The Istanbul Biennial Production and Research Programme (ÇAP) was initiated by the Istanbul Biennial, building on its experience as a meeting platform for artists and art professionals from Türkiye and around the world. The programme ran for five terms between 2018 and 2024: three terms from 2018 to 2022, and two additional terms following a collaboration with BAK basis voor actuele kunst in 2021, concluding in 2024.
The collaboration with BAK in 2021 expanded the programme’s scope by establishing focus groups in Istanbul, Jakarta (with the GUDsel team under Gudskul), Utrecht, and online. Between 2021 and 2022, the programme enabled participants from various countries working in the arts to research and develop individual projects within these groups.
The programme supported participants by facilitating access to resources, tools, and connections with various actors in cultural and artistic spheres. The Advisory Board contributed by selecting participants, shaping the programme’s content, and offering guidance. Each participant worked with a mentor, meeting regularly over six months. Mentors were jointly selected with participants to address the specific needs of their projects.
Since its inception, the Istanbul Biennial Production and Research Programme has hosted over 30 artists and researchers. Through advisory sessions, workshops, and seminars, the programme supported participants’ theoretical, practical, individual, and collective pursuits in the arts and related fields. Between 2018 and 2024, ÇAP served as a platform for networking and discussion for those working at the intersection of art, theory, and research, helping them refine their skills, enhance their practices, and develop their research.
Programme Content
Participants selected for ÇAP attended weekly seminars and workshops tailored to their interests and needs over six months.
Each participant was assigned a mentor with whom they met regularly to discuss their projects. Mentors were selected collaboratively, taking into account the specific needs of each participant and project.
Seminars, workshops, and meetings organised by ÇAP were held at Abud Efendi Mansion during the 2018–2019 term. From 2020 onwards, all events took place at the İKSV Nejat Eczacıbaşı Building.
ÇAP also assisted participants in connecting with individuals, institutions, and technical support aligned with their theoretical and practical interests.
Participants were encouraged to develop one or more working projects or ideas during the programme, fostering a productive environment. Collaboration between participants and mentors was strongly emphasised. Projects were monitored through presentations to the Advisory Board at the programme’s midpoint and conclusion.
ADVISORY BOARD, PARTICIPANTS, AND MENTORS
ADVISORY BOARD
The Advisory Board, active throughout the programme, selected participants, offered guidance, and helped shape the programme’s content. Members met regularly with participants over six months to provide feedback on their progress. The board comprised members from various disciplines, each bringing diverse pedagogical experiences.
Advisory Board of the 2020-2022 Term (Group I and Group II)
Volkan Aslan, Ayşe Draz, Kevser Güler, Ayşin Zoe Güneş, Ferhat Özgür, Bige Örer, Zeyno Pekünlü
Advisory Board of the 2019-2020 Term
İnci Eviner, Banu Karaca, Evrim Kavcar, Sarp Keskiner, Erinç Seymen, Bige Örer, Zeyno Pekünlü
Advisory Board of the 2018-2019 Term
