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The international launch of the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture was held yesterday in the European Parliament in Brussels. The event brought together high-level personalities from cultural organisations, EU, national and international institutions, think-tanks, academia, NGOs and the media, to celebrate what will be a momentous year for the city.
I got a personal invitation for this event and was happy and proud to represent there our beloved association. As soon as I received the participants list I realised that I was actually the only person representing youth at this event. This made me even more pleased :)
The evening began with a debate about Istanbul’s role as a European and global cultural centre. The debate was moderated by BBC Europe correspondent and former Istanbul resident Johnny Dymond and speakers included Egemen Bagis (Turkish Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator), Richard Howitt (MEP, Member of the Socialist and Democrat Group, Standing Shadow Rapporteur on Turkey), Nilufer Gole (Professor of Sociology at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris) and renowed international cultural commentator Yudhishthir Raj Isar.
As the debate was very limited in time it ended up as praise for the city of Istanbul, its beauty, diversity and richness. Unfortunately no time for asking questions or presenting your ideas. Though this could be done during the cocktail reception that followed.
During this reception with live artistic entertainment organised by a choreographer at the State Opera and Ballet. The Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture launch provided the opportunity to have an overview of the multiple facets of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture programme, such as the sustainable conversation of its heritage, the construction of new museums and art centres or enabling citizens to encounter the arts.
During this cocktail among others I got to know Mr. Veysel Yurdakul, district governor of Bagcilar, who is willing to come to our Agora.
What can I say now? Istanbul is definitely worth visiting and it is ready to welcome everyone! And isn’t it wonderful that our Fall AGORA 2010 will take place in wonderful city of Istanbul, in the European Capital of Culture 2010? Yes, it is!
