Turkish Presidentmarks World Theater Day

ANKARA - Anatolia News Agency

Culture and the arts are the basic dynamics of healthy development and social progress, Turkish President Abdullah Gül said in a statement yesterday to mark March 27 World Theater Day.

Gül said artists and intellectuals were very significant for the safe and healthy future of society.

“Giving the value to art and artists that they deserve and making the name of our country known to the world with artistic productions will both glorify our society and enrich our country. All branches of the performing arts, particularly theater, are an effective way of communication that bring people together, defend peace and focus on understanding and tolerance,” he said.

“Theater, which makes possible the direct relation between artists and audiences, tells the truths, mistakes, goodness and badness of humans to humans. It enables people to know themselves, question life, express their ideas and establish unprejudiced bridges between people,” Gül said.

Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay also released a statement yesterday to highlight the importance of theater.

He said the ministry was continuing to work on bringing theater to all parts of the country, adding that it was a universal language that allowed humans to escape from earthly struggles.

He also said theater was one of the most effective branches of art.

“We have increased the number of state theaters to 58 with 35 new stages. Our goal is to increase this number to 60 by the end of the year,” he said. “The contribution to private theaters has reached 3.5 million [Turkish Liras], 311.8 percent increase. The ministry provides support to 162 private theaters.”