stubnitz

SIM INFO - 20100401-06 - Coordination Meeting Istanbul

A series of meetings was held in Istanbul between the 29/04 and the 03/05 2010, that allowed the SIM project to get rooted in Turkey.

The main objectives of these meetings were for the SIM project :

=>To gain a first view on the feasibility of the project in Turkey.
=>To identify the partners the SIM project could rely on in Turkey.

Hence, numerous cultural actors were approached, who all gave a very positive feedback to the project. Istanbul appears definitely as a major stopover for the project.

So with many thanks to all for giving us some of you time during those few days, as well as for the great music we could listen to.

1. Introduction
2. Network
2.1. Network configuration / projects layout
2.1.1. Coordination partners
2.1.2. Programming partners
2.1.3. Supports
2.2. Meetings summary
3. Feasibility study
3.1. Economy of the project
3.2. Mooring points for the ship
3.2.1. Karaköy: Istanbul Modern and IKSV:
3.2.2. Istanbul Central:
3.2.3. Kadiköy Harbour:
3.2.4. Mimar Sinan Universitesi
3.2.5. Bahçesehir Universitesi
3.2.6. Bosphorus Bridge Area
3.2.7. Eminönü

2. Networking and partnerships:

The main and vary first aim of those meetings was for the SIM project to gather partners in Turkey, willing to support its implementation in this country.

2.1. Network configuration / Projects layout:
One may differentiate between three types of partners:

2.1.1. Coordination partners:

=>The ones who can work together with the STUBNITZ on handling the administrative/bureaucratic issues of the operation. The first actions that was asked them to undertake was about gathering some information about the possible mooring points in Istanbul, and to try and identify the responsible authorities.

So far, MM. Nacati; Ahmed Can; Sinan Bokesoy; Serhat Koksal, Volkan Terzioglu and Korhan Erel are at different level of implication willing to help us on this level.

3 points have to be précised:
=>The SIM project aims at being a cooperative project.

-Fees and global fundraising: It has been mentioned on several occasions that such a function would require a funding (fees). Yet it is assumed that at this stage of the process it is still too early: We are now just trying to insure the feasibility of the project, after which (from June onwards), a fundraising operation will be launched that will be based on its result.

-Remuneration through event organizing: Besides, all of those partners are event organizers themselves and will be lately remunerated through a prevalent share in the festival programming itself. Hence this remuneration would be the one of any event taking place in Istanbul, with this addition of a higher media coverage and possibly (for traditionally low income projects), a bigger audience attracted by an unusual location and a diverse programming.

-Non exclusivity: Yet and even if (see above remark) those partners will be given a prevalent share in the programming of the festival, none of them is going to be the exclusive partner: The SIM project aims, along a period of 6 to 8 weeks, at presenting a comprehensive view on the Musical/Artistic actuality in Istanbul: Hence it is of its very essence not to be an exclusive project, and there is much enough space for everybody.

2.1.2. Programming partners:
=>The ones who can help the Stubnitz elaborate an interesting programming, be given free hand to organize events on board.

So far and in addition to the coordination partners mentioned above, could be willing to use the space the following people: Batur Sonmez; Hakan Orman (? Hope so..); Serhat Koksal; Umut Caglar; Onok Boskurt and Sumru.

All are doing great things.

2.1.3. Supports:
=>The ones who can provide us with random information about how to organize such an event.

Mme Claudia Hahn Raabe (Goethe Istanbul) and Ekim Ozturk (Centre Culturel Français) have been contacted in this perspecti ve and where very helpful.

2.2. Meetings report:
Here under is a short summary of the meetings that were held in Istanbul.

Thursday
Mme Claudia Hahn-Raabe
Goethe Institut Istanbul
Support

-Madam Claudia Ann Rahbe is the director of the Goethe Institut in Istanbul. She is currently running a Europe supported literary “bus project” all over Turkey, Eastern Europe and until Brussels.

-This bus project will keep the whole Institute extremely busy until September, but then Madam Claudia Hahn Raabe offers to support the SIM project with her precious experience of those operations.

M. Batur Sonmez
Transmit// Audio Visual Arts
Programming partner

-M. Batur Sonmez is one of the very first Turkish artists to have explored noise and electronic musics. He is now a prominent figure of the European underground and his precious knowledge of the Istanbul scenes makes him a precious programming partner.

M. Hakan Orman
Peyote
Programming partner?

-The Peyote is a very popular rock club in Istanbul that offers a very dense and international program to a young and passionate audience.

-Very interesting would be to associate the Peyote to the programming of some events aboard the Stubnitz.

M. Nacati
Coordination partner

-M. Nacati is a figure of the Noise and Electronic Scene in Istanbul. He opened a music shop in the 90’ and was probably back then the very first who distributed this music. He now retired from this business and runs a venue in Kadiköy.

-Mister Nacati can be of a very precious support as a coordination partner. He already got in touch with IKSV and is leading investigations towards the Port authorities of Eminönü.
Friday

M. Ekim Ozturk
Centre culturel français
Support

-Mister Ozturk kindly offered to gather some information about the different locations the ship could moor in. Thus the French Cultural Center can be of a good support as a validation of the information we bring to them.

M. Ahmed Can
Doublemoon
Coordination partner

-The Doublemoon label is the sister company of the prominent Pozitif event organizer and the Babylon very popular and “semi-commercial” club.

-Pozitif being a very commercial structure, it is most unlikely they would have direct interest in supporting the operation. Yet, the important media outcome of the SIM project could be very interesting for the promotion of the Doublemoon artists.

