A special project from Istanbul Modern and Bosch Home Appliances on International Women's Day: Following a Dream

In order to support gender equality in art education, Istanbul Modern and Bosch Home Appliances are launching the "Following a Dream" project for girls who want to improve their talents and artistic perspective. The project aims to bring female students together with academics, art historians, and artists who can be creative and courageous role models.

Istanbul Modern and Bosch Home Appliances have prepared a special yearlong development program for girls who want to improve their talents and artistic perspective. The “Following a Dream” project is inspired by the female artists whose works are featured in the Istanbul Modern Collection. While the female students who will participate will be encouraged to discover their own creativity inspired by the experiences and productions of female artists, the project also aims to encourage them.

In cooperation with schools, local governments, and non-governmental organizations, the program allows female students in the 9th grade and above who want to receive education in the field of art to apply with a reference from one of their teachers. The program is conducted by academics, artists, curators, art historians, and museum experts.

40 students from public schools in different districts of Istanbul are participating in the project. It aims to introduce girls to female artists who can be creative and courageous role models and consists of seminars, lectures, and workshops. The “Following a Dream” project helps girls strengthen their artistic expression skills and develop creative and innovative perspectives.

The education program, which will be held at Istanbul Modern until June 2024, includes contemporary art history courses, artwork analysis studies, seminars with artists, workshops and branch courses. Participation in the project is free of charge for the 40 female students whose applications are accepted and it takes place between 13.00 and 16.30 on Saturdays. 

Istanbul Modern Chair of the Board Oya Eczacıbaşı:

Since its opening in 2004, Istanbul Modern has been offering its audiences a quality museum experience and creative learning opportunities through educational programs. This contribution of the museum which benefits society involves rich diversity, carried out under different activities such as free programs, workshops, and seminars designed in collaboration with artists. Providing learning opportunities for special education groups, ensuring equal opportunities in art education, and creating qualified educational opportunities that support gender equality are among our priorities. 

We attach importance to projects that support the artistic talents of children and young people and strengthen their skills for a creative future. The "Following a Dream" project that we have put together for our female students is one of them. Within the scope of "Following a Dream,” we are inspired by the female artists in our museum collection and offer free art education to 40 high school female students. By supporting equal opportunities, we hope to contribute to the education of creative, free and self-confident women, with our goal of contributing to the raising of a generation sensitive to art. I would like to thank Bosch Home Appliances for their support of our project and the campaign they prepared to raise awareness.

BSH Turkey Chief Executive Officer Alper Şengül: 

As BSH Turkey, we are very pleased to support the “Following a Dream” project, which was implemented in cooperation with Istanbul Modern and Bosch Ev Aletleri. For BSH, “diversity, inclusion, and equality” are indispensable parts of our company culture. While we work for a fair, equitable, inclusive, and socially sustainable future, we undertake projects particularly for young people and women. 

This important initiative aims to take important steps for gender equality by using the power of art. The project empowers girls through art education, allowing them to take on self-confident and effective roles in society. As Bosch Home Appliances, as part of our efforts to improve equality and quality of life in the home, we also demonstrate our belief in the critical role that art plays in processes of social change and progress via the "Following a Dream" project.

Istanbul Modern Education and Social Projects Director Neslihan Varol:

The “Following a Dream” project looks at art education from a holistic perspective. It aims to develop the artistic abilities of our students, introduce them to role models, and create common spaces where they can work with artists. In the program we developed with our project consultant, academic Ebru Nalan Sülün, students take art history courses, analyze works of art with museum educators, come together with artists in interviews, and strengthen their artistic skills in areas such as painting, sculpture, and video art in branch classes.

While implementing the project, we tried to prepare an educational program that was inspired by the female artists in our collection and featured their works. The young people we met with and the support of our teachers enabled us to determine our methods. We have determined the criteria for applications, not skill or artistic ability, but passion for art and discipline in taking advantage of educational opportunities. Our teachers, who have been enabling their students to benefit from the museum's free educational activities for years, shared the project with their students for whom they provided references. We wanted to reach students studying in public schools from every district of Istanbul.

Bosch Home Appliances Senior Marketing Manager Özlem Koçdar:

As Bosch Home Appliances, we encourage equal division of labor within the home with our technologies that improve the quality of life. In our advertising campaigns that we have been running for many years, we emphasize our belief that equality begins at home. Now, with our “Following a Dream” project, we are taking on the responsibility of equal opportunity in art education by venturing outside of the home for the first time. In this project, which we are carrying out in partnership with Istanbul Modern, we aim to bring the transformative power of art to girls. In the promotional film of our “Following a Dream” project, we watch girls gain self-confidence through art and reveal their creative potential.

As Bosch Home Appliances, we believe that women should gain more visibility in every field from science to art. This step taken through art is a strong reflection of our commitment to supporting equality in all areas.

“FOLLOWING A DREAM” EDUCATION AND WORKSHOPS

Contemporary art history lessons

The program conducted with Dr. Ebru Nalan Sülün and Dr. Seda Yavuz aims to introduce young people to basic information about art history in order to understand contemporary art. In the program, where examples of the works of female artists specializing in contemporary art will be discussed, female students are introduced to the methods of interpreting contemporary art.

Artwork review studies and workshops in the footsteps of artists

Exhibition tours conducted with museum experts offer students methods on how to analyze a work of art while introducing them to the museum collection. 

Workshops based on works of art in the Istanbul Modern Collection invite participants to trace the artists' production processes. In these workshops, young people reinterpret works of art while presenting their own works of art by working with artists' images, techniques, or production methods.

Seminars and workshops with artists 

Seminars and workshop programs that introduce female students to female artists inspire young people with the artists' professional development stories and production methods and help students develop their imagination.

Branch lessons from artists 

Branch lessons conducted by artists who are experts in their fields aim to support the development of abilities. Five separate branch lessons are offered: painting, sculpture, performance arts, music, and video art.

Painting lessons are given by the artist Burcu Perçin, sculpture lessons are given by the artist Sibel Horada, performance art lessons are given by artist Dr. Tuğçe Tuna, while educator and jazz musician Asena Akan will be offering music lessons and video art lessons will be provided by artist Gül Ilgaz.