşehir University, Gebze Technical University, Istanbul Aydın University, and Kocaeli University.
The Maryland delegation included Anwer Hasan, chairman of the Maryland State Higher Education Committee; Dr. Roomina Hasan, physician in the University of Maryland Medical System; Tina Bjarekull, rresident of the Maryland Independent College and University Association; Reverend Brian Linnane, president of Loyola University Maryland; Dr. Bradford Sims, president of Capitol Technology University; Philip Rous, provost of the University of Maryland Baltimore Campus; and Dr. Sabrina Fu, professor at the University of Maryland University College.
Turkish Culture, Music, Film, and Dance
TCF continued to support the promotion of Turkish culture and art in the United States by underwriting several events.
NCSU Turkish Student Association
A TCF grant awarded to the Turkish Student Association at North Carolina State University supported the screening of the Turkish documentary Kedi about stray cats in Istanbul. The screening took place on April 7 at the Witherspoon Cinema in Raleigh and was attended by over 130 people.
TCF Grant Sponsors Refik Anadol Artist Talk
A TCF grant to the Arts and Science Council, a North Carolinian based organization, underwrites a talk by Refik Anadol about his work ‘Interconnected,’ an art installation that was inaugurated at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport in July. Anadol discussed his new artwork, his transcendent career and how data and technology are shaping the future of art and architecture at “The Poetics of Data: A Conversation with Refik Anadol,” on October 29 at UNC Charlotte Center City.
One of the largest digital public artworks in the world, Interconnected is an installation of abstract form, Color, and simulated texture that uses custom-designed software, more than 2,000 square feet of LED media walls, and 850 linear feet of programmable LED lights embedded in the concourse façade to transform the hidden troves of airport operations data into a dramatically choreographed panorama of moving lights. The installation is visible both inside and outside the terminal.
Refik Anadol (2013 TCF Cultural Exchange Fellow) is a media artist and director born in Istanbul, Turkey, Who currently resides in Los Angeles. He is a lecturer and visiting researcher in UCLA’s Department of Design Media Arts. Anadol’s site-specific public artworks explore the space among digital and physical entities by creating a hybrid relationship between architecture and media arts. His work suggests that all spaces and facades have the potential to be utilized as the media artist’s canvases. Anadol’s site-specific audio/visual installations have been seen in Athens, Beijing, Los Angeles, Montreal, and Sydney.
Atatürk Park
TCF awarded a grant to the Turkish American Cultural Association of Michigan (TACAM) to support the creation of a park and commemorative site for Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on the 3.6-acre private property that belongs to TACAM in Wixom, Michigan. The park will be located on the 6.7 acres of property purchased with donations by Turkish Americans in Michigan in 1981, which is also home to the TACAM House.
New York Ataturk Chorus
TCF awarded a grant to the Turkish and International Music Ensemble to support the New York Ataturk Chorus. The chorus was founded in 2008 under the direction of Nedim Katgi, an award-winning Turkish musician. Its mission is to teach Turkish music to the general public and to contribute to the increasingly diverse fabric of American musical culture. As part of the chorus’s objective to expand its reach, the grant supported collaborations with renowned jazz, Latin, and rebetiko musicians, leading up to a performance at Carnegie Hall in 2019.
Boston Turkish Arts and Culture Festival
TCF provided a grant to the Turkish American Cultural Society of New England (TACSNE) to support the Turkish Festival in Boston. The 24th Boston Turkish Festival took “Colors of Anatolia” as its theme and featured art exhibits, workshops, performances, culinary events, and a short film competition. The festival began on Turkish Republic Day on October 29, and events were held at leading Boston institutions, including the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and Boston University.
Broad Horizons Screens at Boston Turkish Festival
The 13th Annual Documentary and Short Film Competition was held from November 2 to 10 as part of the 24th Boston Turkish Festival. Screened at Boston University’s GSU Auditorium on November 6, 2018, Broad Horizons is a documentary produced and directed by Orhan Ayaslı and highlights the TCF Spotlight on Turkey program and the TCF Teacher Study Tours.
Broad Horizons is an entertaining and informative documentary that showcases the ancient civilizations of Anatolia, along with modern Turkey and its people, in a visually and aurally exciting way, while telling a human story of growth. The film follows the journey of a group of American teachers to Turkey in the summer of 2010. It captures their aspirations as they prepare to embark on the trip, travels with them as they go beyond their textbooks and get a first-hand look at Turkey, and examines the impact that exploring a foreign culture can have on the minds of educators and their students. For the trailer of Broad Horizons, please visit the TCF website.
Exhibitions
TCF continued to provide substantial funding to artists and art institutions. Thousands of people visited TCF sponsored exhibitions in 2018, advancing its mission to promote Turkey’s artistic and cultural heritage and contemporary arts.
Istanbul Breeze Art Exhibit Opens in Portland
TCF and the ARMAGGAN Art and Design Gallery partnered with the Wild Shaman Gallery to bring contemporary Turkish art to Portland, Oregon. Previously exhibited in New York, Istanbul Breeze presented works by Aslı Kutluay, Dinçer Güngörür, Derya Özparlak, Meral Değer, Pembe Hilal Tüzüner, Camekan, Dilek Aydıncıoğlu, Ayşegül Kırmızı, and Semra Özümerzifon. The exhibition consisted of three-dimensional art and paintings and opened on February 17. It is part of TCF’s long-standing efforts to promote Turkish contemporary art in the United States, which, over the years, have allowed 53 Turkish artists to showcase their work to discerning audiences.
TCF Article Published and Exhibition Launched
An article by Prof. Recep Karadağ, head of the Cultural Heritage Preservation and Natural Dyes Project, on natural dyes and the history and dyeing of the Ankara of fabric was published by the Vehbi Koc Ankara Studies Research Center (Koç Üniversitesi Vehbi Koç Ankara Araştırmaları Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi (VEKAM)).
