Artists demand transparency from Istanbul Biennial organizers over curator selection process

Turkish and international artists have issued an open letter criticizing the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) for lacking transparency in selecting Iwona Blazwick as curator for the 2024 Istanbul Biennial. The letter, signed by prominent figures including Aslı Çavuşoğlu, Michael Rakowitz, Rabih Mroué, Ahmet Öğüt, Akram Zaatari, and former curators Vasıf Kortun and WHW, questions the biennial's governance and ethical guidelines. İKSV responded by announcing procedural changes for future editions, including requiring management to choose from three candidates proposed by the advisory board starting with the 2026 biennial. The foundation defended its selection process while acknowledging the need for greater transparency. These demands emerge amid growing government pressure on arts and culture in Turkey, where institutional accountability has become a critical public concern. Preparations for the 18th Istanbul Biennial in 2024 continue as planned, with İKSV promising to share conceptual details and participant information soon.