12.07.2025 13:00
One of the most special stops of the Turkey Culture Road Festival organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Van is hosting art lovers for the second time with events filled with culture, art, and gastronomy. The festival, which will last for 9 days, will feature over 300 events ranging from concerts to exhibitions, workshops to documentary screenings, all across Van.
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One of the most special stops of the Turkey Culture Road Festival, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which takes place in 20 cities across 7 regions of Turkey, is the Van Culture Road Festival. For 9 days, it will meet with the people of Van through events filled with culture, art, and gastronomy all around Van. The ancient city of Van, the pearl of the East, has become a meeting point for culture and art for the second time within the scope of the Turkey Culture Road Festival.
The festival began with an opening ceremony held at the Van Museum with the participation of Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Serdar Çam. The ceremony was attended by the Director of the Turkey Culture Road Festival, Selim Terzi, local protocol, and many art lovers.
In his opening speech, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Serdar Çam stated, "Many people from all over Turkey, from our regional cities, and even from beyond the borders are participating in these festivals. When viewed from this perspective, the Culture Road Festival has become an organization that not only represents art and culture but also serves the vision of our cities becoming 'Brand Cities', where the heart of tourism and the economy beats. Van has already been a brand city from the past to the present, and for this reason, the Culture Road Festival suits this city very well."
WE ARE EXPECTING ALL NEIGHBORING CITIES FROM HAKKARI TO AGRI, FROM SIIRT TO BITLIS
Deputy Minister Çam emphasized the following in his speech:
"I believe that the central city feature carried by Van's ancient heritage will also be demonstrated during this festival. I invite not only the people of Van but also our citizens living in all our neighboring cities, especially from Hakkari to Agri, from Siirt to Bitlis and Sirnak, to join this cultural feast that will last for 9 days. The most meaningful form of being together, being one and united, is to be together with culture, art, music, and literature."
VAN WILL BE FILLED WITH ART THROUGH 300 EVENTS
After the opening ceremony of the festival, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Serdar Çam, Turkey Culture Road Festival Director Selim Terzi, and visitors toured the art exhibitions at the Van Museum. The exhibitions "Mysterious Anatolia" by Resul Çelik, "Van Heritage" by İsmail Erdoğan, and "Light Rises from the East" provided a glimpse into Van's cultural heritage through the lens of art.
Zafer Karaokay's "Princes and Sultans Toy Exhibition" offered a nostalgic journey into the past, while the exhibitions "Birds and Things", "Personal Ceramics", "Van Traditional Handicrafts", and "Women from Urartu to Present" from the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums were presented for the appreciation of art lovers.
Additionally, the "Sock Exhibition" prepared under the theme of Living Heritage, the documentary screening of "Turkey's Miniatures", and digital animated miniature applications also gained the admiration of visitors. Rıza Bey's photo exhibition titled "Turkey from the Sky" provided visitors with the opportunity to discover Turkey from a bird's-eye view.
ART IN HISTORY: "ADIL-İ MUTLAK" AT HÜSREVPAŞA MOSQUE
The opening program continued with Ziya Kadan's "Adil-i Mutlak" exhibition at the Hüsrevpaşa Mosque Complex, one of the symbolic locations of Van. This artistic meeting, held within the historical texture, offered the audience an unforgettable atmosphere.
PICASSO IS NOW IN VAN
The last stop of the day was the Tariria Culture, Art, and Gastronomy Center. Here, art lovers met the works of world-renowned artist Pablo Picasso titled "Creation is Everything". This special exhibition added a universal value to the art program in Van.
9 DAY INSPIRING ART MARATHON HAS STARTED
The Van Culture Road Festival, which started on July 12 with a rich program, will inspire both the people of Van and art lovers visiting the city with concerts, workshops, exhibitions, and cultural events for 9 days. One of the most special stops of the Turkey Culture Road Festival, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which takes place in 20 cities across 7 regions of Turkey, is the Van Culture Road Festival. For 9 days, it will meet with the people of Van through events filled with culture, art, and gastronomy all around Van. The ancient city of Van, the pearl of the East, has become a meeting point for culture and art for the second time within the scope of the Turkey Culture Road Festival.
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