Istanbul - Culture

Istanbul's cultural activities, both traditional and contemporary, are rich and varied. Matching the city's exploding youth population is a growing number of festivals, galleries, new music venues and film centres, and, within the last decade, Turkish artists have begun to make an international impact.

Tickets for most cultural events are available at Biletix outlets (www.biletix.com). Entertainment and events listings, features and reviews are available from monthly magazine Time Out Istanbul (www.timeoutistanbul.com), Hrriyet Daily News(www.hurriyetdailynews.com), Turkey's main national newspaper, and The Guide Istanbul (www.apa.com.tr/apa/g_istanbul_eng.htm), available every two months at newsstands, in bookstores and in most up-scale hotels.

Music, Opera and Dance

Akbank Culture and Arts Centre
Sponsored by Turkey's major bank, this modern venue hosts jazz and classical concerts and a changing array of exhibitions and cultural events.

Istiklal Caddesi, Zambak Sokak 1
Tel: (0212) 252 3500.
Website: www.akbanksanat.com

Atatrk Cultural Centre (Atatrk Kultur Merkezi)
The 900-seat Atatrk Cultural Centre is shared by the State Opera and Ballet, the State Theatre and the State Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Istanbul Festivals.

Taksim Meydani, Beyoglu
Tel: (0212) 251 5600.
Website: www.kultur.gov.tr

Borusan Centre for Culture and Art
This space alternates conceptual' Turkish and international exhibitions, and has an enormous music library and concert space for classical music performances.

Istiklal Caddesi 213
Tel: (0212) 336 3280.
Website: www.borusansanat.com

Visual arts

Platform Garanti Contemporary Art Centre
This home for Istanbul's most interesting painters, sculptors, printmakers and other creative spirits is a three-storey venue with regularly changing exhibitions and artists in residence.

Istiklal Caddesi 115A
Tel: (0212) 293 2361.
Website: www.platform.garanti.com.tr