Adì Levant
She/Her
Project Coordinator, Training for the Contact Zone & Etz Hayyim Synagogue
Adì Levant is a singer and cultural manager. She holds a degree in Musicology from the Humboldt University in Berlin, where she focused on singing for health and wellbeing, a theme that continues to shape her artistic and professional path. Her background includes work in performance, research, curation, and facilitation.
She currently works as a Project Coordinator with Etz Hayyim Synagogue in Crete and the Other Music Academy in Weimar, supporting the development, communication, and implementation of music and cultural heritage projects. Her work is driven by a commitment to making cultural work more accessible and tangible through bringing creative ideas into practice and strengthening connections within the cultural sector.
Adì Levant
She/Her
Project Coordinator, Training for the Contact Zone & Etz Hayyim Synagogue
Adì Levant is a singer and cultural manager. She holds a degree in Musicology from the Humboldt University in Berlin, where she focused on singing for health and wellbeing, a theme that continues to shape her artistic and professional path. Her background includes work in performance, research, curation, and facilitation.
She currently works as a Project Coordinator with Etz Hayyim Synagogue in Crete and the Other Music Academy in Weimar, supporting the development, communication, and implementation of music and cultural heritage projects. Her work is driven by a commitment to making cultural work more accessible and tangible through bringing creative ideas into practice and strengthening connections within the cultural sector.
Alp Arısoy
He/Him
Co-founder, Urban.koop & Motorhane
Alp Arısoy is an urban practitioner, researcher, and co-founder of Urban.koop, working at the intersection of culture, community, and urban space. His work focuses on participatory urban development, cultural programming and heritage-led regeneration, building collaborations between local communities, municipalities and international networks. He has led and coordinated projects ranging from neighborhood-scale revitalization to cross-cultural research initiatives in Türkiye and internationally.
Alp Arısoy
He/Him
Co-founder, Urban.koop & Motorhane
Alp Arısoy is an urban practitioner, researcher, and co-founder of Urban.koop, working at the intersection of culture, community, and urban space. His work focuses on participatory urban development, cultural programming and heritage-led regeneration, building collaborations between local communities, municipalities and international networks. He has led and coordinated projects ranging from neighborhood-scale revitalization to cross-cultural research initiatives in Türkiye and internationally.
Aslı Yolcu
She/Her
Visitor Programmes Coordinator, 23,5 Hrant Dink Site of Memory
Aslı Yolcu received her BA degree from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, the Department of Art History in 2018. She worked in various cultural and art institutions in learning programmes, curation and exhibition guide positions. Since 2022, she has been working at 23,5 Hrant Dink Site of Memory, where she coordinates visitor programmes. She is also a facilitator at HDF Learning Programmes.
Aslı Yolcu
She/Her
Visitor Programmes Coordinator, 23,5 Hrant Dink Site of Memory
Aslı Yolcu received her BA degree from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, the Department of Art History in 2018. She worked in various cultural and art institutions in learning programmes, curation and exhibition guide positions. Since 2022, she has been working at 23,5 Hrant Dink Site of Memory, where she coordinates visitor programmes. She is also a facilitator at HDF Learning Programmes.
Beril Sönmez
She/Her
Director, Anadolu Kültür
Beril Sönmez is a cultural manager who recently assumed the role of Director at Anadolu Kültür, following nine years at the organisation. Her work focuses on cultural rights, social and ecological justice, and fostering inclusion and equity in and through the arts by building local and translocal collaborations and facilitating collective content creation among actors in Türkiye and across borders.
Her interests include community-engaged arts, critical pedagogy, and participatory learning design for adults as well as children and youth. She is trained in Art of Hosting and transcultural mediation, and currently explores the role of art in conflict transformation and peacebuilding across diverse contexts shaped by local and global inequalities. Beril holds a BA in Psychological Counseling and an MA in Cultural Studies from Boğaziçi University. She has also been involved in activist collectives, including “Refugees–We Are–Neighbours,” engaging in participatory action against displacement caused by urban regeneration projects in the peripheral neighborhoods of Istanbul, and supporting solidarity networks between refugees and non-refugees through community-based arts.
