Borusan Culture and Arts (BKS)
Over the years Borusan has been working
diligently to foster a greater appreciation for
classical music among the masses in Turkey, as
well as to use it to build a bridge between our
country and the international community. All the
projects and programs relating to this vision are
coordinated under the umbrella of the Borusan
Center for Culture and Arts (BKS). BKS conducts
its activities in the area of music through the
Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, the
Borusan Chamber Orchestra, the Borusan String
Quartet, the Borusan Children’s Choir and the
Music Library. As Turkey’s ambassador in the
arts BKS represents the nation by attending the
annual meetings of the International Society for
Contemporary Music (ISCM) and the European
Music Council (EMC). In Turkey, it hosts the
Mediterranean Contemporary Music Days festival
in January of each year. Since the Istanbul
Foundation for Culture and the Arts (IKSV) was
founded Borusan Holding has been one of its
biggest supporters and in 2006 became the
main sponsor of the International Istanbul Music
Festival, a commitment Borusan made for a 10-
year term. Currently, as Istanbul is preparing to
host “2010 Istanbul: European Capital of Culture,”
BKS is at the forefront of the planning and
organization for this prestigious event in the life of
our great city.
The Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra
The now well-known Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic
Orchestra (BIFO) was founded for the purpose of promoting
a wider appreciation of polyphonic music in Turkey. The
history of its establishment dates back to the days when the
Borusan Chamber Orchestra came together in 1993. As
a consequence of the Chamber Orchestra’s huge success
both at home and abroad this group was enlarged, both in
quantity and quality, to become a full-fl edged philharmonic
orchestra in 1999. The eminent Gürer Aykal was appointed
as the General Music Director and Permanent Conductor of
the Orchestra. On the memorable night of May 13, 1999, at
the Yildiz Palace Silahhane Building on the European side
of Istanbul, the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra
performed its fi rst concert. Under the leadership of Gürer
Aykal BIFO was restructured and soon began offering
concerts on the Anatolian side of the city as well. By the
end of 1999, BIFO was performing two concerts per month,
one on each side of the Bosphorus, at the Lütfi Kırdar
Concert Hall on the European side and at the Kadiköy
People’s Education Center on the Asian side, thereby quickly
becoming a true city orchestra. This pattern continues until
today, but with performances on the Anatolian side now
being held at the Caddebostan Cultural Center.
During the 2008-2009 season, the number of annual
concerts in Istanbul was increased from 14 to 16, with an
additional three concerts held overseas. Additionally, the
Orchestra performed both the opening and closing concerts
of the 2009 International Istanbul Music Festival. Also
beginning in 2009, 12 new members were added to the
Orchestra’s 82 permanent members.
The Borusan String Quartet
The Borusan String Quartet, which is made up of musicians
from the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, was
formed in 2005. Gerhard Schulz, a member of the Alban
Berg Quartet, serves as musical consultant to the Quartet,
which also participates in the masters classes given by the
prestigious Juilliard String Quartet. The Quartet consists of
Esen Kıvrak and Olgu Kızılay on violins, Efdal Altun on viola
and Çağ Erçağ on cello. It performed its fi rst major concert
with pianist Hüseyin Sermet at the 2008 International
Istanbul Music Festival.
Borusan Children’s Choir
Historically, children’s choirs have had a profound impact in countries throughout the world in the inspiration and
training of musical artists. More often than not, a musician’s
fi rst love for music is birthed through participation in choirs.
Many famous composers and musicians trace the love
for music in their hearts back to children’s choirs. Indeed,
children’s choirs play a fundamental role in the development
of the cultural and artistic life of any society and serve to
bring great joy and pleasure to people everywhere. It is for
these reasons that The Borusan Center for Culture and
Arts stepped out in 2002 under the supervision of Gülsen
Yavuzkal to break new ground in establishing the Borusan
Children’s Choir.
Comprised of 40 children between the ages of nine to
twelve, as well as a conductor and pianist, the Choir
sings children’s songs from various countries and in
different languages. The choir sings both “a cappela” and
by accompaniment of the piano as well as the “Borusan
Children’s Quartet”. Although there are usually two concerts
scheduled each year, this number will increase to four with
the opening of the Music House in 2009.
Music Library
On October 25, 1997, the Borusan Culture and Arts Center
opened the fi rst private Music Library in Turkey, thereby
taking yet another important step in its mission to build a
cultural bridge between Turkey’s masses, particularly the
burgeoning young people of the nation and to help them
appreciate polyphonic Western music. Today, the Library
receives an average of 2,000 visitors per year and there is
no charge for admission.
Focusing mainly on classical music, the library houses a
collection of approximately 8,500 books and magazines,
7,000 musical scores, 10,500 CDs, 3,000 LPs, 150 VHS and
100 DVDs. It also features works in other genres such as
jazz, blues, Turkish folk music, classical Turkish music and
world or ethnic music. The musical score archives include
both instrumental and vocal music categories. One of the
most important sections in the Library is the contemporary
Turkish Composers Archive. Additionally, the Library has
special areas where visitors can use CD and LP players to
listen to interpretations of numerous, as well as facilities for
viewing DVDs and videos from the collection. Its fi ve year
plan includes increasing the CD collection to 40,000.
For cataloguing purposes, the Library utilizes Turkey’s
largest and most developed library system, the BLISS PC
Library Automation Program. All books, CDs and musical scores are organized with the help of the Automation
Program. The Library of Congress System and headings
are used for the classifi cation system. With the help of the
Automation System users can quickly fi nd the materials
which are available in the Library.
