From the Chair of the Board

The conception of Istanbul Modern dates back to 1987 and the organization of the 1st  International Istanbul Biennial, in which I am proud to have taken part. In 2003, after searching many years for a location worthy of our city's first museum of modern and contemporary art, we were delighted to be allocated Antrepo No. 4, a maritime warehouse located at the Karaköy port, an area until then closed to the public.

With the transformation of this warehouse into a modern museum building, Istanbul Modern introduced art and culture to both Karaköy, one of the oldest settlements on the Bosphorus, and the historic district of Galata, a commercial center dating back hundreds of years.

Since 2004, when we opened our doors as Turkey’s first museum of modern and contemporary art, Istanbul Modern has played an important role in Istanbul's cultural and artistic life. We have responded to the public's tremendous interest and expectations with a large variety of activities in every art discipline and appealing to different groups. In addition to hosting prominent national and international exhibitions, we have organized educational programs for children, youth and adults, film screenings, social projects and more. Embracing a contemporary approach to museology, Istanbul Modern has transformed the public's perception of a museum by creating a cultural living space offering a cinema, library, restaurant and design shop as well as exhibition halls.

A must-see art and culture institution for Istanbul's international visitors, Istanbul Modern has received 8.5 million viewers to date and undertaken an active role in disseminating Turkey's artistic creativity at home and abroad. Over the same period, 850 thousand children and youth have benefited from our free art education programs. Through its dynamic social programs and events, the museum transformed into a vibrant part of the city's fabric.

Now, we are delighted to reopen our doors to art lovers with our unique and world-class new museum building built on the site of the former Antrepo building. The spatial attributes, infrastructure, technology, and visitor-focused approach of the new building are designed to meet every need of an international modern and contemporary art museum, offering us a unique opportunity to raise our standards.

We have resumed our activities and are inviting millions of visitors to exhibitions of modern and contemporary art from Turkey and the world in our new space designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, internationally renowned for their expertise and experience in museum architecture. With the momentum contributed by our new building, our next aim is to raise the bar and strengthen Istanbul Modern's standing among the world's leading centers of art.

Istanbul Modern welcomes all art lovers to join us in celebrating a new chapter of our museum, where a unique and unforgettable experience awaits.

Oya Eczacıbaşı
Istanbul Modern
Chair of the Board