Beril Sönmez
She/Her
Director, Anadolu Kültür
Beril Sönmez is a cultural manager who recently assumed the role of Director at Anadolu Kültür, following nine years at the organisation. Her work focuses on cultural rights, social and ecological justice, and fostering inclusion and equity in and through the arts by building local and translocal collaborations and facilitating collective content creation among actors in Türkiye and across borders.
Her interests include community-engaged arts, critical pedagogy, and participatory learning design for adults as well as children and youth. She is trained in Art of Hosting and transcultural mediation, and currently explores the role of art in conflict transformation and peacebuilding across diverse contexts shaped by local and global inequalities. Beril holds a BA in Psychological Counseling and an MA in Cultural Studies from Boğaziçi University. She has also been involved in activist collectives, including “Refugees–We Are–Neighbours,” engaging in participatory action against displacement caused by urban regeneration projects in the peripheral neighborhoods of Istanbul, and supporting solidarity networks between refugees and non-refugees through community-based arts.
Burcu Yılmaz Deniz
She/Her
Associate, Culture Unleashed
Burcu Yılmaz Deniz is a curator, cultural manager, and performer who brings together diverse audiences through multidisciplinary programmes and curatorial practices, creating spaces that spark dialogue around contemporary issues. Based in Istanbul, she is an Associate of Culture Unleashed and Co-Director of A Corner in the World, a curatorial collective that works at the intersection of performing arts and social sciences.
Recently, her curatorial and artistic practice focuses on accessibility, inclusion, and holistic experience design, exploring how cultural environments can enable diverse bodies, sensitivities, and modes of participation. Burcu also works as a facilitator, designing and leading participatory processes, workshops, and collective formats that support dialogue, co-creation, and shared learning through methods such as soundpainting, improvisation, and the Long Table. She is a member of the Advisory Committee of the International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts (IETM) and part of the International Inclusive Arts Network (IIAN), works as an external expert for Creative Europe.
Burcu Yılmaz Deniz
She/Her
Associate, Culture Unleashed
Burcu Yılmaz Deniz is a curator, cultural manager, and performer who brings together diverse audiences through multidisciplinary programmes and curatorial practices, creating spaces that spark dialogue around contemporary issues. Based in Istanbul, she is an Associate of Culture Unleashed and Co-Director of A Corner in the World, a curatorial collective that works at the intersection of performing arts and social sciences.
Recently, her curatorial and artistic practice focuses on accessibility, inclusion, and holistic experience design, exploring how cultural environments can enable diverse bodies, sensitivities, and modes of participation. Burcu also works as a facilitator, designing and leading participatory processes, workshops, and collective formats that support dialogue, co-creation, and shared learning through methods such as soundpainting, improvisation, and the Long Table. She is a member of the Advisory Committee of the International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts (IETM) and part of the International Inclusive Arts Network (IIAN), works as an external expert for Creative Europe.
Büşra Takpak
She/Her
Volunteer
Büşra Takpak is a piano instructor, choir singer, and music festival associate based in Istanbul, Türkiye. She received her BA degree in Musicology from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University and has contributed to cultural events, music festivals, and content projects across local and international contexts. She has supported high-profile music and arts events through stage coordination and project support, collaborating closely with artists, production teams, and organisers. Alongside her work, she continues teaching piano, performing as a choir singer, and volunteering at CreativeMornings Istanbul.
Büşra Takpak
She/Her
Volunteer
Büşra Takpak is a piano instructor, choir singer, and music festival associate based in Istanbul, Türkiye. She received her BA degree in Musicology from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University and has contributed to cultural events, music festivals, and content projects across local and international contexts. She has supported high-profile music and arts events through stage coordination and project support, collaborating closely with artists, production teams, and organisers. Alongside her work, she continues teaching piano, performing as a choir singer, and volunteering at CreativeMornings Istanbul.