The Borusan Music Scholarship
As part of the Guest Conductor Series initiated by Borusan
Holding in 2006, elite leaders of the business world, media
and society conduct the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic
Orchestra in exchange for their donations. The donation
is utilized as a scholarship to support the development of
budding artists with the potential of achieving international
acclaim in classical music by providing them the opportunity
receive the highest standard of overseas education.
The Guest Conductor Series was inaugurated on February
9, 2006 with Mr. A. Ahmet Kocabıyık, Chairman of the Board
of Borusan Holding, as the fi rst Guest Conductor by virtue of
his donation. In 2007, the second guest conductor was Mr.
Rahmi M. Koç, Honorary Chairman of Koç Holding, whose
gift funded the scholarship for Burak Özdemir, a bassoonist.
Meanwhile, the 2008 guest conductor was Mr. Bülent
Eczacıbaşı, Chairman of the Board of Eczacıbaşı Holding.
The Guest Conductor Series has become a major event on
Istanbul’s annual cultural calendar.
Mediterranean Contemporary Music Days
Based on the special characteristics of the region, the
Mediterranean Contemporary Music Days is a music festival
initially designed by the Borusan Center for Culture and Arts
to bring out the common musical interests of composers
from this part of the world. One of the primary aims of the
Mediterranean Contemporary Music Days is to provide an
interaction between modern music composers and music
interpreters. In the fi ve years since its inceptions, Istanbul
has made many new international friendships, as the
festival has a large following both locally and internationally.
Throughout the year, musicians from our neighbors in the
Mediterranean region keep in close contact to learn about
upcoming events.
At the 5th Mediterranean Contemporary Music Days, held
in January 2008 musicians from Greece, Italy, Spain,
Albania and Croatia participated. The inclusion of Sweden,
a northern European nation, in recent years is an example
of the widespread interest and infl uence generated by the
Mediterranean Contemporary Music Days, all the more exceptional because of the relatively brief history of this
event.
Borusan’s participation in the annual International Society
of Contemporary Music (ISCM) assembly and other
similar festivals has helped to draw increased international
attention to the Mediterranean Contemporary Music Days
festival. Moreover, in keeping with Istanbul’s new title as the
European Capital of Culture for 2010, Borusan has offered
to serve as host of the yearly ISCM convention and festival
next year.
While Borusan Culture and Arts is the chief architect and
organizer of Mediterranean Contemporary Music Days, the
event is a magnifi cent collaboration between Borusan and
the consulates and cultural agencies of the various countries
involved, including the Institut Francaise d’ Istanbul,
Spain’s Instituto Cervantes Estanbul, the Instituto Italiano di
Cultura di Istanbul and the Swedish Consulate in Istanbul.
Beginning in 2009, the festival will be held once every two
years in September and there are plans to increase the
overall budget substantially. Also, with effect from 2009, this
event is being renamed the Istanbul Music Festival.
MusicHouse
In April of 2009 a new activity center named the MusicHouse
was opened under the management of the Borusan Center
for Culture and Arts. In addition to workshops and advanced
class activities, the MusicHouse will also include a rehearsal
area for our orchestras and the small concert hall.
Ertuğ & Kocabıyık Publications
In order to introduce Turkey’s historical heritage and
treasures to the rest of the world Ertuğ & Kocabıyık
Publications has created 18 high-class art books featuring
artwork from the Ottoman, Byzantine, Roman and Hellenistic
cultures. This collaborative venture between Ahmet
Kocabıyık, Chairman of the Board of Borusan Holding and
Ahmet Ertuğ, famed Turkish architect and photographer,
resulted in the release in 2007 of the volume entitled
“Sacred Art of Cappadocia,” authored by Catherine Jolivet-
Lévy of Paris University and featuring Ertuğ’s imaginative
and excellent photography of Byzantine wall art from the 6th
through the 13th centuries. The recent edition is “Ephesos:
Architecture, Monuments & Sculpture”.
ArtCenter/Istanbul
One of the most important projects to be completed by
the Borusan Center for Culture and Arts during 2008 was
a contemporary art center dedicated to providing young
artists with studio space to develop their skills. The primary
objective of ArtCenter/Istanbul is to provide the means and
support for experimental and creative students of the arts
while creating an environment of free exchange of ideas
among different disciplines.
ArtCenter/Istanbul provides affordable workshop activities in
painting, sculpture, photography, video and multimedia for
young talents during the initial stages of their careers.
ArtCenter/Istanbul is centrally located on Ayhan Işık Sokak,
within a fi ve minute walking distance from Taksim Square
and other culture centers, near the famous pedestrian
street of Istiklal Caddesi in Istanbul’s legendary art district of
Beyoğlu. The workshops, which are open to the public, not
only provide an opportunity for the visitors to become more
familiar with the arts but also help create an environment
where everyone can create a difference with their artistic
energy. This mutual interaction not only nurtures the artist’s
desire to create but also encourages the general public to
have a greater understanding of the value of this process.
Borusan is restructuring its social responsibility initiatives
In order to utilize its resources more effi ciently and ensure
the long-term sustainability of its activities in the areas
of education, the arts and culture Borusan has started
the process of restructuring its activities. With the aim of
improving the effectiveness of its contributions, especially
in the areas of culture and the arts, Borusan decided to
coordinate all related activities under the umbrella of the
Borusan Kocabıyık Foundation. Furthermore, from now on
music will be the primary area of concentration.
All of the social responsibility projects of the Group will
be implemented through the Foundation. In addition to
activities related to culture and the arts, which emphasize
the promotion of classical music, Borusan intends
to continue its contribution to education through the
Foundation. The ongoing work pertaining to this vision is
expected to be finalized in the near future.
