The research trip to Istanbul, organised as part of the peer exchange “Expanding Audience Engagement and Dialogue in Contemporary Art between Germany and Türkiye”, brings together museum professionals from both countries. The initiative aims to establish a dialogue platform that explores how contemporary art audiences can be diversified, and how the historical and social ties between Germany and Türkiye can inspire new approaches to artistic exchange, dialogue, and audience development. It also seeks to build professional networks, identify institutional needs, and highlight funding opportunities made possible through international collaboration.

Taking place in parallel with the 18th Istanbul Biennial, the research trip invites participants to reflect on how such cultural events can act as catalysts for long-term public participation. Discussions will consider the potential of such formats to strengthen enduring cultural infrastructures and promote civic dialogue taking into account different local conditions. The exchange invites participants to share experiences and knowledge from different institutions, regions, and countries.

Over the course of four days, participants will engage with Istanbul’s museums and contemporary art institutions. The programme will also connect stakeholders from various cities across Germany and Türkiye, complemented by presentations and case studies demonstrating diverse strategies for audience engagement and participation. A structured visit to Kulturakademie Tarabya – an artist residency founded in 2011 by the German Federal Foreign Office and located on the historic grounds of the German Embassy in Istanbul – will serve as a working example of long-term bilateral collaboration.

Overall, the trip aims to highlight how contemporary art can engage diverse publics through collaboration, shared learning, and experimentation.

This research trip and peer exchange is part of the museum agency’s programme Open perspectives. One of the programme’s goals is to initiate cooperation through the organisation of research trips to regions with dynamic museum landscapes and the facilitation of initial in-person meetings amongst international museum professionals.

Partner: Istanbul Modern

Participating institutions:

Akbank Sanat, Istanbul, Türkiye; Anadolu Kültür, Istanbul, Türkiye; Arkas Art Center, İzmir, Türkiye; Arter, Istanbul, Türkiye; Baksı Museum, Bayburt, Türkiye; Beykoz Kundura, Istanbul, Türkiye; Borusan Contemporary, Istanbul, Türkiye; C/O Berlin Foundation, Berlin, Germany; documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH, Kassel, Germany; Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin, Germany; İşbank Museum of Painting – Sculpture, Istanbul, Türkiye; Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Directorate of Libraries and Museums, Istanbul, Türkiye; Istanbul Modern, Istanbul, Türkiye; Istanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture, Istanbul, Türkiye; İzmir Painting and Sculpture Museum, Ministry of Culture and Tourism General Directorate of Fine Arts İzmir, Türkiye; Münchner Stadtmuseum, Munich, Germany; Museum Brandhorst, Munich, Germany; Museum Folkwang, Essen, Germany; Museum Fünf Kontinente, Staatliche Museen in Bayern, Munich, Germany; Neue Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Pera Museum, Istanbul, Türkiye; Pinakothek der Moderne, Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, Munich, Germany; Sakıp Sabancı Museum, Istanbul, Türkiye; SALT, Istanbul, Türkiye; Sprengel Museum Hannover, Hanover, Germany; TAM MUSEUM gGmbH, Berlin, Germany; Yapı Kredi Culture and Arts, Istanbul, Türkiye