-In this perspective, Pozitif could act as a coordination partner.

M. Ozgur
Bluexpo
Support

-Bluexpo is a company that organizes trade fairs aboard a ship of more or less the same characteristics as the Stubnitz’s. Their ship has passed by Casablanca, Oran and Algier last year.

-Mister Ozgur kindly offered to provide us with some contacts in the different harbors we are targeting.
Saturday

M. Sinan Bokesoy
Sonic Disorder
Coordination partner

-Mister Sinan Bokesoy, a prominent composer and researcher in computer music, is among many other projects realizing installations in the frame of Istanbul 2010. Some of his works should be seen on the ferries that link the different sides of the city.

-Mistar Bokesoy hence proposed to submit the project to the ferry companies he is in touch with in order to get a first feedback.
Sunday

MM. Volkan Terzioglu and Korhan Erel
Islak Kopek
Coordination partner

-Fantastic musicians, initiators of the Istanbul free jazz improvisation scene, and many years of experience in event organizing.

-Mister Korhan Erel has already taken contacts with the port authority in Kadiköy and was awaiting to get some more info about the project before going further.

M. Umut Caglar
Rekonstrukt
Programming partner

-Mister Umut Caglar is a fantastic guitarist and runs the Rekonstrukt label.

-Obviously too busy for the time being to take part to the organization of the festival, he could be of a great input, later on, to the point of view of the content.

Mme Onok Boskurt and Sumru Agiryuruyen
Guitar Cafe
Programming partnes

-Madam Onok and mister Sumru run the Guitar Café in Kadiköy, a venue dedicated to free improvised musics among other.

-Great taste, and a very interesting overview on the Istanbul scenes, that they kindly offered to share with the SIM project.

3. Feasibility of the project:
Istanbul appears to the foreigner as a definite modern metropolis, with flourishing art scenes, plenty of very interesting locations, clubs and cultural centers.

3.1. Economy of the project:
=>It appears very possible to adopt a completely self supported economy for the project where rentable or commercial events would support the non rentable ones.

Some elements:
Beer: from 2.5euros (Very Cheap) to 6 euros for a pint (Babylon), and socially accepted. (Taxes to be determined).
Entrance fees: 12-15 euros.
Meal: Hardly less than 5euros for a complete meal.
Commercial parties: a lot.
Rentable interesting events: present (see for example the Peyote (www.peyote.com.tr).
Audience: present.

=>Independence is good, whereas dependence is bad. This is a general statement. It leads to the fact that this option will be examined seriously.

SIM – 20100429-0503 – SIM COORDINATION MEETINGS ISTANBUL
SUMMARY
PROJET STUBNITZ IN MED - www.stubnitz.com/med - MS STUBNITZ / BI-POLE / TIMITAR / ACOUSMATIK / IRTIJAL

3.2. Mooring points for the ship:
The following possibilities have been or are being examined at the moment:

2.2.1. Karaköy: Istanbul Modern and IKSV:
Karaköy (Istanbul Modern + IKSV)
Istanbul Central
Kadiköy
Mimar Sinan Universitesi
Bahçesehir Universitesi
Bosphorus Bridge Area
Eminönü

3.2.1. Karaköy: Istanbul Modern and IKSV:

This option appears at first sight as the most obvious one: Istanbul Modern is the contemporary art reference museum in Turkey and could be a partner of choice.

It is located in Karaköy, right in the center of the city and beside one of its most dynamic neighborhoods. Plus it is well connected to all public transportation means.

The risk would only be for Istanbul Modern to take over the programming of the event but, as it has been said: The MS STUBNITZ will not negotiate on this: The SIM Project is conceived as an open venue for all of the scenes of Istanbul. Besides, we intend to stay for 6 week, thus there will be space for everybody.

=>MM. Nacati and Can have good relationships with those both institutions and take over the first approach.

=>Mister Nacati took contact with IKSV. The feedback is quite negative: The Harbour in front of Istanbul Modern is a customs area, completely secured and forbidden to any audience.

3.2.2. Istanbul Central:
Istanbul Central is a former power plant, that has been reconverted into a cultural zone. Yet it appears at first sight impossible to moor a ship over there (physically: no mooring point).

3.2.3. Kadiköy Harbour:
This possibility has been mentioned by MM. Sinan Bokesoy; Serhat Koksal; Volkan Terzioglu; Korhan Erel.

It is also a great location, considering the proximity of a very dynamic neighborhood (Guitar Cafe; Mister Nacati Pub is also there).
And the mayor of Kadiköy is lefty, which cannot harm in our case.

=>M. Korhan Erel proposed to take contact with the port authority there to have a first feedback.
=>M. Bokesoy is having musical projects on ferries in the frame of Istanbul 2010 and will also get a feedback in there.

=>M. Nacati proposed to get in touch with the general port authority.

3.2.4. to 2.2.6.: Mimar Sinan Universitesi; Bahçesehir Universitesi; Bosphorus Bridge area
Greenpeace / Library ship:
Two “somewhat similar events” have taken place in Istanbul before, where an audience was allowed to come aboard ships for exhibition: Greenpeace and the library ship. Besides, the proximity of the universities could be interesting in terms of audience and “institutional coverage” for the project.

=>Mister Korhan Erel is studying this options at the moment.

3.2.7. Eminönü:
Also an option, that was mentioned at very last after the IKSV/Istanbul Modern appeared very much unsure.