Cemre Ceren Asarlı
She/Her
Associate, Space-time Works
Cemre Ceren Asarlı is a creative producer, community weaver, cultural manager, and creative facilitator. She is an enthusiast in culture and creativity and she is recently passionate about growing communities through creating safe and brave spaces, meaningful dialogues and connections. She is based in Bodrum, Türkiye and in the last seven years, she has worked with all artistic and cultural disciplines regionally and internationally through collaborations. As a community leader and creative producer, she facilitated numerous local, regional, and international activities, events, meetings, and learning journeys.
Cemre Ceren Asarlı
She/Her
Associate, Space-time Works
Cemre Ceren Asarlı is a creative producer, community weaver, cultural manager, and creative facilitator. She is an enthusiast in culture and creativity and she is recently passionate about growing communities through creating safe and brave spaces, meaningful dialogues and connections. She is based in Bodrum, Türkiye and in the last seven years, she has worked with all artistic and cultural disciplines regionally and internationally through collaborations. As a community leader and creative producer, she facilitated numerous local, regional, and international activities, events, meetings, and learning journeys.
Daniela Nofal
She/Her
Senior Programme Manager, Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts
Daniela Nofal works at the crossroads of philanthropy, art, and social change. She leads the Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts, a collaborative philanthropic initiative that brings together foundations to champion the power of socially engaged arts in driving positive social change across Europe. With a background in cultural organising and creative production, her work spans creative interventions at the intersection of art, arts education, and social engagement. At the heart of her practice is a commitment to experimenting with forms of organising that reimagine assembly and solidarity.
Daniela Nofal
She/Her
Senior Programme Manager, Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts
Daniela Nofal works at the crossroads of philanthropy, art, and social change. She leads the Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts, a collaborative philanthropic initiative that brings together foundations to champion the power of socially engaged arts in driving positive social change across Europe. With a background in cultural organising and creative production, her work spans creative interventions at the intersection of art, arts education, and social engagement. At the heart of her practice is a commitment to experimenting with forms of organising that reimagine assembly and solidarity.
Emre Erbirer
They/Them
Co-founder, Culture Unleashed
Emre Erbirer is a generalist with extensive knowledge on many subjects and expertise in a few. He is a culture manager, programme curator, community builder, learning designer, facilitator, and writer. He designs and runs projects and programmes focused on the creative economy, cultural policies, and cultural management.
He runs Espas, a cultural management consultancy company, and Culture Unleashed, an initiative to empower ecosystems, organizations, communities and individuals in the cultural and creative industries. Emre also teaches Marketing and Audience Development for Culture as a part-time lecturer since 2017, and continues his community building and programming efforts by hosting CreativeMornings Istanbul. He is a member of the International Association of Art Critics (AICA), International Council of Museums (ICOM), Culture Action Europe (CAE), and European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC).
Emre Erbirer
They/Them
Co-founder, Culture Unleashed
Emre Erbirer is a generalist with extensive knowledge on many subjects and expertise in a few. He is a culture manager, programme curator, community builder, learning designer, facilitator, and writer. He designs and runs projects and programmes focused on the creative economy, cultural policies, and cultural management.
He runs Espas, a cultural management consultancy company, and Culture Unleashed, an initiative to empower ecosystems, organizations, communities and individuals in the cultural and creative industries. Emre also teaches Marketing and Audience Development for Culture as a part-time lecturer since 2017, and continues his community building and programming efforts by hosting CreativeMornings Istanbul. He is a member of the International Association of Art Critics (AICA), International Council of Museums (ICOM), Culture Action Europe (CAE), and European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC).
Giorgi Rodionov
He/Him
Founder, untitled tbilisi
Giorgi Rodionov is a multidisciplinary artist, curator, and cultural manager working between Berlin and Tbilisi. His practice addresses themes of queer and feminist issues, migration, and the politics of belonging. Rooted in personal and regional experiences, his work centres narratives from the South Caucasus and the wider Eastern Europe, building translocal networks of solidarity and cultural resilience.