Published in Turkish and English, the article accompanied an exhibition organized by VEKAM titled Weaving the History: Mystery of a City, which was supported by the Turkish Cultural Foundation. It opened on May 12 at the Rahmi M. Koc Museum in Ankara and remained on view until September 16.
Curated by VEKAM director Filiz Yenişehirlioğlu and Gözde Çerçioğlu Yücel, the exhibition explored the history and making of and featured of and mohair textiles from the collections of the Ankara Ethnographical Museum, Sadberk Hanım Museum, and Topkapı Palace Museum.
The TCF Cultural Heritage Preservation and Natural Dyes Laboratory (DATU) contributed to the exhibition through its expertise on natural dyes and mohair dyeing techniques. DATU provided mohair dyed with 10 different natural dyes and prepared a video presenting the dyeing process. Samples from the DATU Natural Dyes Collection were also showcased during the exhibition. The exhibition was further supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, the Ankara Chamber of Commerce, the Embassy of the Netherlands, Ströer Kentvizyon, Türk Traktör, and UNESCO.
Kitab-ı Cihannüma (Book of the World)
TCF awarded a major grant to the American Friends of the Arts in Ireland to support the restoration and preservation of one of the earliest printed books in Turkish: the Kitab-ı Cihannüma (Mirror of the World, 1732) by the Ottoman Turkish scholar Kâtip Çelebi, which was printed by İbrahim Müteferrika.
The Chester Beatty Library is a museum and library that houses the world-class collection of Islamic, East Asian, and European art assembled by the great American philanthropist and collector Sir Alfred Chester Beatty (1875-1968).
Kâtip Çelebi is the pen name of Mustafa bin Abdullah (1609-1657), also later known as Haji Khalifa (Hacı Halife), an Ottoman historian and geographer who is regarded as one of the most productive authors of non-religious, scientific literature in the 17th-century Ottoman Empire. He began writing the Cihannüma in 1654, expanding on it over the years but unable to complete a second edition due to his untimely death.
İbrahim Müteferrika (c. 1674-1745), who printed the Cihannüma, played a special role in the story of printing in the Islamic world. A Hungarian whose early life remains something of a mystery, Müteferrika became a senior figure at the imperial Ottoman court. Today he is remembered as the founder of the first official Ottoman printing house in Turkey. In 1727, he secured an edict from Sultan Ahmed III permitting him to print works of a non-religious nature. Subsequently, between 1729 and 1742, his press published 17 books, of which the Chester Beatty Library holds 13.
Published in 1732 in İstanbul, the Chester Beatty Library’s rare and complete copy of the Cihannüma has survived with all of its original 13 astronomical and 26 geographical maps intact. The ambitious text summarizes Ottoman geographical knowledge of the time and is one of the earliest books printed in Turkey in Turkish.
Due to the importance of this volume, it was included in a recent Chester Beatty publication, Director’s Choice, at which time it was apparent that the book required extensive conservation and the library approached the Turkish Cultural Foundation for support.
The book was tightly bound in an unsympathetic 19th-century binding that placed a strain on the pages each time the volume was opened. Over the centuries, with repeated use, the green copper-based pigment utilized to frame the printed maps had gradually burned through the paper, causing most of the folios to split along this line. The support provided by the Turkish Cultural Foundation enabled the conservators at the Chester Beatty to re-sew the carefully conserved pages, reinforce the structure of the book, and rebind the volume in an Islamic-style binding that will allow it to be safely handled and displayed.
The conservation project was completed this year and the Kitab-ı Cihannüma is now on exhibition at the Chester Beatty Library’s Arts of the Book Gallery
The project’s completion and the book’s subsequent exhibition were widely covered in the media.
TCF and UNESCO
TCF has been in official relations with UNESCO since 2015.
TCF supports the mission of UNESCO by disseminating relevant information about the organization’s work. It informs the general public and non-governmental organizations about UNESCO awards and is qualified to nominate organizations for these honors.
In 2018, TCF accepted applications from individuals and entities in the U.S. and in Turkey for the UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development and applications for UNESCO, Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education.
From the many applicants, TCF nominated Bolu Community Foundation (Bolu Bağışcılar Vakfı) for the UNESCO-Japan Prize in April of 2018.
Bolu Bağışcılar Vakfı (BBV), Turkey’s only community foundation, that mobilizes donors and provides grants and technical assistance to educational, social, and environmental projects for local sustainable development in Bolu, the newest Turkish member of UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. TCF nominated BBV for its Preschool Education Application and Research Center project which brought an innovative and high-quality early childhood education model to Bolu. Through the work of the Center, BBV achieved to increase preschool enrollment rate in Bolu from 5 percent in 2010 to 95 percent in 2018, and raised educational quality and inclusiveness.
TCF nominated Limak Foundation and Sabancı University Gender and Women’s Studies Center for UNESCO Prize for Girls and Women’s Education. TCF nominated Limak Foundation for its leadership and efforts in raising awareness on gender equality and women empowerment in Turkey through the Foundation’s Engineer Girls of Turkey (Türkiye'nin Mühendis Kızları-TMK) flagship program and Sabancı University Gender and Women's Studies Center of Excellence for its Purple Certificate Program-PCP (Mor Sertifika Programı).
TURKISH CULTURAL FOUNDATION WEBSITES
Turkish Cultural Foundation
www.turkishculturalfoundation.org
Turkish Culture Portal
www.turkishculture.org
Turkish Music Portal
www.turkishmusicportal.org
Turkish Cuisine Portal
www.turkish-cuisine.org
TCF Education Portal
www.turkishculturalfoundation.org/education
TCF Cultural Heritage Preservation and Natural Dyes Laboratory
www.tcfdatu.org
TCF Culinary Arts Center (YESAM)
www.culinaryartcenter.org
TURKISH CULTURAL FOUNDATION SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Facebook
www.facebook.com/TurkishCulture
Twitter
www.twitter.com/TurkishCulture
The Turkish Cultural Foundation is a U.S. tax-exempt public charitable organization supported entirely by private donations. Contributions are U.S. tax deductible and can be made via credit card on www.turkishculturalfoundation.org or by mailing a check to: Turkish Cultural Foundation, 48 Jonas Brown Circle Concord, MA 01742 USA.
