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Located in the Beyoğlu district, Romeo Juliet is a club and event hall with an open terrace, garden, and massive hall space, which can take up to 1000 people. Romeo Juliet hosts local and international performers from a wide variety of music genres. Salsa nights, jazz jams, arabesque shows, pop concerts, and all different kinds of music are played in this big performance hall, making it a favorite venue among live performance fans.

Founded in 2004 in a converted warehouse in Tophane, this privately owned, non-profit museum (known as Istanbul Modern for short) is the first of its kind in Istanbul and mainly features the works of up-and-coming Turkish artists in a light, airy space overlooking the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. The top floor features a restaurant and a permanent exhibition, which contains a selection of paintings from the Eczacıbaşı family’s private collection as well as items from other private collections. In the past, temporary exhibitions, housed on the ground floor, have included solo artists and groups (for example,Armenian Architects of Istanbul) as well as conceptually-themed exhibitions, with a preference for photographic works.

The grounds include a small sculpture garden and a little gallery for children. Even the staircase is a work of art in this museum—it is a piece by Italian artist Monica Bonvicini called “Stairway to Hell” hung with chains and a shattered glass pane that looks like the aftermath of a murderous attack.

The Cinema Center within the museum provides audiences with an alternative film screening platform, focusing on world cinema history and new talents in Turkish cinema. (Screenings at the Istanbul Modern Cinema Center are free with museum admission.)

Istanbul Modern has been an important catalyst for putting Turkish modern art on the map and has showcased the works of contemporary artists like Kutluğ Ataman, Gülsün Karamustafa, Hale Tenger, Sarkis, Taner Ceylan, Hussein Chalayan, Leyla Gediz, Hüsamettin Koçan, Mithat Şen, and İpek Duben. In addition, there have been exhibits by artists from earlier periods whose work puts Turkish art in an interesting perspective in relation to the general art scene of the 20^thcentury, e.g. Abdülmecid Efendi (1868 – 1944), the son of Sultan Abdülaziz who ended his life in exile in Paris, and Fausto Zonara, the court painter to the sultans from 1854 – 1929.

Be prepared to be shocked, amazed, and confronted with a great deal of thought-provoking work at Istanbul Modern.

The Orientalist Painting collection (now called Istanbul: City of Dreams), features Osman Hamdi’s famous painting The Tortoise Trainer (which the museum bought for 3.5 million dollars in 2004—the highest price ever paid for a Turkish painting at the time). It is probably the most popular of the permanent exhibitions, featuring many paintings from European artists including the Italian Fausto Zonaro, who was a court artist to the Ottoman sultans from 1896 to 1909, and the French artist Jean-Baptiste Vanmour, who had special access to Ottoman interiors and is particularly famous for his unique paintings of women in the home. There is also a splendid collection of views of Istanbul, through which you can chart the gradually changing skyline of the city.

The Kütahya Tiles and Ceramics collection exhibits over 400 pieces that represent various periods and types, demonstrating how Kütahya tiles and ceramics developed over the years. The Anatolian Weights and Measures collection consists of over 1000 objects that date back to prehistoric times. The exhibited objects include types of scales and measuring instruments used for measuring length, weight, and volume in various fields, such as architecture and jewellery making.

This elegant, evocative exhibition hall is sponsored by Turkey’s premiere fine arts university, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. Not far from the Bosphorus waterfront, the renovated 15^th century cannon foundry was home to the industry that gave the Tophane neighborhood its name. The current mortar and brick building is the 19^th century makeover of the former foundry. Now its eight-domed ceiling shelters a very different endeavor; it hosts university and private art exhibitions, such as the Dalí exhibition in 2012.

SALT's second branch, SALT Galata, is located in the historic Ottoman Bank on Bankalar Caddesi (formerly known as Voyvoda Caddesi) in Karaköy. SALT Galata houses the Ottoman Bank Museum; 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 museum also features exhibition halls, a CineTele Café, a CineBar, a Cinema Hall, and a Terrace Café & Restaurant with views of the Bosphorus and the Old City.

