Turkey's Culture Route Festival sparks art scene resistance amid government appropriation claims

Launched in 2021 by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Turkey's Culture Route Festival has divided the contemporary art scene in Istanbul. Originating in Beyoğlu, it showcased works from local artists, including curator Ali Akay, alongside the AKM Cultural Centre and Galataport initiatives. Many artists discovered their involvement through festival logos on promotional materials, which Zeyno Pekünlü criticized as appropriation. Detractors, like Nâzım Richard Dikbaş, claimed the festival was a form of artwashing connected to the 2013 Gezi Park protests. While the government supported galleries, President Erdoğan condemned opposing artists during the festival's opening on October 29, 2021. By 2023, the festival had adopted mainstream exhibitions and rebranded after the AKP's defeat in the 2024 local elections, eliminating the selection committee.