Download PDF version.
We are pleased to share with you the annual report of the Turkish Cultural Foundation (TCF) and the progress we have made in implementing our mission and programs in 2018.
In 2018, TCF allocated a total of $378,921 to grants and operational and program disbursements to pursue its goals.
TCF continued to be a leading private grant maker in the area of Turkish cultural preservation and promotion, providing a total of $11,900 in grants and fellowships to organizations and individuals.
Two TCF fellowship programs help build artistic, cultural, and scholarly exchanges across the globe.
The TCF Fellowship in Turkish Culture and Art and the TCF Cultural Exchange Fellowship provide funding to culture professionals, including musicians, visual and performing artists, writers, curators, scholars and many others. In 2018, we offered six fellowships, bringing the total to 210 awards since we launched the programs. The recipients participate in various cultural and artistic showcases, as well as in academic events in Turkey and internationally.
In 2018, TCF continued to research, document, preserve, and promote Turkey’s textile heritage through the work of the TCF Cultural Heritage Preservation and Natural Dyes Project. Headed by Professor Recep Karadağ, the project undertakes scientific work year-round and shares it with the scholarly community worldwide at conferences and through publications. In line with the mission of TCF to preserve Turkey’s cultural heritage, we help cultural institutions conserve and restore historical artifacts. In 2018, we provided pro bono analytical services to one institution and three museums in Turkey.
TCF aims to disseminate knowledge about the rich cultural, artistic, and culinary heritage of Turkey through the TCF Lecture Series. It also sponsors the participation of its resident scholars and other experts in international events. The more than 100 lecture videos, which are available on the TCF digital Video Gallery, have been viewed over 6,580 times by visitors from all over the world. In addition, TCF scholars participated in conferences, workshops, and other events throughout the year and shared their knowledge with audiences across the world.
The TCF Portals, gateways to learn more about Turkish culture, music, and cuisine, were visited by more than 4.15 million people from 37 countries and regions in 2018. The TCF Education Portal continued to be a resource on Turkey for the educational community. Teachers can download 104 free lesson plans on Turkey that cover history, geography, women’s rights, the environment and culture, and various political and economic issues. Prepared by participants of the TCF Teacher Study Tours to Turkey, the lesson plans have been downloaded nearly 6,250 times and enabled educators who wish to teach about Turkey to access accurate information in a format that conforms with U.S. curriculum standards.
We thank everyone who participated in our work in 2018 and reaffirm our commitment to promote Turkey’s past, present, and future, to strengthen the bonds of friendship among people, and to build cultural bridges across the world.
In 2018, TCF funds were distributed as follows:
| 1. |
PROGRAMS & PROJECTS |
$288,695.00 |
| 2. |
GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS |
$11,900.00 |
| 3. |
OPERATIONAL |
$78,326.00 |
PROGRAMS & PROJECTS
TCF Lectures
TCF aims to disseminate knowledge about the rich cultural, artistic and culinary heritage of Turkey through the TCF Lecture Series. TCF also sponsors the participation of its resident scholars and other experts in international events.
TCF lectures reach an even wider audience through the TCF Video Gallery, where they were viewed 6,580 times in 2013 by people from 13 countries.
TCF Scholars' Lectures
TCF works to advance knowledge and research on Turkish culture and art through the active participation of its scholars in relevant scientific conferences and other forums. In 2018, TCF scholars attended events in Ukraine, Japan and Turkey, presenting their research and the work of TCF to diverse audiences.
Prof. Dr. Recep Karadağ, TCF senior scholar and head of the TCF Cultural Heritage Preservation and Natural Dyes Project (DATU), and his colleagues participated in various conferences throughout the year (please see DATU for details).
TCF and the Media
In 2018, TCF continued to grow its social media presence. The organization expanded its robust content strategy, highlighting the rich cultural knowledge found on TCF Portals, as well as providing regular updates on TCF-sponsored events and programs. Through social media, TCF presented this content in a way that encouraged engagement and increased the organization’s reach. Over the year, the organization’s Facebook audience grew steadily, expanding by 12.3 percent, while its Twitter audience rose by more than 8.6 percent.
TCF Chairman Interviewed by VOA
Dr. Yalcin Ayasli, founder and chairman of the Turkish Cultural Foundation, was interviewed by Voice of America. The interview can be watched here.
TCF on the Web
The TCF online portals continued to be major publicly available resources to learn more about Turkish culture, music, and cuisine. They were visited by over 4.15 million people from 37 countries and regions in 2018.
The TCF Education Portal was added to this line-up in 2014 as an online resource featuring lesson plans and other materials on Turkey. It contains 104 English lesson plans on Turkey that educators can download for free for use in their classrooms. So far, the lesson plans have been downloaded 5,500 times.
Turkish Cultural Foundation
www.turkishculturalfoundation.org
The Turkish Culture Portal highlights some of the distinct characteristics and qualities of Turkish culture and its contributions to human work and thought. The website is intended as a casual and entertaining overview of topics related to Turkey’s rich culture. Its content is constantly updated, given the depth and multiple dimensions of the subject.
Turkish Culture Portal
www.turkishculture.org
The Turkish Culture Portal highlights some of the distinct characteristics and qualities of Turkish culture and its contributions to human work and thought. The website is intended as a casual and entertaining overview of topics related to Turkey’s rich culture. Its content is constantly updated, given the depth and multiple dimensions of the subject.
Turkish Music Portal
www.turkishmusicportal.org
The Turkish Music Portal explores the history of Turkish music, reviews the instruments of the Turkish classical and folk repertoires, and introduces Turkish composers and performers in all musical genres. Available in Turkish, English, French, and German, the portal also features the first online Turkish music dictionary.
