Istanbul is celebrating the title "2010 ECOC" together with all lovers of this magnificent city

The Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency has held a press conference in order to introduce the details of the official opening celebrations of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture. This exciting event will take place on 16 January 2010, and will be carried out with the support of 6.000 people. Şekib Avdagiç, the Chairman of the Executive Board of the Agency, hosted the press conference and was also joined by the artists who will be participating in the opening celebrations to take place in various locations across Istanbul.

The press conference was held on January 12th at the Ciragan Palace with the participation of musicians Mor ve Ötesi, Mercan Dede, Zara and Kıraç who will be performing in different locations during the celebrations, as well as Yekta Kara, the art director of the special show to be realized at the Haliç Congress Center, and Cristoph Berthonneau, the choreographer of “Group F” that will realize the fire, balloon and light shows.

Speaking at the press meeting, Şekip Avdagiç, the Chairman of the Executive Board of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency, commented that the preparations for the opening celebrations have been continuing for approximately one year, adding the following remarks:

"Istanbul, the most inspiring city of the world, is ready to share its energy with Turkey and the rest of the world through the title of “European Capital of Culture” and the organization of 400 cultural and artistic projects to be realized until the end of the year.

Together with the opening celebrations on January 16th which will take place at six different locations across Istanbul, we have prepared a large and comprehensive program in cooperation with many culture-art organizations so that Istanbul residents can share this energy in all ways they desire.

On the other hand, the protocol ceremony, which will be held at the Haliç Congress Centre with the participation of Mr. President, Mr. Prime-Minister, Ministers and distinguished guests including many politicians, bureaucrats, diplomats and artists from Europe, will draw the world’s attention to Istanbul. Large participation from European countries, as well as neighbouring countries, is another indication of the great international interest in Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture. We will all witness this strong international interest in many projects throughout the year.

I invite, once again, all Istanbul residents to participate in our events as they please, and all of Turkey to join in our projects in order to share Istanbul’s energy."

Yılmaz Kurt the Secretary General of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency expressed his excitement for the opening celebrations marking the beginning of all European Capital of Culture events and said:

"The day has come at last for us to mark the beginning of this special year by sharing the details of our Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture launch celebrations. Istanbul will be initiating this exciting process with a worthy magnificence by activities to be held on January 16th.

We expect considerable participation from various parts of Turkey, as well as Istanbul, in these unequalled celebration activities which have been prepared with great care by professionals. Thanks to the rich program, on January 16th all lovers of Istanbul will be able to follow a number of different events catered to their liking. During our celebration events, which will also be hosting renowned names from abroad, Istanbul residents and our guests will experience a wonderful night to remember forever.

There will be large scale participation from international platforms during the opening events
The protocol opening at Haliç Congress Centre will welcome 5.000 guests comprised of top level diplomats and prominent names of the political, business and culture-arts community from Europe as well as Turkey, and will be realized under the auspices of Turkey’s President Abdullah Gül and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Officers from the European Union and European Council, the President of the German Bundestag, Ministers of Culture from Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Iraq, Montenegro, TRNC, Kosovo, Latvia, Moldova, Portugal, Slovenia and Ukraine, the British Minister responsible for EU, foreign ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, TRNC and Kosovo, as well as the Deputy Foreign Minister of Greece will be attending this very special ceremony.

Furthermore, administrative committees from the two other 2010 European Capitals of Culture, Essen and Pecs, as well as diplomats from the European Commission and significant names like Sir Robert Scott who contributed greatly to the development of the European Capital of Culture notion, and Spyros Mercouri the brother of Melina Mercouri the creator of the title "European Capital of Culture" will be joining the opening ceremony.

All varieties of Istanbul that make it what it is will come together on a single stage
The official ceremony will be starting at 18:30. After the opening speeches a special performance will take place called "Istanbul Magic," choreographed specifically for this special night by Yekta Kara. The performance of 65 minutes will present 303 artists to expose multi-layered and profound cultural heritage, the sources of energy and inspiration in Istanbul, through the music, dance, poetry and visions peculiar to Istanbul. During the press conference, the creator and art director of this special show, Yekta Kara informed that:

“The show will feature famous artists such as Aynur, Bekir Ünlüataer, Cüneyt Türel, Dilek Türkan, Fatih Erkoç, Kevork Tavityan, Kubat, MFÖ, Sertap Erener, Yetkin Dikinciler and Zuhal Olcay who will stage different performances, revealing all assets of Istanbul, the historic capital of three empires. The program will also include the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, the Istanbul Group of Turkish Historical Music, the Yarkın Percussion Group, the Children’s Choir, artists and dancers of the State Opera and Ballet, as well as members of the Pulathane Folk Dancers Group.”

