Museum opens new era for toys in Gaziantep

GAZİANTEP - Anatolia News Agency

Gaziantep’s new Toy Museum includes many historical artifacts.

With more to peruse than any of its predecessors, Turkey’s fourth toy museum opened in the southeastern province of Gaziantep on April 6. The museum is a more-developed version of the toy museum found in Istanbul’s Göztepe neighborhood. The Gaziantep Toy Museum will not only display old toys but will also exhibit how the development of civilization is reflected through toys. It also includes a rich collection of rag dolls and wooden toys.

The museum also displays evidence of the current trend toward urbanization in Gaziantep, according to Culture and Tourism Undersecretary Özgür Özaslan. Projects and investments in the area of arts and culture are also drawing a great deal of attention from abroad, the undersecretary said.

Noting that the toy museum concept developed in Europe 50 years ago, he said there were a total of 500 toy museums in Europe. Investments made for children mean a better future for all, according to Özaslan.

The museum is very important not only for the display of toys and history, but also for its planned youth programs, ateliers, workshops and events. Gaziantep Gov. Erdal Ata said they were trying to increase the number of artistic and cultural events in the city.