Turkish Cuisine Portal
www.turkish-cuisine.org
Available in English and Turkish, the Turkish Cuisine Portal is a rich resource on the many aspects of Turkey’s diverse culinary culture, including its history, sociology, traditions, ingredients, techniques, and recipes.
TCF YESAM Portal
www.culinaryartcenter.org
TThe TCF Culinary Arts Center (YESAM) Portal features listing of YESAM events, lectures, summaries and videos, monthly recipes, and other information on Turkish cuisine.
TCF DATU Portal
www.tcfdatu.org
The TCF Cultural Heritage Preservation and Natural Dyes Project (DATU) Portal contains information on natural dyes and features an extensive database of plants, insects, and other materials used in their production. The portal also provides information on the institutional work of DATU, as well as scientific articles published by the DATU research team.
TCF Education Portal
turkishculturalfoundation.org/education
The TCF Education Portal is dedicated to education about Turkey and the TCF Spotlight on Turkey program. It is designed to provide educators easy access to lesson plans and other resources on Turkey. The portal is configured to allow teachers to upload and share relevant lesson plans.
The TCF Cultural Heritage Preservation and Natural Dyes Project is designed to preserve and promote Turkey’s textile heritage through research and development. The Project was started in 2010 with the establishment of a state of the art laboratory in İstanbul with support from the ARMAGGAN brand. Through the years, the TCF team contributed to the redevelopment of the natural dye production process by creating a scientific inventory of natural dyes, as well as by spreading the use of natural dyes in contemporary textile production through collaborative projects.
The TCF Cultural Heritage Preservation and Natural Dyes Project holds the richest collection of natural dye materials in the world. The collection currently includes 750 natural dye plants, organic pigments, and dye insects and provides an important reference database for the analysis of naturally dyed material.
TCF has provided free analytical services to assist preservation and conservation efforts. This work is conducted at the internationally recognized laboratory in İstanbul, which is accredited by the Turkish Accreditation Agency (TÜRKAK) under the TS EN ISO/IEC 17025 standards, the European Cooperation for Accreditation (EA), and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).
Cultural Preservation
In line with our mission to preserve Turkey’s cultural heritage, TCF provides free analytical services to museums, as well as cultural and educational institutions in Turkey and elsewhere. The analyses that the TCF team conducts at the laboratory help identify, date, restore, and conserve historical artifacts, particularly textiles.
In 2018, TCF provided such services to one institution and three museums, conducting 42 dye analyses, 11 metal thread analyses, six color measurements, and six microscopic measurements for a total of 65 analytical processes. The institutions and museums that received the services are:
- Mevlana Museum in Konya
- Arkeoloji Museum in İstanbul
- VEKAM (Koc University Vehbi Koc Ankara Research Center) in İstanbul
- Kırklareli Museum in Kırklareli
Yenikapı Byzantine Shipwrecks Excavation
Salvage excavations conducted in the Yenikapı quarter of the historic peninsula of İstanbul by the İstanbul Archaeology Museums since 2004 have brought to light the Theodosian Harbor on the Sea of Marmara. In addition to thousands of archaeological artifacts, 37 shipwrecks dating from the fifth to the eleventh centuries AD were uncovered, constituting the biggest collection of medieval ships found at a single excavation site. Under the auspices of the İstanbul University Yenikapı Shipwrecks Project, carried out by İstanbul University’s Department of Conservation of Marine Archaeological Objects, a team led by Professor Ufuk Kocabaş has undertaken the recording and dismantling of 27 shipwrecks and the conservation/restoration and reconstruction of 31.
Analytical services were provided pro bono by TCF through the Cultural Heritage and Natural Dyes Project. Professor Karadağ and his team worked on this special project and offered input to the excavation team on the filling and binding material used in the ships. In particular, analysis of one of the most important shipwrecks (inventory number YK12) revealed that four different resins were used in the construction. The findings established that one resin was used during the construction of the entire ship, while the others must have been used when the ship underwent repairs at different harbors. The analysis also found that horsehair was used as filling material because it was water repellent and protective against pest; areas that had horsehair filling were undamaged, while those that did not had been damaged by shipworms.
The analysis provided by the TCF team identified the types of resins and filling materials, as well as their physical and chemical specifications and reactions, guiding the effort to establish conservation and preservation methods for the project.
The preliminary findings from this analysis were shared at two conferences: the 2nd International Conference on Art and Archaeology 2016 and the 21st International Conference on Cultural Heritage and New Technologies.
Analysis of Encyclopedia of Animals
Held at the Manuscripts Library of the Süleymaniye Library in İstanbul, the Encyclopedia of Animals is the first book about animals written in the Ottoman Empire. The 62-volume collection was produced relevant from 1487 until the death of the author in 1501. Hand written, the books are leather bound and decorated with colorful illustrations, and are regarded as a highly valuable manuscript collection.
In need of extensive restoration, the most damaged volumes were brought to the laboratory for analysis. The team analyzed the leather binding, the ink used in the writing, the colored illustrations, and the paper to determine the causes of its discoloration and carbonization.
As a result of this work, the team documented the composition and ingredients of the ink and its source material, as well as of the dyes and binders in the leather binding. Most importantly, it was determined that the damage and discoloration of the paper were caused by the dye produced by a certain type of bacteria. Based on these findings, the TCF team made recommendations on restoration procedures for the volumes. These findings may also inform restoration efforts on other manuscripts.
The DATU team also continued to share its work and knowledge by presented at scientific conferences and publishing papers. Prof. Dr. Recep Karadağ, TCF senior scholar and head of the project, participated in a variety of conferences in 2018.
Dr. Karadağ participated in the 8th International Istanbul Conference on the Evolution on Technical Textiles (ETT2018) a TUYAP Fair and Exhibition Center in Istanbul, Turkey, on April 14-16 and gave two presentations entitled “Reproduction of the Ottoman Palace Fabrics Using Natural Dyes” and “Multidirectional Investigation of Organic Cotton Fabrics Dyed with Gall Oak.”
