Medal of Honor for Ara Güler and Orhan Pamuk

As part of the organization "Turkish Season in France" the 'Maison Européenne de la Photograie' (European House of Photography) holds a retrospective exhibition in honor of Turkish photographer Ara Güler. The exhibition is entitled "Istanbul Photographs from the 1950s and 1960s" and can be visited from 9 September to 11 October in Paris.

In the opening ceremony on 8 September a catalogue will be presented, which was made especially for Güler. Afterwards the mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoë is going to award the photographer and artist the 'Vermeil Medal' ("Silvergold" medal).

"Turkish Season in France" is a project realized under the auspices of the Turkish and French Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Culture in cooperation with the Istanbul Culture and Art Foundation (İKSV) and 'Cultures France'. The project continues all over France, mainly in the cities of Paris, Marseille, Lille, Lyon, Strasbourg and Bordeaux.

In the context of a special Ramadan program prepared by the Institute for Islamic Culture from 10 to 19 October numerous Turkish artists will meet in Paris to attend the scheduled activities.

A concert of the Turkish band Baba Zula and a performance by the Turkish theatre group Semaver Kumpanya are part of the opening ceremony on 10 September in the Institute for Islamic Culture.

The special Ramadan program will be ended on 19 October in the Chatelet Theatre by staging artists like İlhan Erşahin, Arto Tunçboyacıyan and Sezen Aksu.

Orhan Pamuk will be awarded the 'Vermeil Medal' in October as a guest of honor at a literature meeting in Odéon Theatre in Paris.

The "Turkish Season in France" will continue with the exhibition "From Byzantine to Istanbul: Habour of two continents" in the famous Paris exhibition place 'Grand Palais' (Grand Palace). The exhibition is coordinated by Dr. Nazan Ölçer, director of the "Turkish Season in France" exhibitions and of Sabancı Museum in Istanbul.

The presidents of both countries will attend the opening ceremony of an exhibition on 8 October concerning the history and culture of Istanbul form prehistoric times to today.

The "Turkish Season in France" started on 1 July and will continue till 31 March 2010 with activities from disciplines as diverse as contemporary and classical music, performing arts, literature, contemporary art, cinema, theatre, dance, gastronomy, sports, education, design and fashion. (EZÖ/VK)