He is the Founder of untitled tbilisi, an independent art space supporting queer art activists in South Caucasus and neighbouring region, and the co-founder of In the Mountains, a queer and feminist art platform and festival based in Berlin. Through inclusive curatorial strategies, community-oriented programming, and cross-border collaboration, he aims to cultivate safer cultural spaces and to amplify marginalised voices under political pressure.
Giorgi Rodionov
He/Him
Founder, untitled tbilisi
Giorgi Rodionov is a multidisciplinary artist, curator, and cultural manager working between Berlin and Tbilisi. His practice addresses themes of queer and feminist issues, migration, and the politics of belonging. Rooted in personal and regional experiences, his work centres narratives from the South Caucasus and the wider Eastern Europe, building translocal networks of solidarity and cultural resilience.
He is the Founder of untitled tbilisi, an independent art space supporting queer art activists in South Caucasus and neighbouring region, and the co-founder of In the Mountains, a queer and feminist art platform and festival based in Berlin. Through inclusive curatorial strategies, community-oriented programming, and cross-border collaboration, he aims to cultivate safer cultural spaces and to amplify marginalised voices under political pressure.
Kaan Mağlay
He/Him
Volunteer
Kaan Mağlay is a young professional specialising in arts and cultural management, new media, and communication, currently pursuing a double major at Istanbul Bilgi University. His academic background bridges cultural production and digital media, allowing him to approach creative industries from both managerial and communicative perspectives.
He works as a freelance videographer, focusing on visual storytelling and content production, while also gaining hands-on experience in event organisation and community management through his work as an event staff member. Kaan has actively participated in the European Youth Parliament, attending various conferences across different institutions, where he took on roles such as editor, vice president, and head organiser. These experiences strengthened his ability to work in international and interdisciplinary environments.
Kaan Mağlay
He/Him
Volunteer
Kaan Mağlay is a young professional specialising in arts and cultural management, new media, and communication, currently pursuing a double major at Istanbul Bilgi University. His academic background bridges cultural production and digital media, allowing him to approach creative industries from both managerial and communicative perspectives.
He works as a freelance videographer, focusing on visual storytelling and content production, while also gaining hands-on experience in event organisation and community management through his work as an event staff member. Kaan has actively participated in the European Youth Parliament, attending various conferences across different institutions, where he took on roles such as editor, vice president, and head organiser. These experiences strengthened his ability to work in international and interdisciplinary environments.
Kerem Çelikoglu
He/Him
Events & Production Officer, Culture Action Europe
Kerem is the Events & Production Officer at Culture Action Europe. He is responsible for the design and delivery of CAE’s events, bringing together the network and creating space for exchange and collaboration. Alongside events, Kerem also contributes to and leads projects at CAE, working with network partners on the development and implementation of shared initiatives.
Before joining CAE, Kerem programmed and produced a range of cultural events, working with both emerging and established artists. During his experience at the Prince Claus Fund, he developed a strong interest in the role of culture within wider social and political contexts. Kerem holds a postgraduate degree in Cultural Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam, where he focused on the role of cultural organisations and policy in supporting cultural participation and engagement.
Kerem Çelikoglu
He/Him
Events & Production Officer, Culture Action Europe
Kerem is the Events & Production Officer at Culture Action Europe. He is responsible for the design and delivery of CAE’s events, bringing together the network and creating space for exchange and collaboration. Alongside events, Kerem also contributes to and leads projects at CAE, working with network partners on the development and implementation of shared initiatives.
Before joining CAE, Kerem programmed and produced a range of cultural events, working with both emerging and established artists. During his experience at the Prince Claus Fund, he developed a strong interest in the role of culture within wider social and political contexts. Kerem holds a postgraduate degree in Cultural Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam, where he focused on the role of cultural organisations and policy in supporting cultural participation and engagement.
