Arada Art Festival questions identities

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

The Arada Festival, which includes many art events including dance shows aims to investigate the relationships between individuals, communities and identities.

The Istanbul leg of the Arada Art Festival, marking the 400th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Turkey and the Netherlands, will take place Sept. 27-30.

Co-sponsored by the Arada Culture and Art Organization and the Dutch Consulate-General in Istanbul, the festival will take place under the theme “Who am I?” and will include work by university students and newly graduated artists. The festival will include exhibitions, dance performances and plays, as well as concerts.

The Arada Festival aims to investigate the relationships between individuals, communities and identities. This process of research will take place in three countries and cities. The first part of this research will happen in Istanbul as part of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Holland and Turkey.

The festival’s theme calls on people to define themselves outside their jobs, education or qualifications. Arada was founded by young artists from different countries and different disciplines (visual arts, dance, writing and drama), for young participants who work in these fields. The second part of festival will take place in Vienna, and the festival aims to act as a bridge between that city and Istanbul.

The festival also aims to bring together young artists who are searching for new perspectives on their art. Arada will provide young artists with an opportunity to exhibit their work and share work in progress. It will also create a platform for transitions and relationships between different art disciplines. The Arada Art Festival will create an environment for sharing ideas by gathering young artists from different countries and inviting them to re-envision urban areas that have lost their function but have historic and industrial value, through art. It will also provide a meeting point and interactive environment for young artists.