KIRKAYAK KÜLTÜR
Since its first establishment in 2011, Kırkayak Kültür, has been engaged in the various projects such as scientific researches, training and migration programs on the social, economic and cultural aspects of the international migration movement. The Center conducts theoretical and field studies on migration and publishes the outcomes of such studies in an effort to advance advocacy and rights-based works Kırkayak Kültür currently hosts its culture-arts and migration studies in two separate locations in Gaziantep City: “Kırkayak Kültür Art Center” and “Center for migration and Cultural Studies”. In right based works with migrants and refugees Kırkayak Kültür aims to support learning process of people of Syria and Turkey on the issue of living together, and conducts “social cohesion” oriented activities.
Kırkayak Kültür- Center for Migration and Cultural Studies: The center conduct various studies on Dom Communities in different countries of the Middle East, such as improving their socio-economic status in the countries they live in, to improve their access to education, shelter, healthcare and employment, to prevent discrimination, to ensure improvement in term of human rights and to facilitate their access to social and public services. The Centers main objective is to ensure that the Dom groups are active members of the societies in their countries, to take part and contribute in the economic, social, cultural, civil and political life of the country; to conduct social integration studies in the fields of social cohesion, dialogue and solidarity to ensure social and cultural development of these communities who in fact socially and culturally constitute disadvantaged and under-risk and to encourage the societies to eliminate the bias and discrimination against them. The Center creates strategies and action plans in this framework and aims to establish cultural collaborations especially with public and civil sectors in the countries where Dom communities and other relevant groups live.
1- Works with Migrants and Refugees:
Kırkayak Kültür; after refugee crisis, due to conflicts in Syria, started right based activities and studies for Syrian refugees who had ran away from war and conflicts. Kırkayak Kültür; tries to base “Works with migrants and refugees” which are developed from “right to asylum is a human right” upon philosophical works ranging from Kant to Derrida and content of hospitality, cosmopolitism, and the rights of others. With all the projects and activities categorized under “Works with migrant and refugees”, Kırkayak Kültür; attempts to form a philosophical basis for asylum and immigration and to open the transformations of citizenship pivoted around Syrian refugees up for discussion.
In Right based Works with Migrants and Refugees Kırkayak Kültür; aims to support learning process of people from Syria and Turkey how to live together, and conducts “communal harmony” oriented activities. Activities are carried out in two ways;
Kırkayak Art Center (KSM); It prepares and performs the projects in order to contribute to develop art in the society, to reveal the works of art, to create the works of art, to develop the artistic sensitivity and aesthetic comprehension and natural consciousness. It organizes all kinds of local, national and international natural, art and cultural activities; exhibitions, meetings, courses, education studies, competitions, auctions, panels, conferences, congresses, biennales, carnivals, festivals, exhibitions or similar activities, it takes part in or contributes to these kinds of organizations.
2- Culture and Art Projects
Kırkayak Art Center is working with artist from Syria collectively, and organizing activities and exhibitions to get their works reach to both communities and get the artists from both countries together with artist and art-lovers in national and worldwide platforms. In this context, Kırkayak Art Center organizes film festivals, movie screenings, photograph and painting exhibitions, theater performance and various culture-art activities and offers artists “an open space”.
A. TANDEM Cultural Cooperation Projects
– Syria in Transit – Gaziantep, London
Syria in Transit documenting irremediable stories and journeys which they take dangerous roads hoping to find safe living spaces projects real life events on the borders of Europe and Turkey.
Kırkayak Kültür and London International Festival of Theatre set off for listening stories of refugees who live on Turkey-Syria border and England-France border. “Syria in Transit” project focusing on shelter, community, hardship and migration reveals exile stories of refugees holding on for their lives in Calais region on England-France border and around Gaziantep in Turkey. Project narrates what happening by means of photographs, video and audio records using the theme of statelessness. By discovering voices, narratives and lives of who had to run away from war in Syria, project questions what “in transit” means.
– Food For Open Borders (Kitchen Women Workshop, Gaziantep & Cricao, Toulouse)
FOB is a space of cultural exchange through art, food and cooking. Through food, this project explores the new cultures created by migration of peoples in Toulouse and Gaziantep. Gardening, cooking, eating, meeting, creating are the recipe of this innovative and delicious cultural project.