Open since 2001 (formerly in Levent and now in Maslak), Proje4L/Elgiz Museum of Contemporary Art is a privately-owned non-profit institution dedicated to contemporary art. The museum was established in order to support the development of contemporary art in Turkey and to promote young Turkish artists in international platforms.

In addition to temporary exhibitions, the permanent Elgiz Collection consists of works by influential Turkish and international artists, such as Ömer Uluç, Fahrelnissa Zeid, Abdurrahman Öztoprak, Tracey Emin, Jan Fabre, Barbara Kruger, Cindy Sherman, Andy Warhol, Julian Schnabel, Sol LeWitt, Peter Halley, Paul McCarthy, Gilbert&George, Robert Rauschenberg, and Doug Aitken.

The venue is quite wide and shaped like an ‘L’, where one leg serves as a bar and the other serves as a concert hall. The sounds of the Mississippi delta, the streets of London, and the cafes in Thessaloniki can all be heard through the live performers of indie local and foreign bands. With its unpretentious crowd and genuine atmosphere, this bar attracts a very diverse group of young and old, trendy and hippie, local and foreigner, all looking for a fun night where new music trends and old styles merge.

Tips:

- To find Haymatlos, walk down İstiklal Caddesi (from Taksim Square towards Tünel) until you reach the Rumeli Han arcade (on the right-hand side). The entrance is easy to miss – it’s between İmam Adnan Sokak and the Hüseyin Ağa Mosque. Once there, look for the stairs and walk up to the second floor. You’ll know as soon as you see all the posters from upcoming concerts on the walls that you are on the right track.

Located on the third floor of the Armaggan store in Nuruosmaniye, Armaggan Art & Design Gallery is an innovative space that was founded in order to support and spread the creative ideas of young Turkish artists. Art enthusiasts can now appreciate the works of young Turkish artists at the gallery through exhibitions that showcase works from a wide variety of disciplines.

Founded in 2011 by Mehves Ariburnu and Suzanne Egeran, Galeri Mana is housed in a converted wheat mill that dates back to the 19^th century. The spacious gallery exhibits the works of multi-generational international and Turkish artists.

Established in 1999 as a theater platform, KREK has since evolved into a publishing house, film production team, and performance venue. The project was originally launched to showcase the theatrical work of playwright and director Berkun Oya. Now KREK’s santralistanbul stage, which has been open since 2010, features works by Oya and others, in addition to musical concerts and art exhibitions. As with its dramatic content, the KREK venue departs from tradition, turning the conventional artist-audience relationship on its head. This funky, spirited group certainly delivers.

Situated in the heart of the İstiklal Caddesi within the historic Mısır Apartment Building, CDA-Projects provides a platform both for established and emerging artists who work on painting, sculpture, photography, installation, video, and new media. This non-profit contemporary art gallery also runs artist-led programs and organizes exhibitions with independent curators.

Founded in 1998, Pi Artworks is a contemporary art gallery that represents Turkish and international contemporary artists. Directed by Yeşim Turanlı, who is also the co-founder of Istanbul Art Museum Foundation, the gallery has two branches in Istanbul, one in Tophane and one in Galatasaray.

The six-story SALT building on Istiklal Street dates back to the 19^th century and was originally known as the Siniossoglou Apartments. Following extensive renovations, the building now features 1,130 m2 of exhibition space, archival space, offices, a café called Bistro, Robinson Crusoe bookshop, a walk-in cinema, and a rooftop terrace-garden designed by architect Fritz Haeg.

Gallery x-ist is an innovative contemporary art gallery realized by collector Daryo Beskinazi and art director Kerimcan Güleryüz. X-ist aims to provide an alternative space for young and up-and-coming artists to exhibit their works and serve as a meeting point for artists.

C.A.M. Gallery positions itself as a home to the young, the innovative, and the avant-garde. In the years since its opening in 1992, the gallery has hosted over 200 exhibitions of primarily wall-hung art by local as well as international artists. Its conceptual shows aim to reflect that which is human and the social matrix that surrounds us.

C.A.M Gallery has two locations in Istanbul, one in Akaretler and one in Nişantaşı.