İzel Büyükgöze
She/Her
Advocacy and Content Coordinator, Roof Coliving
İzel Büyükgöze is an urbanist and cultural researcher working at the crossroads of urban space and the commons. Since 2017, she has been a dedicated practitioner in civil society, focusing on rights-based and participatory models that reconnect communities with their environments. Her professional path has expanded from urban planning to cultural policy, exploring unique synergies between the city and its creative fabric. Since 2021, as a part of Roof Coliving, she has been conducting projects on the right to the city, civic engagement, and the advancement of local democracy.
İzel Büyükgöze
She/Her
Advocacy and Content Coordinator, Roof Coliving
İzel Büyükgöze is an urbanist and cultural researcher working at the crossroads of urban space and the commons. Since 2017, she has been a dedicated practitioner in civil society, focusing on rights-based and participatory models that reconnect communities with their environments. Her professional path has expanded from urban planning to cultural policy, exploring unique synergies between the city and its creative fabric. Since 2021, as a part of Roof Coliving, she has been conducting projects on the right to the city, civic engagement, and the advancement of local democracy.
Leyli Gafarova
She/Her
Founder, Salaam Cinema & Cultural Temple
Leyli Gafarova is an independent director, researcher, and educator based in Baku, and the founder of Salaam Cinema and Cultural Temple, a socially engaged art space. Her work is shaped by a utopian approach, exploring co-existence, education, and institutions through participatory art as a tool for dialogue, rethinking how stories are told and accessed.
Her practice centers on collaborative research and knowledge-sharing. Through film, exhibitions, and educational programmes, she engages with themes of gender, urbanism, and censorship, amplifying suppressed voices and creating space for underrepresented narratives.
Leyli Gafarova
She/Her
Founder, Salaam Cinema & Cultural Temple
Leyli Gafarova is an independent director, researcher, and educator based in Baku, and the founder of Salaam Cinema and Cultural Temple, a socially engaged art space. Her work is shaped by a utopian approach, exploring co-existence, education, and institutions through participatory art as a tool for dialogue, rethinking how stories are told and accessed.
Her practice centers on collaborative research and knowledge-sharing. Through film, exhibitions, and educational programmes, she engages with themes of gender, urbanism, and censorship, amplifying suppressed voices and creating space for underrepresented narratives.
Maya Weisinger
She/Her
Head of Communications and Community Development, Culture Action Europe
Maya Weisinger is Head of Communications and Community Development at Culture Action Europe, where she leads the organisation’s communications strategy and works across advocacy, community engagement, and digital development. Her work focuses on building stronger connections between cultural workers, sector knowledge, and public discourse, with particular attention to accessibility, participation, and collective action.
Before joining Culture Action Europe, Maya worked across the cultural and non-profit sectors on projects exploring the role of the arts in advancing inclusion, equity, and social change. She holds a post-graduate degree in Public Policy from the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy in Erfurt, Germany. Maya’s practice focuses on how communications can support solidarity, strengthen democratic participation, and create space for marginalised voices and experiences.
Maya Weisinger
She/Her
Head of Communications and Community Development, Culture Action Europe
Maya Weisinger is Head of Communications and Community Development at Culture Action Europe, where she leads the organisation’s communications strategy and works across advocacy, community engagement, and digital development. Her work focuses on building stronger connections between cultural workers, sector knowledge, and public discourse, with particular attention to accessibility, participation, and collective action.
Before joining Culture Action Europe, Maya worked across the cultural and non-profit sectors on projects exploring the role of the arts in advancing inclusion, equity, and social change. She holds a post-graduate degree in Public Policy from the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy in Erfurt, Germany. Maya’s practice focuses on how communications can support solidarity, strengthen democratic participation, and create space for marginalised voices and experiences.
Milana Vojnović
She/Her
Regional Communications Lead, Heartefact
Milana Vojnović is a communications professional working at the intersection of storytelling, strategy, and socially engaged arts. With a background in languages and a multidisciplinary approach to communication, she focuses on shaping narratives that connect artistic practice with broader social and political contexts.