He also addressed the Heritage İstanbul Restoration, Archaeology Museum Technologies Fair and Conferences on April 12-14 with a presentation on “Analysis Important to Cultural Heritage Preservation.”
In addition, Dr. Karadağ participated in the 4th International Conference on Engineering and Natural Sciences in Kiev, Ukraine, on May 2-6 with a presentation on “Antimicrobial Properties and Dyeing of Organic Cotton Products with Natural Dye.”
On May 7, Dr. Karadağ gave presentations on “Pigment Analysis of the Kanlıtaş Mount Excavation Findings” and “Archaeometric Investigations of Archaeological Textile Works and Storage Conditions” at the 40th International Symposium on Excavations, Surveys, and Archaeometry. The symposium was organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Çanakkale, Turkey.
Finally, Dr. Karadağ delivered a keynote presentation at the Fiber Society’s 2018 Spring Conference in Tokyo, Japan, on June 12-14. His presentation was called “Developing a Natural Dyeing Method for Obtaining Turkey Red Color.” He shared with scholars from across the world the history and rediscovery of Turkey red, a cotton dyeing method developed in the Ottoman Empire and lost for over 200 years. The multi-year project, supported by TCF and led by Prof. Karadag, rediscovered the recipe and dyeing method for Turkey red, which is now patented to the Turkish Cultural Foundation.
ADDITIONAL PUBLICATIONS in 2017–2018
• Karadag, R. (2018). Investigation of natural lake pigments prepared with a mixture of hemp (Datisca cannabina L.) and weld (Reseda luteola L.). Jordan Journal of Chemistry, 13(2), 103-114.
• Karadag,R.(2018). Dyeing of silk fabric with natural dyes extracted from cochineal (Dactylopius coccus Costa) and galloak (Quercus infectoria Olivier). Journal of Natural Fibers, 15(4), 559-574. DOI:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15440478.2017.1349708
• Karadag, R., Emine, T., & Kaan, I. (2017). Ancient plant remains with special reference to buckthorn, Frangula alnus Mill., pyrenes from Dascyleum, Balıkesir, NW Turkey. Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae, 86(1).
• Karadag, R. (2017). The investigation of antifungal activity and durability of natural silk fabrics dyed with madder and gallnut. Journal of Natural Fibers, 14(6), 769-780. DOI: 10.1080/15440478.2017.1279101
• Karadag, R. (2017). FTIR imaging and HPLC reveal ancient painting and dyeing techniques of molluskan purple. Archaeol Anthropol Sci, 9(2), 197-208. DOI:0.1007/s12520-015-0270-3
• Karadag, R. (2017). Characterization of sixteenth to nineteenth century Ottoman silk brocades by scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography. Analytical Letters, 50(10), 1553-1567. DOI:10.1080/00032719.2016.1236264
TCF Rediscovers Recipe of Turkey Red
In 2018, TCF concluded a 3-year research project on the historical color, and succeeded in the rediscovery of Turkey Red (Türk Kırmızısı), a natural dyeing process lost for over 200 years.
A color/dyeing recipe invented by dyers in 16th century Ottoman Empire, Turkey Red, sometimes referred to as Edirne (Adrianople) Red (after the western border town of Edirne in Turkey), was a highly guarded trade secret handed from master dyer to apprentice. The technique was introduced to Europe in 1746 when two master dyers from İzmir were taken to France. From there, the technique spread to England where in 19th Century Glasgow six dyeing factories dyed textiles in Turkey Red.
With the spread of synthetic dyes and the diminishing application of natural dyes in the textile industry, the recipe for Turkey Red was lost. Despite many ongoing academic research projects worldwide, the recipe remained elusive.
TCF and ARMAGGAN partnered in an R&D project at the Cultural Heritage Preservation and Natural Dyes Laboratory to discover the recipe. The project included extensive literature research, micro- analysis of historical samples and trials of the multiple dyeing steps. It took the research team led by Professor Recep Karadağ over three years to establish the recipe of Turkey Red, which is now patented to the Turkish Cultural Foundation (Patent Number: TR 2015 00638 B).
Turkey Red is created through a dyeing process of cotton fiber with dyes extracted from the root of Rubia tinctorum L. a natural dye plant. The process includes nearly 40 dyeing steps with high coloring fastness and a special color tone. The dyeing requires a precise protocol of the application steps of the dye, which is a mixture of Rubia tinctorum L. madder dye and vegetable oil.
Who’s Who in Turkish Culture and Art
TCF continued to expand the Who’s Who in Turkish Culture and Art online database, which features living Turkish artists, artisans and experts. Accessible from the TCF Turkish Culture Portal, the database reached over 3,600 artist entries in 2018. The goal of the project is to identify and recognize practitioners of Turkish traditional and modern arts and to help to promote Turkish artists worldwide. It also enables people with common interests to connect and collaborate on artistic and cultural projects. Who’s Who in Turkish Culture and Art is divided into categories such as Visual Arts, Turkish Traditional Arts, Applied Arts, Literature, Music, Theater, Movies, Documentaries and TV, Dance and Ballet, Academics, Fashion Design, Restoration and Conservation, and in Memoriam.
GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS
Education Grants
University of Chicago – Ayaslı Lectureship
In 2000, the year TCF was founded, the trustees established a fund for Turkish language instruction at the University of Chicago. The gift continues to support the Ayaslı Lectureship in Turkish Language Instruction at the university to this day.
The lectureship is held by Dr. Kağan Arık, a scholar with substantial teaching experience in modern Turkish language and literature and a background in Central Asian Turkic studies.
During the 2017-2018 academic year, Dr. Arık continued teaching Elementary Kazakh (Levels 1-3), Elementary Turkish (Levels 1-3), Intermediate Turkish (Levels 1-3), Introduction to Old Turkic (Levels 1-3), and Shamans & Oral Poets of Central Asia. He also taught a full-year equivalent summer quarter intensive Turkish language class.
