LETTER FROM THE CHAIRWOMAN
The Istanbul Centre in Brussels is an exciting answer to a desire by the people of Istanbul to have a voice in the European conversation. It is a city with a lot to talk about. It has a skyline that reflects long millennia of history and a nightlife and cultural scene very much in the here and now. It has an extraordinary natural setting and all the problems and prerogatives of a megacity. In 2010 Istanbul will be the European Capital of Culture but its inhabitants secretly believe that this is a title it has held for well over two thousand years.
The ICiB is a brand new venture. Its well-appointed facilities allow for exhibitions and film screenings, book-readings and wine-tastings, conversation and debate. Istanbul is a city that wants to be understood but also to understand change in the world about it. The ICiB is a centre open to all well-intended suggestions. It exists to promote discussion at the highest level. It is also a library and resource facility and a place where Istanbul can talk to other cities.
Istanbul was declared the New Rome in 330 AD – and even the New Rome wasn’t built in a day. The ICiB which has just opened its doors intends to find its way quickly into the cultural calendar of Europe. As chairwoman, I am determined that the ICiB quickly achieves its promise and I pledge to keep you posted of our progress. I hope you will visit this site often and the ICiB itself.
Sincerely yours,
Tulu Gumustekin
Chairwoman of the ICiB Joint Coordination and Management Board