As Regional Communications Lead at Heartefact, she develops and leads communication strategies that connect the Fund, Institute, and House across the region. Heartefact’s work centers on fostering a creative, critical, and responsible rethinking of emerging artistic, social, and political issues, while advocating for new models of production, regional cooperation, and alternative forms of education. Working closely with programme teams, artists, and communities, Milana translates these initiatives into clear, compelling stories that resonate with diverse audiences. Her work is grounded in the belief that communication can open space for dialogue, understanding, and change/making her perspective especially relevant to discussions on the role and impact of socially engaged arts today.
Milana Vojnović
She/Her
Regional Communications Lead, Heartefact
Milana Vojnović is a communications professional working at the intersection of storytelling, strategy, and socially engaged arts. With a background in languages and a multidisciplinary approach to communication, she focuses on shaping narratives that connect artistic practice with broader social and political contexts.
As Regional Communications Lead at Heartefact, she develops and leads communication strategies that connect the Fund, Institute, and House across the region. Heartefact’s work centers on fostering a creative, critical, and responsible rethinking of emerging artistic, social, and political issues, while advocating for new models of production, regional cooperation, and alternative forms of education. Working closely with programme teams, artists, and communities, Milana translates these initiatives into clear, compelling stories that resonate with diverse audiences. Her work is grounded in the belief that communication can open space for dialogue, understanding, and change/making her perspective especially relevant to discussions on the role and impact of socially engaged arts today.
Mustafa Gül
He/Him
Co-founder, Culture Unleashed
Mustafa Gül is a researcher, city and regional planner, and cultural and creative industries expert working across the creative economy, cultural policy, and place-based development. His work brings together academic research, public policy, regional planning, strategic planning, programme and project design, shaped by experience in universities, public institutions, companies, and international collaborations.
His research is concerned with regional transformation, innovation ecosystems, and the conditions that enable more inclusive and resilient development. He is particularly interested in how cultural and creative sectors are shaped by policy, support systems, labour dynamics, and technological change, and in how these processes influence local and regional development. In practice, he has worked on regional plans, support mechanisms, community engagement strategies, funding-related programmes, and multi-stakeholder processes across public, private, academic, and international contexts. A key part of his work is connecting research, policy, funding, and institutional change in ways that inform strategy, institutional development, and collaborative action.
Mustafa Gül
He/Him
Co-founder, Culture Unleashed
Mustafa Gül is a researcher, city and regional planner, and cultural and creative industries expert working across the creative economy, cultural policy, and place-based development. His work brings together academic research, public policy, regional planning, strategic planning, programme and project design, shaped by experience in universities, public institutions, companies, and international collaborations.
His research is concerned with regional transformation, innovation ecosystems, and the conditions that enable more inclusive and resilient development. He is particularly interested in how cultural and creative sectors are shaped by policy, support systems, labour dynamics, and technological change, and in how these processes influence local and regional development. In practice, he has worked on regional plans, support mechanisms, community engagement strategies, funding-related programmes, and multi-stakeholder processes across public, private, academic, and international contexts. A key part of his work is connecting research, policy, funding, and institutional change in ways that inform strategy, institutional development, and collaborative action.
Natalie Giorgadze
She/Her
General Director, Culture Action Europe
Natalie Giorgadze is General Director at Culture Action Europe (CAE), where she co-leads the network’s strategy and oversees community development, knowledge transfer, strategic communications, and the overall planning of projects, activities, and teams.
Before joining CAE, Natalie worked as Communications Manager at Women in Development Europe and as a freelance writer and project developer. Her background includes work in human rights and environmental networks. Trained as a journalist and social psychologist, she holds a postgraduate degree in Cultures and Development Studies from the Catholic University of Leuven.