In the 2017-2018 academic year, 143 students took the courses taught by Dr. Arık. Over the 15 years since the Ayaslı Lectureship was established, 1,579 students enrolled in the Turkish language and related courses offered at the University of Chicago.
Ayaslı Research Center
In May 2011, TCF and the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara signed a protocol paving the way for the establishment of the Ayaslı Research Center (ARC). Bearing the name of METU graduates and TCF founders Drs. Yalçın and Serpil Ayaslı, the Ayaslı Research Center was donated to METU’s Electrical Engineering Department by TCF as part of its mission to advance cultural, educational, and scientific ties between the United States and Turkey. The construction of the building was completed in 2012 and it was inaugurated with an official ceremony on March 5, 2012.
The ARC houses 19 research labs, two clean rooms, an anechoic chamber, and an antenna tower, as well as seminar and meeting spaces, student reading rooms, and social areas. A fine example of a smart building, it minimizes water consumption via a rain-water collection system and generates its own electricity via flexible photovoltaic panels on the roof. Its relevant 50 kWh panels generated 60,000 kWh of electric energy in 2017-2018, saving 30,000 TL on the electricity bill and around 21 tons of CO2 emissions. During several days, the energy generated exceeded the ARC’s consumption requirements, allowing it to supply electricity to other buildings on the METU campus. The ARC is one of the buildings that will be integrated with the METU Smart Campus project, which is funded by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). The project aims to investigate priority areas to transform the METU campus into a more intelligent and sustainable site through the integration of technology.
Over 38 projects have been completed at the Ayaslı Research Center since its founding, with support from TUBITAK, the EU, and leading Turkish industrial partners like ASELSAN, HAVELSAN, Arçelik, and EnerjiSa. The center employs 86 full-time researchers and graduate students, and 24 faculty members are involved in its projects. In addition, several seminars and weekly research group meetings were held at the center. In 2018, five spin-out technology companies were established by the graduate students in the ARC.
CULTURAL PROMOTION & EXCHANGES
TCF continued to contribute to the promotion of Turkish art and culture across the United States. It also facilitated cultural and artistic exchanges between Turkey and the world by offering grants and fellowships to institutions and individuals.
TCF Fellowship Programs
The TCF fellowship programs facilitates cultural and artistic exchanges on a global scale. Since their inception, the TCF Fellowship in Turkish Culture and Art and the TCF Cultural Exchange Fellowship programs awarded a total of 204 fellowships to culture professionals.
TCF Fellowship in Turkish Culture and Art
Since its establishment in 2000, the Turkish Cultural Foundation has made significant contributions to advancing knowledge of Turkish culture, art, and language studies through its support of academic institutions and individual scholars. Since its launch, 91 scholars have been awarded the TCF Fellowship in Turkish Culture and Art.
The goal of the TCF Fellowship in Turkish Culture and Art program is to recognize and assist individuals whose scholastic achievements reflect the commitment of the Turkish Cultural Foundation to research, document, preserve, and promote Turkey’s historical and contemporary art and culture.
The fellowship is awarded for outstanding papers published in Turkish cultural and social studies, as well as to support the participation of scholars in leading conferences in this area.
TCF Cultural Exchange Fellowship
In 2018, TCF awarded six fellowships under its Cultural Exchange Fellowship program. The fellowships are awarded competitively each year to allow Turkish and non-Turkish culture professionals to participate in exhibitions, festivals, concerts, and other cultural projects and in artist residency programs.
2018 TCF Cultural Exchange Fellows
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Ayşe Gül Süter (Turkey, 2016 TCF Cultural Exchange Fellow) is a Turkish artist who integrates traditional art-making techniques with new media technologies. Ms. Süter received the TCF fellowship to support her residency at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine in Barcelona, Spain, where she was the sole resident artist in 2018. |
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Banu Özden (Turkey), a researcher and lecturer on Turkish cuisine, was asked to present a paper on “Political Power behind the Feasts: Food as a Symbol of Authority and Obedience in the History of Turks” at the annual Dublin Gastronomy Symposium held in May 2016. |
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Gülfidan Özmen (Turkey, 2014 TCF Cultural Exchange Fellow) is a glass artist who was selected for a three-month residency fellowship at the Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center and the Creative Glass Center of America in Millville, New Jersey. During her fellowship, Ms. Özmen created and exhibited new works and interacted with other artists. |
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Hüseyin Eryurt (Turkey) is the program manager of the Culture Routes Society, a Turkish NGO. Mr. Eryurt was awarded the TCF fellowship to participate in the International World Trails Conference in Santiago de Compostella, Spain, on September 26-29, 2018. The conference is organized by the World Trails Network (WTN) in partnership with the regional government of Galicia. |
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İrem Yılmaz (Turkey), a glass artist, participated in a two-week residency at the Corning Glass Museum in New York, for which she received a scholarship from the museum. During her residency, Ms. Yılmaz attended a class on Venetian glass techniques with master glassblower, scholar, and lecturer William Gudenrath. |
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Yasemin Kayabay (Turkey) is a ballet dancer and a student in the Performing Arts Department at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University (MSGSU). Ms. Kayabay received the TCF fellowship to support her participation in the 2019 Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) Barcelona, Spain International Semi-Final on December 6-9, 2018. |
Visit from Maryland Educators Delegation
The Turkish Cultural Foundation (TCF) hosted a Maryland higher education delegation at the ARMAGGAN Bosporus Suites in Istanbul, Turkey. The Turkish American National Steering Committee (TASC), co-chaired by Attorney Gunay Evinch and the Maryland-Kocaeli Sister State Committee, led by Dr. Ahmet Aydilek, co-hosted the visit, which included meetings with the boards of directors of Bosphorus University, Bahçeşehir University, Gebze Technical University, Istanbul Aydın University, and Kocaeli University.
