35th International Şile Cloth Culture And Art Festival Begins On 29 July!

The countdown has started for the 35th International Şile Cloth Culture and Art Festival, which is preparing to return Şile to its old festival days with its new energy and content! The International Şile Cloth Culture and Art Festival, one of the oldest festivals in Turkey, organised by Şile Municipality in the coastal town of Istanbul famous for its nature, Şile cloth, lighthouse and acorns, will take place between 29 July - 11 August. The festival, which offers a full programme to both the people of the town and the visitors, will start with the opening cortege that will set off from the Municipality Square at 19.30 on Monday, 29 July. Following the cortege that will end at the Festival Area, opening speeches and an international dance group show will take place, while the evening will be further enlivened by the enthusiastic concert of Buray, the popular voice of pop music. The 35th International Şile Cloth Culture and Art Festival will continue with a rich programme of talks, concerts, workshops and fashion shows.

The International Şile Cloth Culture and Art Festival, which takes its name from the geographically marked product Şile Cloth, which has formed the infrastructure of the economy and art of the region for years, is one of the oldest festivals in Turkey, which has been going on since 1984. The festival, which has been going on for 35 years even though it has been postponed due to natural disasters and war in the interim years, aims to protect and promote the values, culture and cultural heritage of Şile. The International Şile Cloth Culture and Art Festival, which contributes to the enrichment of both the economic and social life of the local people, also increases the commercial and tourism potential of Şile and brings vitality to the region. The festival, which hosts both local and international participants, aims to protect local traditions and handicrafts, increase social awareness and enable new cultural expressions.

The International Şile Cloth Culture and Art Festival, which will be held for the 35th time this year by Şile Municipality, will host its participants in the unique atmosphere of Şile between 29 July - 11 August 2024. The festival, which will take place at different points of Şile and Ağva, will include talks by masters who love Şile such as Haldun Dormen, Müjdat Gezen, Mustafa Alabora and Cemil İpekçi; "Bir Baba Hamlet" play; Sıla, Melek Mosso, Can Bonomo, Buray, BaBa ZuLa, Volkan Konak, Sena Şener, Atiye, Gazapizm, Zeynep Bakşi and Erdal Erzincan concerts; performances by international dance groups; Şile Cloth fashion shows; exhibitions; workshops.

Şile Cloth Culture and Art Festival with its Longed International Identity

Özgür Kabadayı, who was elected as the Mayor of Şile with the great support of the people as the candidate of CHP in the last local elections, is taking decisive and courageous steps to rebuild Şile and bring it the value it deserves. With a debt of 925 million liras, Kabadayı rolled up his sleeves to restructure the municipality he took over and to create a sustainable development model. Kabadayı emphasised that they will undertake major projects for the economic, social and cultural development of the district and is preparing to host the International Şile Cloth Culture and Art Festival once again by embracing the 35-year tradition.

At the press conference held on Friday 19 July at the Şile Tahlisiye Station, Şile Mayor Özgür Kabadayı said: "Şile is proud of being a unique town that has been blended with culture, art, cinema, poetry and painting with the contributions of art giants such as Zeki Müren and İsmet Ay. From now on, we will show loyalty in the most beautiful way and we will be loyal to our culture, traditions and artists. Şile Cloth is not just a woven fabric; it is a heritage that extends from the past to the present. The International Şile Cloth Culture and Art Festival, which we are organising for the 35th time this year, is an excellent opportunity to bring the universal value and beauty of Şile cloth to a wider audience. This festival is not only a celebration; it also aims to support the efforts of Şile cloth producers, to transfer our traditional arts to future generations and to contribute to our local economy."

The streets of Şile will be revitalised with the participation of dance groups from 6 different countries. Women's handicrafts and special products prepared by the Institute Istanbul ISMEK will be presented this year with the slogan "Return to Your Roots". In the festival where the unique beauties of Şile Cloth will be discovered and the participants will return to their roots, the missed Şile Cloth fashion shows will return with enthusiasm and fashion and art will come to life again in Şile Cloth.

İsmet Ay Stage Returns

Within the scope of the 35th International Şile Cloth Culture and Art Festival, the İsmet Ay Stage, which is named after İsmet Ay, the doyen of Turkish theatre, cinema and theatre artist from Şile, but has not been used for years, will be revived. This special stage in Şile was opened in 2007 by İhsan Çayıroğlu, the Mayor of Şile at the time. Now, İsmet Ay Stage will embrace theatre plays again as it deserves. With this name to be given to the amphitheatre stage in the district, the spirit of master artist İsmet Ay will be felt at every moment of the festival and will continue to be a source of inspiration for art lovers.

35th International Şile Cloth Culture and Art Festival will be held with the support of Institute Istanbul ISMEK, Mey|Diageo, Kale Şile, Işık University, Gönen Hotel, The Sign Hotel, Değirmen Hotel, Uçar Royal Hotel, Şira Restaurant, Hairdresser Yasin & Evolution, REptur Real Estate, Marin Fish, Ovacık Village Women Seed Association and Lilyum Patisserie.

PROGRAMME

Monday 29 July

19.30-20.30 Festival Opening Cortege (Belediye Square, Üsküdar Street, City Square, Değirmen Festival Area)

20.30 Opening Speeches / Festival Area

21.00 International Dance Group Performance / Festival Area

21.00 Concert: Buray / Festival Area

Tuesday 30 July 

17.00 Opening of Burhan Reshid Hammer Collection Exhibition / Tahlisiye Building

17.30 Opening of the Exhibition of Sile Cloth and Rescue Equipment / Boathouse

19.00 Şile Music School Concert / City Square

20.15 Pınar Ataer Sile Cloth Ritual Dance Performance / Festival Area

21.00 Concert: Baba Zula / Festival Area

22.30 Concert: Sena Şener / Festival Area

Wednesday 31 July 

18.00 İsmek Şile Cloth Exhibition Opening and İsmek Trio Music Concert / Şile Lighthouse

18.30 Ismek Fashion Show / Üsküdar Street

21.00 International Dance Group Show / Festival Area

22.00 Concert: Can Bonomo / Festival Area

Thursday 1 August 

18.00 Sile Cloth Weaving Ritual / Kumbaba Hotel

20.00 International Dance Group Show / Festival Area

21.00 Concert: Zeynep Bakşi Karadağ / Festival Area

22.00 Concert: Erdal Erzincan / Festival Area

Friday 2 August 

19.45 Conversation in Memory of İsmet Ay - Mustafa Alabora, Müjdat Gezen, Haldun Dormen / Amphitheatre

20.45 Theatre: "Bir Baba Hamlet" / Amphitheatre

22.00 Concert: Volkan Konak / Festival Area

Saturday 3 August 

19.30 Concert: Ece Daghestan & Jamal Aliyev / IBB Cultural Centre

21.00 International Dance Group Performance

22.00 Concert: Gazapizm / Festival Area

Sunday 4 August 

19.00 Cemil İpekçi Interview - Moderator: Mutlu Ulusoy / Festival Area

20.30 Ağva Collection Fashion Show / Festival Area

22.00 Concert: Sıla / Festival Area

 Saturday 10 August 

22.00 Concert: Atiye / Ağva

 Sunday 11 August 

22.00 Concert: Melek Mosso / Ağva

For information: instagram.com/sile_bld