Natalie Giorgadze
She/Her
General Director, Culture Action Europe
Natalie Giorgadze is General Director at Culture Action Europe (CAE), where she co-leads the network’s strategy and oversees community development, knowledge transfer, strategic communications, and the overall planning of projects, activities, and teams.
Before joining CAE, Natalie worked as Communications Manager at Women in Development Europe and as a freelance writer and project developer. Her background includes work in human rights and environmental networks. Trained as a journalist and social psychologist, she holds a postgraduate degree in Cultures and Development Studies from the Catholic University of Leuven.
Nayat Karaköse
She/Her
Director of Programmes, Hrant Dink Foundation
Nayat Karaköse holds a BA in Sociology from Galatasaray University and an MA in the Theory and Practice of Human Rights from the University of Essex. Her academic background includes fellowships at Columbia University (Historical Dialogue and Accountability, 2014) and the University of Washington (Humphrey Fellowship on Media and Information, 2021). Her previous experience includes serving as a Programme Officer for the UK charity Global Dialogue and working as a freelance journalist for Agos newspaper from 2010 to 2015.
Since 2015, Nayat works for the Hrant Dink Foundation. As Director of Programmes at the Hrant Dink Foundation, Nayat oversees strategic planning, organisational management, international networking, and the full lifecycle of major projects on hate speech, co-existence, minority rights, human rights, cultural heritage, and Türkiye-Armenia relations. In addition to her other roles, Nayat is responsible for the coordination of the 23,5 Hrant Dink Site of Memory, the first memory site in Türkiye dedicated to slain Armenian journalist and founder of the Turkish-Armenian Agos newspaper, Hrant Dink. Dealing with the past, collective memory, and practices of memorialisation are among her areas of expertise.
Nayat Karaköse
She/Her
Director of Programmes, Hrant Dink Foundation
Nayat Karaköse holds a BA in Sociology from Galatasaray University and an MA in the Theory and Practice of Human Rights from the University of Essex. Her academic background includes fellowships at Columbia University (Historical Dialogue and Accountability, 2014) and the University of Washington (Humphrey Fellowship on Media and Information, 2021). Her previous experience includes serving as a Programme Officer for the UK charity Global Dialogue and working as a freelance journalist for Agos newspaper from 2010 to 2015.
Since 2015, Nayat works for the Hrant Dink Foundation. As Director of Programmes at the Hrant Dink Foundation, Nayat oversees strategic planning, organisational management, international networking, and the full lifecycle of major projects on hate speech, co-existence, minority rights, human rights, cultural heritage, and Türkiye-Armenia relations. In addition to her other roles, Nayat is responsible for the coordination of the 23,5 Hrant Dink Site of Memory, the first memory site in Türkiye dedicated to slain Armenian journalist and founder of the Turkish-Armenian Agos newspaper, Hrant Dink. Dealing with the past, collective memory, and practices of memorialisation are among her areas of expertise.
Özlem Ece
She/Her
Director of Cultural Policy Studies, Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV)
Özlem Ece is the Director of Cultural Policy Studies at the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV). Since joining the Foundation in 2008 and assuming her directorial role in 2010, she has been instrumental in shaping the Foundation’s efforts to promote participatory and sustainable cultural policies in Türkiye. This extensive institutional background culminates in her current leadership of the Ortaklaşa project, where she spearheads the design and implementation of strategies to strengthen dialogue and fair cooperation between local authorities and cultural actors.
Özlem also oversees the programming at İKSV Alt Kat, guiding learning and interaction initiatives that align with the Foundation’s objective of increasing engagement with the arts. Her influence in the sector is further reflected in her roles as a Board Member of the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO and Chairperson of the Expert Committee on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. Özlem holds a degree in Public Administration from Marmara University (2001) and a Master’s in Cultural Projects Management from Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Grenoble (2003). Following her professional experience at the Institut Français (AFAA) in Paris and various consultancy roles in Istanbul, she has dedicated her career to İKSV, where she continues to lead research and publications on cultural policy and management.