Gülçin Aksoy, Melis Behlil, Cevdet Erek, Borga Kantürk, Erkan Özgen, Bige Örer ve Zeyno Pekünlü
PARTICIPANTS
Participants of the 2023-2024 Term
Istanbul Research Group: adaptör projekt, Betül Aksu, Hanieh Fatouraee, Esra Oskay, Enis Köstepen ve Irmak Karasu, Alev Ersan, Varduhi Balyan, Ayça Yüksel, Seher Uysal, SB Arch Lab
Utrecht Research Group: Fırat Yücel, Andrea Knezovic, Yuliia Elias, Astrid Feringa, Marta Kheil, Iliada Charalambous, Siwar Kraitem, Maoyi Qui, The Garage School, Paula Montecinos Oliva, Radical Data, Teresa Borasino
ÇAP-BAK Collaboration Participants of the September 2021-December 2022 Term
Istanbul Research Group: Özge Açıkkol, Kerem Ozan Bayraktar, Ilgın Hancıoğlu, İlyas Odman, Marina Papazyan
Jakarta Research Group: Dika+Lija (Anathapindika Dai ve Liza Markus), Alexandra Karyn, Rifandi Septiawan Nugroho, Anitha Silvia, Gatari Surya Kusuma
Utrecht Research Group: Merve Bedir, Philippa Driest, Megan Hoetger, Gayatri Kodikal, Yen Noh
Participants of the 2020-2022 Term
Group I (2020-2021): İrem Tok, Aylime Aslı Demir, Seher Uysal, Özgül Kahraman, Nursev Irmak Demirbaş & Zuhal Güreli, Kadir Kayserilioğlu, Derya Yıldız, Ceren Hamiloğlu, Suzi Asa, Didem Erbaş, İlyas Odman, Aslı Uludağ, Ari P. Büyüktaş, Arek Qadrra, Damla Yalçın, Beyza Dilem Topdal
Group II (2021-2022): Begüm Çalımlı, Mert Kaya, Volkan Dinçer, Şafak Çatalbaş, Özkan Işık, Okyanus Çağrı Çamcı, Nazlı Cem, Gözde Mimiko Türkkan, Merve Mepa, Hüseyin Aksoy, Betül Aksu, Berka Beste Kopuz, Aşkın Ercan, Delal Eken, Burcu Bilgiç, Ezgi Erol
Participants of the 2019-2020 Term
Uğur Sarışen, Ufuk Barış Mutlu, sub, Servet Aslan, Selin Erdemirci, Sadık Arı, Neslihan Başer, Nejbir Erkol, Metehan Özcan, M. Cevahir Akbaş, H. Esra Oskay-M, Berke Doğanoğlu, Bahriye Kadadayı Dal, Ayçesu Duran, Alican Durbaş
Participants of the 2018-2019 Term
Birbuçuk (Ayşe Ceren Sarı, Serkan Kaptan, Yasemin Ülgen), Kerem Ozan Bayraktar, Sinem Şemsioğlu, Nihat Karataşlı, Inez Piso, Marina Papazyan, Vardal Caniş, Furkan Öztekin, İlke Şahin, Berkay Tuncay, Merve Vural, Müge Yıldız, Rıdvan Kuday, Gülşah Mursaloğlu, Hayrettin Ümit Özdoğan, Hilal Güler, Okay Özkan, Bilge Hasdemir, Aslıhan Kabukçu
MENTORS
Each of the ÇAP participants selected a mentor with whom they could exchange ideas, based on the needs of their projects. Over the course of six months, the participants developed their projects under the guidance of their mentors, meeting regularly.
Mentors of the 2021-2022 Term
Bager Akbay, Sena Başöz, Hera Büyüktaşçıyan, Guido Casaretto, Barış Doğrusöz, Merve Elveren, Ali Miharbi, Simon(e) van Saarloos, Erinç Seymen, Hale Tenger, Murat Tülek, Işın Önol, Çağla Özbek, Marina Papazyan, Fulya Peker, Yasemin Ülgen
Mentors of the 2020-2021 Term
Orton Akıncı, Esra Aysun, Övül Durmuşoğlu, Banu Cennetoğlu, Kevser Güler, Banu Karaca, Emre Koyuncu, Ali Miharbi, Gülşah Mursaloğlu, Burak Onaran, İz Öztat, Yasemin Ülgen, Sibel Yardımcı, Zeynep Sirel Günsür Yüceil, Yoğunluk Kollektifi, Dilek Winchester
Mentors of the 2019-2020 Term
Bager Akbay, Halil Altındere, Hera Büyüktaşçıyan, Duygu Demir, Pelin Derviş, Merve Elveren, Köken Ergun, İnci Eviner, Leyla Gediz, Sibel Horada, Yasemin Özca, İz Öztat, Ali Taptık, Ezgi Tuncer, Dilek Winchester
Mentors of the 2018-2019 Term
Fulya Erdemci, Jean François Perouse, Nazlı Gürlek, Merve Elveren, Hale Tenger, Zeynep Dadak, Serdar Soydan, Tuğçe Tuna, Süreyyya Evren, Zeynep Öz, Gürcan Keltek, Esra Aysun, Hera Büyüktaşçıyan, İz Öztat, Ali Taptık, Burak Delier, Tunca Subaşı, Deniz Gül, Burak Tamer