The Maryland delegation included Anwer Hasan, chairman of the Maryland State Higher Education Committee; Dr. Roomina Hasan, physician in the University of Maryland Medical System; Tina Bjarekull, rresident of the Maryland Independent College and University Association; Reverend Brian Linnane, president of Loyola University Maryland; Dr. Bradford Sims, president of Capitol Technology University; Philip Rous, provost of the University of Maryland Baltimore Campus; and Dr. Sabrina Fu, professor at the University of Maryland University College.
Turkish Culture, Music, Film, and Dance
TCF continued to support the promotion of Turkish culture and art in the United States by underwriting several events.
NCSU Turkish Student Association
A TCF grant awarded to the Turkish Student Association at North Carolina State University supported the screening of the Turkish documentary Kedi about stray cats in Istanbul. The screening took place on April 7 at the Witherspoon Cinema in Raleigh and was attended by over 130 people.
TCF Grant Sponsors Refik Anadol Artist Talk
A TCF grant to the Arts and Science Council, a North Carolinian based organization, underwrites a talk by Refik Anadol about his work ‘Interconnected,’ an art installation that was inaugurated at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport in July. Anadol discussed his new artwork, his transcendent career and how data and technology are shaping the future of art and architecture at “The Poetics of Data: A Conversation with Refik Anadol,” on October 29 at UNC Charlotte Center City.
One of the largest digital public artworks in the world, Interconnected is an installation of abstract form, Color, and simulated texture that uses custom-designed software, more than 2,000 square feet of LED media walls, and 850 linear feet of programmable LED lights embedded in the concourse façade to transform the hidden troves of airport operations data into a dramatically choreographed panorama of moving lights. The installation is visible both inside and outside the terminal.
Refik Anadol (2013 TCF Cultural Exchange Fellow) is a media artist and director born in Istanbul, Turkey, Who currently resides in Los Angeles. He is a lecturer and visiting researcher in UCLA’s Department of Design Media Arts. Anadol’s site-specific public artworks explore the space among digital and physical entities by creating a hybrid relationship between architecture and media arts. His work suggests that all spaces and facades have the potential to be utilized as the media artist’s canvases. Anadol’s site-specific audio/visual installations have been seen in Athens, Beijing, Los Angeles, Montreal, and Sydney.
Atatürk Park
TCF awarded a grant to the Turkish American Cultural Association of Michigan (TACAM) to support the creation of a park and commemorative site for Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on the 3.6-acre private property that belongs to TACAM in Wixom, Michigan. The park will be located on the 6.7 acres of property purchased with donations by Turkish Americans in Michigan in 1981, which is also home to the TACAM House.
New York Ataturk Chorus
TCF awarded a grant to the Turkish and International Music Ensemble to support the New York Ataturk Chorus. The chorus was founded in 2008 under the direction of Nedim Katgi, an award-winning Turkish musician. Its mission is to teach Turkish music to the general public and to contribute to the increasingly diverse fabric of American musical culture. As part of the chorus’s objective to expand its reach, the grant supported collaborations with renowned jazz, Latin, and rebetiko musicians, leading up to a performance at Carnegie Hall in 2019.
Boston Turkish Arts and Culture Festival
TCF provided a grant to the Turkish American Cultural Society of New England (TACSNE) to support the Turkish Festival in Boston. The 24th Boston Turkish Festival took “Colors of Anatolia” as its theme and featured art exhibits, workshops, performances, culinary events, and a short film competition. The festival began on Turkish Republic Day on October 29, and events were held at leading Boston institutions, including the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and Boston University.
Broad Horizons Screens at Boston Turkish Festival
The 13th Annual Documentary and Short Film Competition was held from November 2 to 10 as part of the 24th Boston Turkish Festival. Screened at Boston University’s GSU Auditorium on November 6, 2018, Broad Horizons is a documentary produced and directed by Orhan Ayaslı and highlights the TCF Spotlight on Turkey program and the TCF Teacher Study Tours.
Broad Horizons is an entertaining and informative documentary that showcases the ancient civilizations of Anatolia, along with modern Turkey and its people, in a visually and aurally exciting way, while telling a human story of growth. The film follows the journey of a group of American teachers to Turkey in the summer of 2010. It captures their aspirations as they prepare to embark on the trip, travels with them as they go beyond their textbooks and get a first-hand look at Turkey, and examines the impact that exploring a foreign culture can have on the minds of educators and their students. For the trailer of Broad Horizons, please visit the TCF website.
Exhibitions
TCF continued to provide substantial funding to artists and art institutions. Thousands of people visited TCF sponsored exhibitions in 2018, advancing its mission to promote Turkey’s artistic and cultural heritage and contemporary arts.
Istanbul Breeze Art Exhibit Opens in Portland
TCF and the ARMAGGAN Art and Design Gallery partnered with the Wild Shaman Gallery to bring contemporary Turkish art to Portland, Oregon. Previously exhibited in New York, Istanbul Breeze presented works by Aslı Kutluay, Dinçer Güngörür, Derya Özparlak, Meral Değer, Pembe Hilal Tüzüner, Camekan, Dilek Aydıncıoğlu, Ayşegül Kırmızı, and Semra Özümerzifon. The exhibition consisted of three-dimensional art and paintings and opened on February 17. It is part of TCF’s long-standing efforts to promote Turkish contemporary art in the United States, which, over the years, have allowed 53 Turkish artists to showcase their work to discerning audiences.
TCF Article Published and Exhibition Launched
An article by Prof. Recep Karadağ, head of the Cultural Heritage Preservation and Natural Dyes Project, on natural dyes and the history and dyeing of the Ankara of fabric was published by the Vehbi Koc Ankara Studies Research Center (Koç Üniversitesi Vehbi Koç Ankara Araştırmaları Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi (VEKAM)).
Published in Turkish and English, the article accompanied an exhibition organized by VEKAM titled Weaving the History: Mystery of a City, which was supported by the Turkish Cultural Foundation. It opened on May 12 at the Rahmi M. Koc Museum in Ankara and remained on view until September 16.
