Before the 2011 autumn launch of Turkey’s Alternative Cultural Policy Report, a ‘work-in-progress debate’ will take place at Istanbul Bilgi University on 25 and 26 March. This independent view on Turkish cultural policy development and the reforms needed has been compiled over recent years by expert research teams in the country. It forms part of ‘(In)visible Cities’, our Matra-supported cultural capacity development initiative, realised by the European Neighbourhood programme with partners in the Netherlands, Istanbul and three Anatolian cities.

The backdrop to the debate is the national cultural policy review being carried out by the Council of Europe and the Turkish Ministry of Culture. The independence of the ‘alternative report’ should assist this review. Not only cultural NGOs will attend the debate, but representatives of Turkish Ministries and the EU Delegation in Ankara, as well as an interested expert and media audience. The project’s ‘Handbook: Local Cultural Policy Development for Turkish Cities’ will also be presented.