ABOUT ISTANBUL’74
ISTANBUL’74 was founded by Demet Müftüoğlu-Eşeli and filmmaker Alphan Eşeli in 2009 to forge artistic relations between Istanbul and the global cultural scene, as the pioneering arts and culture platform of Turkiye.
In 2010, the creative duo went on to collaborate with AnOther Magazine and initiated the ISTANBUL INTERNATIONAL ARTS & CULTURE FESTIVAL (IST. FESTIVAL) aiming to bring together artists, designers, and creative minds who share empathy and passion for arts, around a multidisciplinary program featuring talks, exhibitions, screenings, performances, and workshops.
Open to the public, IST. FESTIVAL has welcomed leading names across the world, including Gore Vidal, Zaha Hadid, Tilda Swinton, Harvey Keitel, Terry Gilliam, JR, Sophie Calle, Michael Stipe, Anton Corbijn, Hussein Chalayan, Zülfü Livaneli, Harun Tekin, Peter Beard, Franca Sozzani, Stephen Frears, Courtney Love, Ryan McGinley and more.
In collaboration with leading art institutions, ISTANBUL’74 organizes and curates exhibitions and public installations around the world, seeking to establish new pathways between cities with established contemporary artists including Tracey Emin, Anton Corbijn, Inez & Vinoodh (in collaboration with Gagosian Gallery), Diana al-Hadid, José Parlá, Robin Rhode, Idris Khan, Andre Saraiva, Alex Prager, Freeman & Lowe (in collaboration with Marlborough Gallery), Robert Montgomery, Defne Koz and more.
The energy and vibrant spirit generated from the gathering of this community have led to the expansion of the ‘74 journey into the launch of ‘74STUDIO and ‘74ESCAPE.
A full-service, branding, communications, and creative studio, ‘74STUDIO utilizes collective expertise in strategic brand and community building, storytelling, creative design & content, digital marketing, social media, cultural events, and media relations to elevate positioning in local and global markets for brands across Arts, Fashion, Gastronomy, and Hospitality.
Born from a passion for discovery and exploration, ‘74ESCAPE is a community-based platform championing curiosity and craft with a store & gallery that features handmade ceramics, sustainable designs as well as local crafts from Turkey.
As an independent multidisciplinary platform, ISTANBUL’74 is committed to challenging the status quo, pushing boundaries, and forging new creative and cultural connections through each of its divisions, leveraging an unparalleled network of industry leaders, influential artists, and tastemakers.