Kulturakademie Tarabya
The Tarabya Cultural Academy awards annual fellowships to artists and cultural professionals from different disciplines for four to eight-month stays in Istanbul as part of an open call procedure. The fellowships contribute in a special way to the transcultural exchange between Turkey and Germany and foster intensive engagement with both societies.
Exceptionally qualified artists and cultural professionals who have already gained public recognition for their works or publications and who live and work in the Federal Republic of Germany and tandems of cultural professionals residing in Germany and Turkey who qualify within the framework of the Turkish-German co-production grants. Applications from students are excluded. Examples of tandems that qualify within the framework of the Turkish-German co-production grants:
- A film director who lives in Turkey wants to work on a new project with a screenwriter from Germany
- A musician residing in Turkey would like to work for several months with a composer from Germany.
- A visual artist residing in Germany would like to realize a joint project with a visual artist residing in Turkey
Benefits and services: Work in an environment of excellent fellow artists. Communal use of a multi-purpose room usable as a studio, of a rehearsal room (with Steinway piano and drums), and of an event space used by several organizations. In addition, fellowship holders can apply for the defrayment of project-related material costs arising from the realization and presentation of artistic work. The German Embassy in Ankara is responsible for the supervision of the program. The Goethe-Institut bears curatorial responsibility and is also responsible for networking with Turkish cultural professionals and supporting the realisation of projects on site.
The fellows undertake to be present in Istanbul for the duration of the fellowship. In the case of absences that are not related to the project and that together exceed one-tenth of the total duration of the fellowship, the cash grant may be subsequently reduced. If the absence is brought about by urgent personal reasons, the management of the Cultural Academy will decide on exceptions. As soon as the absence exceeds a quarter of the total duration of the fellowship, the stay is considered canceled. Acceptance of the fellowship establishes the obligation to use the offered funding opportunities.
The production of concrete artistic results on the part of the fellowship holders during their stay is welcome. This is not, however, an obligation. If works are created during the tenure of the fellowship, reference need be made to the support of the Academy in publications. Open-mindedness towards the host country, willingness to network with the Turkish cultural scene, and participation in events is expressly desired. At the end of the fellowship, fellowship holders are expected to submit a written report about their stay.
Please check the accommodation information.
The residency includes a furnished accommodation (apartment with cooking facilities and bathroom),communal use of a multi-purpose room usable as a studio, of a rehearsal room (with Steinway piano and drums) and of an event space used by several organizations.
The Tarabya Cultural Academy is located on the site of the historical summer residence of the German ambassador in the Tarabya district of Istanbul, on the European side of the city, about 15 km north of the city centre. The premises were a gift from the Ottoman sultan Abdul Hamid II (1842-1918). In 1889 he gave the grounds and building to the German Empire for diplomatic use. The property therefore still enjoys the status of embassy territory. The residence covers an area of around 18 hectares. A large part of this an extensive forest and garden area. In the front part of the grounds there are ten buildings, mainly in the style of Turkish summer houses (‘Yali’), and the German soldiers’ cemetery.