President Abdullah Gül and Prime-Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will push the launch button for Istanbul 2010
Just after this special performance, the protocol members joining the event will push the launch button for a special light and firework show to mark the beginning of 2010. This show – a “City Event” designed to take its energy from Istanbul, will take place on the pier in front of the Haliç Congress Center and will turn the Golden Horn into a festival arena one kilometre in length. The show will also be televised in special screens to be installed in public squares in Taksim, Kadıköy, Pendik, Sultanahmet, Beylikdüzü and Bağcılar. This remarkable festival will be broadcasted on TV channels as well, for 13 million residents of Istanbul and all of Turkey to see.



Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Opening Celebrations in numbers

General information on the opening celebrations
* On Saturday, 16 January 2010, celebrations arranged by the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency will take place at 7 different locations across Istanbul.

* In these 7 different locations, a total of 500 artists from different disciplines will be performing, supported by a technical crew of 900 people. Nearly 6.000 people are currently working on the preparation of the opening celebrations, while on the 16th of January a total of around 8.000 people will be working at all events.

* An organization team of 1.550 people are running the management of the events to take place at the Haliç Congress Centre and six other city squares.

* A total of 3.500 security staff will be at work during the events in order to ensure safety and security.

* An administrative staff of 100 people and a coordination team of 750 people are working day and night to manage the successful execution of all events.

* A technical team of 300 people are working full speed in their preparations to make a live broadcasting of the opening events, which are awaited impatiently all across Europe.



Information on the protocol opening at the Haliç Congress Centre
* Under the auspices of Turkey’s President Abdullah Gül and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the protocol opening at Haliç Congress Centre will welcome prominent names from diplomatic, political, business and culture-arts communities in Europe as well as Turkey.

* 4.000 guests comprised of Ministers from 20 different countries, as well as diplomats and prominent names from political, business and culture-arts community from abroad will take part in the opening ceremony.

* The special performance "Istanbul Magic", directed by Yekta Kara, will feature 24 different shows to be staged by 303 artists. With technical staff included, a total of 450 people will be involved in this act.

* A special stage of 600 square meters will be set up in the Haliç Congress Centre for staging the performance of “Istanbul Magic”.

* Simultaneously, a special light and fire show performed at the Haliç Shipyard will mark the start of the events, and will cover an area of one kilometre, turning the Golden Horn into a festival venue.

* Intensive work is taking place at the Haliç Camialtı Shipyard with the preparation of a giant platform of 3.000 square meters for the special light and firework show.

* A special 2010 logo, 80 meters by 15 meters is size, will be the first symbol set alight during this special show on Haliç.



Information on the events to be arranged in city squares
* Among the main events to be realized in Taksim Square and Kadıköy Square are the Fire Theatre and the Balloon Theatre to be staged by world-famous “Group F” of France.

* A total of 1.700 security officers from the Security Department of Istanbul will be working to ensure security and safety during all events that will be held in 6 different public places.

Information on other Culture-Art events
* As a result of the protocol concluded between Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency and a number of prominent culture-art institutions, many public and private museums and culture-art centres in Istanbul will stay open until midnight for this special night on January 16th.

* Institutions that will stay open until midnight are: Yapı Kredi Culture Arts Publishing, Hilmi Nakipoğlu Camera Museum, Aşiyan Museum, Orhan Kemal Museum, Sait Faik Museum, Ptt Istanbul Museum, Sadberk Hanım Museum, Sakıp Sabancı Museum, Turkish Maritime History and Art Museum, Grand Palace Mosaic Museum, Ural Ataman Classic Car Museum, Basilica Cistern Museum, YKB Vedat Nedi Tör Museum, Kazım Karabekir Paşa Museum…