In case you get a sudden and strong urge to indulge in Asian food, that’s easy too. Chilai has a sushi bar to silence your craving. This multi-floor locale also contains a Godiva chocolate store for chocolate addicts and an art gallery for those who think that art is the food for the soul. This is the all-in-one venue where you can pursuit different pleasures facing the beautiful view of the Bosphorus.

The crown jewel of the Kafe Pi Group (which owns bars, clubs, and restaurants all over the city), Bronx Pi Sahne is a regular spot for those who enjoy live music. Big international names, such as Parov Stellar, Jay Jay Johanson, and Die Toten Hosen, share the same stage with smaller local bands that have gained a loyal fan base. Themed parties, contests, and special events, which attract a steady stream of young Istanbulites, are also organized. A handy location in Asmalı Mescit, a good selection of drinks and cocktails in an affordable price range, plus an amiable staff make Bronx Pi Sahne an enjoyable spot for live music fans.

This sleek Nişantaşı gallery is the second incarnation of Ilayda Art Gallery: the original Ankara location was expanded to Istanbul in 2002 by owner and curator’s daughter Ilayda Babacan. Since then, Babacan has transformed the space into a center of innovative exhibitions. Its particular emphasis is on process-apparent pieces, or art that reveals the method of its creation in its presentation. Committed to inventive use of materials and diverse media, exhibits include installations, wall-hung art, and digital displays. While it hosts international artists, Ilayda promotes up-and-coming Turkish artists in its own gallery as well as abroad.

Formerly the Silahtarağa Power Plant,santralistanbul is a dynamic arts and culture platform housing museums, galleries, and entertainment venues. The complex, located on the Golden Horn in Eyüp, was the Ottoman Empire’s first urban power plant and Istanbul’s only source of electricity through the 1950s.

Today, the site is host to the old, the new, and the creative. The two former engine rooms of the plant have been preserved and converted into the Energy Museum, complete with old turbines and elaborate consoles.The Main Gallery and Krek Theater serve as display and performance areas;more than 20 national and international exhibitions have been held at santralistanbul since its opening in 2007. For the culture-weary visitor, restaurants and live music venues Tamiraneand Otto Santral provide for both victual, musical, and architectural appetites – the dining and performance spaces are the former maintenance and storage sheds of the power station.

A monument to urban regeneration, santralistanbul further elaborates on its theme of renewal and growth by hosting educational workshops for children and youth at santralatölye.

The museum boasts excellent permanent holdings, including a painting collection consisting of select works of early Turkish artists and foreign artists that dwelled in Istanbul during the last period of the Ottoman Empire. The collection is mostly focused on the years 1850-1950, featuring the works of local artists like Osman Hamdi Bey, Nazmi Ziya Güran, and Fikret Mualla, as well as foreign artists such as Fausto Zonaro and Ivan Ayvazovski. The permanent holdings also include exhibits of calligraphy and other Islamic art, porcelain, furniture, and more.

Another permanent exhibition entitled "The Arts of the Book and Calligraphy Collection," located on the top floor of the Atlı Köşk (Horse Mansion), displays 96 superb examples of Islamic calligraphy in the form of 19th Century Qurans, prayer books, plaques, and formal or diplomatic documents.

There are superb temporary exhibitions (which have previously included the works of major artists like Picasso and Dalí), talks, seminars and conferences, educational programs, and concerts. There is also a museum shop, a café, and a privately-owned fine-dining restaurant (muzedechanga), managed and constantly updated by an award-winning chef.

An indispensable tool for the cultural life in Istanbul, Biletix is the city’s top source for purchasing event tickets. Concerts, football matches, performing arts events, and art exhibitions are catalogued and easily searchable on this exhaustive website. Family and educational events are also part of the repertoire. Tickets can be purchased through the website for a small fee.

Screenings at the Istanbul Modern Cinema Center are free with museum admission.

Hodjapasha is a cultural center that has been converted from a 550-year-old historical Turkish bath called “Hocapaşa Hamamı” in 2008. Located in the heart of Sirkeci, this historical center comprises of an exhibition hall and a performance area where sema ceremonies (whirling dervishes) and traditional dances (from different regions of Anatolia) are performed weekly.