Özlem Ece
She/Her
Director of Cultural Policy Studies, Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV)
Özlem Ece is the Director of Cultural Policy Studies at the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV). Since joining the Foundation in 2008 and assuming her directorial role in 2010, she has been instrumental in shaping the Foundation’s efforts to promote participatory and sustainable cultural policies in Türkiye. This extensive institutional background culminates in her current leadership of the Ortaklaşa project, where she spearheads the design and implementation of strategies to strengthen dialogue and fair cooperation between local authorities and cultural actors.
Özlem also oversees the programming at İKSV Alt Kat, guiding learning and interaction initiatives that align with the Foundation’s objective of increasing engagement with the arts. Her influence in the sector is further reflected in her roles as a Board Member of the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO and Chairperson of the Expert Committee on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. Özlem holds a degree in Public Administration from Marmara University (2001) and a Master’s in Cultural Projects Management from Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Grenoble (2003). Following her professional experience at the Institut Français (AFAA) in Paris and various consultancy roles in Istanbul, she has dedicated her career to İKSV, where she continues to lead research and publications on cultural policy and management.
Tigran Amiryan
He/Him
Founder, CSN Lab
Tigran Amiryan works on literature, migration, memory politics, and cultural diplomacy in post-Soviet and Eastern European contexts. He holds a PhD in World Literature and specialises in semiology and contemporary cultural anthropology. In 2018, he founded the Cultural & Social Narratives Laboratory (CSN Lab) in Armenia, which has since collaborated with cultural organisations such as ifa and the Goethe-Institut, participated in regional conflict transformation, and engaged with international memory studies and cultural rights networks. He has been a visiting lecturer and postdoctoral researcher at Sciences Po, Humboldt University in Berlin, and Freie University in Berlin.
Tigran Amiryan
He/Him
Founder, CSN Lab
Tigran Amiryan works on literature, migration, memory politics, and cultural diplomacy in post-Soviet and Eastern European contexts. He holds a PhD in World Literature and specialises in semiology and contemporary cultural anthropology. In 2018, he founded the Cultural & Social Narratives Laboratory (CSN Lab) in Armenia, which has since collaborated with cultural organisations such as ifa and the Goethe-Institut, participated in regional conflict transformation, and engaged with international memory studies and cultural rights networks. He has been a visiting lecturer and postdoctoral researcher at Sciences Po, Humboldt University in Berlin, and Freie University in Berlin.
Yaşar Adnan Adanalı
He/Him
Founding Director, Postane
Yaşar Adnan Adanalı is an urban planning expert and social entrepreneur. He served as a manager for many years at the Center for Spatial Justice, which he co-founded. He is the Founding Director of Postane, a meeting point for collaborative productions focused on social and environmental impact.
Between 2010 and 2021, he taught courses on participatory planning and community-based housing at Darmstadt Technical University. He was part of the volunteer design team for Umut Evleri, Türkiye’s first social housing project implemented using participatory planning methods. In 2016, he was selected as a fellow in social entrepreneurship by the Ashoka Foundation, and in 2019, in the field of "housing justice" by the Bertha Foundation. He produces content on spatial justice, urban memory, and cultural heritage under the name 'Urbanist'.
Yaşar Adnan Adanalı
He/Him
Founding Director, Postane
Yaşar Adnan Adanalı is an urban planning expert and social entrepreneur. He served as a manager for many years at the Center for Spatial Justice, which he co-founded. He is the Founding Director of Postane, a meeting point for collaborative productions focused on social and environmental impact.
Between 2010 and 2021, he taught courses on participatory planning and community-based housing at Darmstadt Technical University. He was part of the volunteer design team for Umut Evleri, Türkiye’s first social housing project implemented using participatory planning methods. In 2016, he was selected as a fellow in social entrepreneurship by the Ashoka Foundation, and in 2019, in the field of "housing justice" by the Bertha Foundation. He produces content on spatial justice, urban memory, and cultural heritage under the name 'Urbanist'.