Curated by VEKAM director Filiz Yenişehirlioğlu and Gözde Çerçioğlu Yücel, the exhibition explored the history and making of and featured of and mohair textiles from the collections of the Ankara Ethnographical Museum, Sadberk Hanım Museum, and Topkapı Palace Museum.
The TCF Cultural Heritage Preservation and Natural Dyes Laboratory (DATU) contributed to the exhibition through its expertise on natural dyes and mohair dyeing techniques. DATU provided mohair dyed with 10 different natural dyes and prepared a video presenting the dyeing process. Samples from the DATU Natural Dyes Collection were also showcased during the exhibition. The exhibition was further supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, the Ankara Chamber of Commerce, the Embassy of the Netherlands, Ströer Kentvizyon, Türk Traktör, and UNESCO.
Kitab-ı Cihannüma (Book of the World)
TCF awarded a major grant to the American Friends of the Arts in Ireland to support the restoration and preservation of one of the earliest printed books in Turkish: the Kitab-ı Cihannüma (Mirror of the World, 1732) by the Ottoman Turkish scholar Kâtip Çelebi, which was printed by İbrahim Müteferrika.
The Chester Beatty Library is a museum and library that houses the world-class collection of Islamic, East Asian, and European art assembled by the great American philanthropist and collector Sir Alfred Chester Beatty (1875-1968).
Kâtip Çelebi is the pen name of Mustafa bin Abdullah (1609-1657), also later known as Haji Khalifa (Hacı Halife), an Ottoman historian and geographer who is regarded as one of the most productive authors of non-religious, scientific literature in the 17th-century Ottoman Empire. He began writing the Cihannüma in 1654, expanding on it over the years but unable to complete a second edition due to his untimely death.
İbrahim Müteferrika (c. 1674-1745), who printed the Cihannüma, played a special role in the story of printing in the Islamic world. A Hungarian whose early life remains something of a mystery, Müteferrika became a senior figure at the imperial Ottoman court. Today he is remembered as the founder of the first official Ottoman printing house in Turkey. In 1727, he secured an edict from Sultan Ahmed III permitting him to print works of a non-religious nature. Subsequently, between 1729 and 1742, his press published 17 books, of which the Chester Beatty Library holds 13.
Published in 1732 in İstanbul, the Chester Beatty Library’s rare and complete copy of the Cihannüma has survived with all of its original 13 astronomical and 26 geographical maps intact. The ambitious text summarizes Ottoman geographical knowledge of the time and is one of the earliest books printed in Turkey in Turkish.
Due to the importance of this volume, it was included in a recent Chester Beatty publication, Director’s Choice, at which time it was apparent that the book required extensive conservation and the library approached the Turkish Cultural Foundation for support.
The book was tightly bound in an unsympathetic 19th-century binding that placed a strain on the pages each time the volume was opened. Over the centuries, with repeated use, the green copper-based pigment utilized to frame the printed maps had gradually burned through the paper, causing most of the folios to split along this line. The support provided by the Turkish Cultural Foundation enabled the conservators at the Chester Beatty to re-sew the carefully conserved pages, reinforce the structure of the book, and rebind the volume in an Islamic-style binding that will allow it to be safely handled and displayed.
The conservation project was completed this year and the Kitab-ı Cihannüma is now on exhibition at the Chester Beatty Library’s Arts of the Book Gallery
The project’s completion and the book’s subsequent exhibition were widely covered in the media.
TCF and UNESCO
TCF has been in official relations with UNESCO since 2015.
TCF supports the mission of UNESCO by disseminating relevant information about the organization’s work. It informs the general public and non-governmental organizations about UNESCO awards and is qualified to nominate organizations for these honors.
In 2018, TCF accepted applications from individuals and entities in the U.S. and in Turkey for the UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development and applications for UNESCO, Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education.
From the many applicants, TCF nominated Bolu Community Foundation (Bolu Bağışcılar Vakfı) for the UNESCO-Japan Prize in April of 2018.
Bolu Bağışcılar Vakfı (BBV), Turkey’s only community foundation, that mobilizes donors and provides grants and technical assistance to educational, social, and environmental projects for local sustainable development in Bolu, the newest Turkish member of UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. TCF nominated BBV for its Preschool Education Application and Research Center project which brought an innovative and high-quality early childhood education model to Bolu. Through the work of the Center, BBV achieved to increase preschool enrollment rate in Bolu from 5 percent in 2010 to 95 percent in 2018, and raised educational quality and inclusiveness.
TCF nominated Limak Foundation and Sabancı University Gender and Women’s Studies Center for UNESCO Prize for Girls and Women’s Education. TCF nominated Limak Foundation for its leadership and efforts in raising awareness on gender equality and women empowerment in Turkey through the Foundation’s Engineer Girls of Turkey (Türkiye'nin Mühendis Kızları-TMK) flagship program and Sabancı University Gender and Women's Studies Center of Excellence for its Purple Certificate Program-PCP (Mor Sertifika Programı).
TURKISH CULTURAL FOUNDATION WEBSITES
Turkish Cultural Foundation
www.turkishculturalfoundation.org
Turkish Culture Portal
www.turkishculture.org
Turkish Music Portal
www.turkishmusicportal.org
Turkish Cuisine Portal
www.turkish-cuisine.org
TCF Education Portal
www.turkishculturalfoundation.org/education
TCF Cultural Heritage Preservation and Natural Dyes Laboratory
www.tcfdatu.org
TCF Culinary Arts Center (YESAM)
www.culinaryartcenter.org
TURKISH CULTURAL FOUNDATION SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Facebook
www.facebook.com/TurkishCulture
Twitter
www.twitter.com/TurkishCulture
The Turkish Cultural Foundation is a U.S. tax-exempt public charitable organization supported entirely by private donations. Contributions are U.S. tax deductible and can be made via credit card on www.turkishculturalfoundation.org or by mailing a check to: Turkish Cultural Foundation, 48 Jonas Brown Circle Concord, MA 01742 USA.
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