Program:



Between 9 January 2012 – 26 February 2012:



The Mevlevi Sema Ceremony:Every Wednesday, Friday, Sunday at 7:30pm


HodjaPasha Dance Show: Every Tuesday at 8:00pm and Saturday at 9:00pm




Between 27 February 2012 – 6 January 2013:


The Mevlevi Sema Ceremony:Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 7:30pm


HodjaPasha Dance Show:Every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:00pm, Saturday and Sunday at 9:00pm

Temporary exhibitions of high quality art and historical artifacts constantly come and go, keeping the focus fresh and allowing for a wide range of interesting collections. Past exhibitions have included works of painting, ceramics, jewelry, and photography. On the walls of the museum are old black and white photographs which show the Cibali tobacco factory (now the Kadir Has University) as it was in its heyday.

Located in one of the recently-renovated buildings in Akaretler Row Houses, Rampa Gallery is dedicated to presenting exceptional artworks of Turkish artists from various disciplines and diverse mediums. The gallery aims to create a space for dialogue and a critical forum for artistic production, and supports scholarly research about the gallery artists.

Rampa is comprised of two spaces: the ground floor functions as a project room, and the main gallery accommodates diverse exhibitions and provides facilities for large-scale works and installations.

Founded in 1998, Pi Artworks is a contemporary art gallery that represents Turkish and international contemporary artists. Directed by Yeşim Turanlı, who is also the co-founder of Istanbul Art Museum Foundation, the gallery has two branches in Istanbul, one in Tophane and one in Galatasaray.

Located in a dead-end alley off Galip Dede Caddesi, Milk is a bold initiative started by Elif Çevik, a project manager at an advertising agency, and Can Başyiğit, a freelance web designer. A venue for the design-obsessed, Milk takes a democratic approach when it comes to picking up artists: they will look at any portfolio and showcase local and international talents in contemporary design. That’s why you might see a show of illustrations by a Romanian artist and a local graffiti artist consecutively. In Milk’s design store section, a variety of design items such as shoes, magnets, t-shirts, posters, and toys can be found. Artists whose works have been sold here include Frank Kozik, Kidrobot, Polypop, Muharrem Çetin, Gizem Vural, Derin Çiler, Ohm, Eyesores, Ndeur, and Çiğdem Paçal.

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A variety of activities take place in the center ranging from exhibitions, film and video screenings, conferences, panel discussions, workshops to artists’ talks. To view the center’s e-journal “Red Thread” and read more about its activities, go to their website.

C.A.M. Gallery positions itself as a home to the young, the innovative, and the avant-garde. In the years since its opening in 1992, the gallery has hosted over 200 exhibitions of primarily wall-hung art by local as well as international artists. Its conceptual shows aim to reflect that which is human and the social matrix that surrounds us.

C.A.M Gallery has two locations in Istanbul, one in Akaretler and one in Nişantaşı.

Founded in 2005 by Aslı Sümer, artSümer is a gallery and project space that represents the cutting-edge contemporary art of Turkey. The gallery showcases the works of a variety of artists, both established and new, and the exhibitions feature various art forms, from painting, drawing, and sculpture to photography, video, and new media.

artSümer also participates in important local and international art fairs, including Contemporary Istanbul, Scope Miami & Basel, Art Brussels, and Vienna Fair. The gallery also offers in customized consultation on collection management and resale of select works.

The club also houses a restaurant called Metto, serving Turkish, Ottoman, and Balkan food, with certain nights featuring Caribbean cuisine. The club's ethos is to support both Turkish and international acts, with more and more exotic music on the cards this year. The club’s organizers also collaborate with embassy representatives to promote events centering on human rights and civil rights.

Note: Call ahead to reserve a table at Metto.

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Visitors can participate in a variety of courses (that range in length from two days to two weeks), observe the production process, attend special events (like international artists coming to show their work), or shop for hand-made glass works. The Glass Furnace Foundation also rents studio and conference space.

According to schedule, performances begin at 9:30pm or 11:00pm, and tickets are usually available at the door (although you could wait a long line so it would be better to purchase tickets from their website in advance). The venue is small and gets quiet packed. Dress casually.

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