Notes from Istanbul: Conversations that Shape an Art Residency

At the beginning of March 2025, we as the DAA Art Residency team spent four days in Istanbul, meeting with artists and cultural institutions that inspire and inform our work in Bodrum. The trip served as both a learning journey and a gesture of connection toward the wider arts ecosystem in Türkiye.

We began with artist meetings in Karaköy and Galata, speaking about research-based practices, co-writing, and possibilities for future residencies. Along the way, we visited exhibitions and discovered new voices that resonate with our mission.

Our time at Istanbul Modern opened discussions on residency models, sustainability, and the evolving role of large institutions in supporting artistic production. At Gate27, we exchanged knowledge on governance, selection criteria, and alumni networks that continue to nurture artists long after their stay.

We also met with Anadolu Kültür  exploring the complexities of legal structures, transparent selection processes, and longer-term art residency durations that allow deeper engagement. Conversations with collection managers shifted our perspective on community support and the importance of meaningful encounters with patrons.

One morning was spent in the tranquil gardens of Tarabya Cultural Academy, imagining future collaborations that might connect Bodrum’s slower rhythms with international artistic flows. 

Each meeting was driven by generosity and curiosity. While every institution had its own approach, a shared belief emerged: strong art residencies grow from care, collaboration, and the courage to give artists time.

We returned home encouraged by the support offered, the doors opened, and the new relationships formed. These conversations will evolve into shared projects, thoughtful models, and invitations that connect Istanbul’s intensity with the grounded, process-driven environment of DAA Art Residency.