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.