Habertürk /A gala night in London for the Young Artist Fund by İKSV

Many figures from the business and art worlds attended the gala night held at the Natural History Museum in London, in support of the Young Artist Fund, used by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) to support young artists in producing their works. The event raised approximately £360,000 for the fund.

İKSV, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting culture and the arts, organized a fundraising gala to expand the Young Artist Fund, which supports young artists in creating their works. The event, held on October 13 at the Natural History Museum in London, was sponsored by Istanbul Portföy, with Eren Holding and VitrA as partners. Mey | Diageo also contributed as a celebration supporter.

The Istanbul Calling Gala Night, which began with a special presentation by Halit Ergenç, featured a fundraising auction organized with the support of Christie's, one of the world's leading auction houses. The night concluded with a concert by Erol Evgin, accompanied by his orchestra.

The auction, led by Christie's International Director Beatriz Ordovas, included works by Erol Akyavaş, Nejad Devrim, Osman Dinç, Nuri İyem, Alev Ebüzziya Siesbye, and Fausto Zonaro. Donations of artworks from Ilona Akyavaş, Veronica Devrim, Osman Dinç, Alev Ebüzziya Siesbye, Osman Nuri İyem, Gizem Kahya İyem, and Münir Ekonomi, who served as Chairman of İKSV's Board of Trustees from 2015 to 2022, contributed around £174,000 in additional support to the Young Artist Fund.

In total, with the contributions from the auction and event participation, approximately £360,000 was raised for the fund.

İKSV established the Young Artist Fund in its 50th year to support young artists whose works would be featured in its festivals.

“We will reach young artists from all over Turkey who need support to produce their art”

During the event, İKSV Chairman Bülent Eczacıbaşı said, “When we created the Young Artist Fund in 2022, we wanted to bring a new approach to our efforts in contributing to art production up to that point. Our aim was to look toward the future as we celebrated the foundation's 50th year, create a lasting impact, and make meaningful contributions to cultural heritage. The success of the projects brought to life through this fund over the past two years makes us proud and shows how important it is to focus on young artists. With the support of individuals and institutions contributing to tonight's event, we will expand the scope of the İKSV Young Artist Fund, reaching young people from all over Turkey who need support to produce their art. We will listen to new voices and witness the realization of new ideas. We look forward to the new era of our Young Artist Fund with great excitement.”

Istanbul Portföy's Founding Partner Tufan Deriner also added, “Since 1973, İKSV has added color to our lives in every field of art, from theater and festivals to music and biennials. It is incredibly valuable that they support young artists in writing their own stories. Walking this path with the foundation is very meaningful for us. As Istanbul Portföy, we believe in the power of being original and dynamic and listening to different voices. Coming together for such a wonderful cause excites us, knowing that we can touch the lives of young talents by the end of the night.”