ArtIstanbul Feshane Opens as New Public Art Hub in Istanbul

A new cultural center dedicated to public art, ArtIstanbul Feshane, has opened in Istanbul. Housed in a historic 19th-century textile factory built in 1833 by Sultan Mahmud II, the 8,000-square-meter space on the Golden Horn features temporary exhibition galleries, a library, a café, a concert stage, and a conference hall. The restoration, led by the municipality's cultural heritage department, took four years. Mahir Polat, deputy secretary general of the municipality, stated at the opening ceremony that the space aims to help Istanbul become a global art and cultural hub and to host the 18th edition of the Istanbul Biennial next year. Polat criticized public institutions for failing to support contemporary art, leaving the burden to the private sector, and emphasized that Feshane offers free admission to foster inclusivity in an underserved neighborhood. The inaugural exhibition, "Starting from the Middle," features over 300 artists selected by 15 curators, presenting photographs, installations, and political works that narrate Turkey's history.