IST.FESTIVAL 15th Anniversary Edition Opening Remarks by Serdar Gülgün & Alphan Eşeli
Celebrating 15 years of art, ideas, and Istanbul.
In this special welcome speech, Serdar Gökhan honors Demet and Alphan Eşeli, the founders of the Istanbul International Arts and Culture Festival, for creating a space where creativity flourishes and conversation thrives. Founded in 2010, IST.FESTIVAL has become a vibrant gathering of the world’s leading creative minds, set against the rich historical backdrop of a city that has been the capital of three great empires: Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman.
Alphan Eşeli reflects on the festival’s core mission: “to make sense of the world through art, music, and conversation.” In a time where everything looks like something but often feels like nothing, IST.FESTIVAL invites its audience to feel the world again, to ask deeper questions, and to connect through shared human experience.
As Istanbul continues to inspire with its layered past and dynamic present, IST.FESTIVAL remains a beacon for cultural dialogue, creative collaboration, and authentic expression.
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