Istanbul named a Culture Capital
By Jonathan Head
BBC News, Istanbul
Story from BBC NEWS:
europe/8463231.stm
Published: 2010/01/16 15:07:37 GMT
Spectacular fireworks displays and cultural performances will mark the
launch of Istanbul’s year as one of three European Capitals of
Culture.
The prestigious title gives cities the opportunity and funding to
showcase and enrich their cultural life.
For Turkey, which is struggling to fulfil its longstanding aim of
becoming a member of the European Union, the title has particular
significance.
But Istanbul’s celebration is not without its problems.
Istanbul competed fiercely with the Ukrainian capital Kiev to win this
title, the last time it will be offered to a non-EU member.
The two other winners were Pecs in Hungary and Essen in Germany.
With its rich heritage of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history and its
pulsating contemporary urban life, Istanbul is already recognized as
one of the world’s great cultural capitals.
But the title means a great deal in a country which has for decades
aspired to membership of the European Union.
The opening celebrations will be marked by a spectacular fireworks
display choreographed by the French pyrotechnician Cristoph
Berthonneau.
And by a series of cultural performances set against the backdrop of
some of Istanbul’s greatest landmarks.
But big questions hang over how effective the rest of the year’s
programme will be.
The organizing committee has been rocked by conflict between NGOs and
government bureaucrats, with mass resignations last year.
There have been persistent allegations of corruption.
Critics say there has been too much focus on restoring well-known
historical sites, and too little on contemporary culture.
And very little effort has been devoted to confronting the painful
twentieth century legacy left by the mass expulsion of the Greek and
Armenian communities, whose buildings, many of them derelict, still
litter the city.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
