SALT (the name means “pure” or “absolute” in Turkish) has recently become known as one of Istanbul’s premier cultural centers and exhibition spaces. Up until now, the organization, which was founded by Garanti Bank, has been located in a six-story building on İstiklal Caddesi in the heart of Beyoğlu. Its self-professed aim being to “explore critical and timely issues in visual and material culture, and cultivate innovative programs for research and experimental thinking,” SALT hosts a wide variety of art exhibitions, talks, and film screenings which are free of charge to the public.

Now, SALT has a second branch, the newly-opened SALT Galata, located in the historic Ottoman Bank on Bankalar Caddesi in Karaköy. The building, which was designed by architect Alexandre Vallaury, opened in 1892 as the official state bank of the Ottoman Empire. Architecturally, the Ottoman Bank reflects the dual identity of the Westernizing Ottoman Empire, with a neo-Classical facade on Bankalar Caddesi and an Oriental one on the rear face of the building. Though it is no longer actively used as a bank, SALT’s Galata location currently houses the Ottoman Bank Museum, which is devoted to preserving the heritage of this historic financial institution. SALT Galata also features an exhibition space on its sub-ground-floor level; a research library (SALT Research); an auditorium seating over 200 people; an Open Archive; a cafe and a restaurant; workshop spaces; and a bookstore run by well-known Beyoğlu bookseller Robinson Crusoe.

The opening of SALT Galata has also been inaugurated with three new exhibitions: Foto Galatasaray, running until January 22nd; Scramble for the Past: A Story of Archaeology in the Ottoman Empire 1753 – 1914, running until March 11th; and Modernity Unveiled / Interweaving Histories, running until January 22nd. All three exhibitions contain abundant photographs dealing with topics in late Ottoman and early Republican history and society.

For a complete program of activities at both SALT Beyoğlu and SALT Galata, see SALT’s website, http://www.saltonline.org/en/anasayfa