T24.com.tr / The world’s leading theatre museums gathered in Istanbul

Since its establishment in December 2019, shared experiences have been a guiding force for the Turkey Theatre Foundation in its mission to create its own museum.

The "International Theatre Museums Gathering," led by the Turkey Theatre Foundation, was held on October 17 at the Pera Museum. With the theme "Creating a Contemporary Theatre Museum," the event brought together museums known for their unique features and an organization renowned for its exhibition expertise.

Supported by the European Union's Civil Thought Program, the Pera Museum, Istanbul Municipality’s Culture Department, and Mey|Diageo, the event drew considerable attention as Istanbul—a city without a dedicated theatre museum—hosted prominent representatives from international theatre museums.

At Turkey's first event of this kind, principles and methods of exhibition, along with issues surrounding documentation and memory preservation, were opened for discussion. Shared experiences offered valuable guidance for the Turkey Theatre Foundation as it works toward establishing its own museum.

The opening speeches were delivered by Özalp Birol, General Manager of the Pera Museum (Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation), and Esen Çamurdan, founding president of the Turkey Theatre Foundation. A statement was made about the “Turkey Theatre Museum Architectural Project Competition,” designed with the support of Enka Art and Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. The competition aims to draw the attention of young people, ensuring awareness of Turkey’s rapidly disappearing theatrical cultural heritage and is open to all architecture students in Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Kristina Trubinova, General Director of the Bakhrushin Theatre Museum in Moscow, spoke about Alexey Bakhrushin, acknowledged as the creator of the world’s first theatre museum and the first professional philanthropist, and shared the 130-year history of the museum.

Rudi Risatti, curator of the Vienna Theatre Museum, highlighted the multidimensional nature of theatre museums, distinguishing them from other museums by focusing on collections centered on an art that "disappears the moment it appears."

Peter Teilman, director of the Theatre Museum at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, presented under the title “Using the Past to Reach the Future.”

Elisabeth Ramm, a partner at Atelier Brückner, known for innovative exhibition concepts, shared their exhibition development philosophy and showcased projects where unique perspectives are emphasized.

Dorothea Volz, the fifth director in the 114-year history of the German Theatre Museum, attributed the museum’s continuity to stability. She addressed the challenges of presenting theatre through both analog and digital opportunities.

Malin Karlsson, curator of the Swedish Museum of Performing Arts, described how the museum, established to preserve Sweden’s theatre, music, and dance heritage, uses interactive stations to promote creativity and knowledge. She discussed innovative ways to engage visitors.

The session concluded with an appreciated closing speech by Esen Çamurdan, where participants and audience members learned more about the Turkey Theatre Foundation’s initiatives and shared in the dream of creating a theatre museum.