EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Interaction between city life, arts and crafts gives voice to local community in Istanbul

Interaction between city life, arts and crafts gives voice to local community in Istanbul

Introduction

Unkapanı is a historical area with an important transportation and trade function in Istanbul. It has been occupied by ateliers, business establishments and storehouses for centuries. Recently the area has gained increased attention as a result of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's (IMM) plans for the conservation of the Historical Peninsula. These plans will imply a fundamental change in the urban texture and the social and cultural structure of the area. Because of the regeneration plans, many craftsmen will be forced to leave their workshops. The Manufatura Project, coordinated by students of Istanbul Bilgi University, focuses on the Unkapanı district in order to produce alternative guides for the city and document local histories and experiences through art, design and crafts. In this way, the local community is also given a chance to voice their experiences concerning the upcoming regeneration of the area.

Problem

How to give a voice to local communities in a changing city?

Description

The Manifatura Project encourages people to take another look at the city that they live in. According to the project philosophy, people would then be better able to examine the modes of production and thinking in a city. It would also enable them to see the relationships among places, people and what these two factors produce. The project challenges people to see these relationships within a framework of their reflections in everyday life.

Young arts and design students from Turkey, Georgia and Armenia, became part of the everyday life of the old streets of Unkapanı and the workshops of local craftsmen. Five working groups were established in the framework of Manifatura that followed a series of seminars in the summer of 2007. The groups were coordinated by an arts or design management student and a craftsman. Each group visited the district and developed a project based on certain issues.

The group members included the place, material, as well as the stories and the concerns of the local craftsmen about the urban regeneration plans for the Historical Peninsula in their projects. An exhibition and a district guide came out of this process. With this first experience, Manifatura will focus on a different district every year and produce alternative guides for the city, documenting local histories and experiences through art, design and crafts.

The project was coordinated by students of Cultural Management, Art Management, Management of Performing Arts and Design Culture & Management at Istanbul Bilgi University.

Results

The project resulted in:

individual art objects created by the students and the craftsmen
an exhibition
an alternative city guide to the Unkapanı district

Contact info

Bilgi University - Department of Art Management
Phone: +90-212 311 5000
Deniz Ünsal (project advisor)

Project start date

/07/2007

Links

Click here to visit the Manifatura Project website

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Urban environment

Keywords

Cultural heritage

Institutional characteristics
Academic/Research