Newsletter – February 2009

  • Creative Force Sweden – The Swedish Institute’s support to collaborative projects
  • Travel grant for project work in Turkey
  • Modern Turkish literature – academic summer course in Istanbul June 8-26
  • Bergman and Women to Istanbul, Ankara and Diyarbakir
  • Earthquake-proofing of the Consulate General
  • Looking back: One Shot Istanbul December 25-January 18

Creative Force Sweden-Turkey 2009
Support to collaborative projects with Turkey 2009

In 2009, the Swedish Institute gives support to collaborative projects between Sweden and Turkey in the cultural and social fields. The focus is on questions relating to children and youth, gender equality, cultural diversity and freedom of expression. Priority is given to projects promoting democracy.

SI also encourages cooperative cultural projects which will be implemented in 2010 when Istanbul is a European Capital of Culture.

The deadline for applications is March 16, 2009. 
For more information, see the SI's website

Travel grant for projects in Turkey or the Middle East

The association Svenska Istanbulinstitutets vänner offers a travel grant of 10 000 SEK for a project within the scope of the Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul. Research projects as well as works in popular science are applicable.

The application must include a project plan (maximum 3 pages) and the candidate's CV and shall be sent by e-mail. There is no special application form. The application for the travel grant should be addressed to:

Föreningen Svenska Istanbulinstitutets Vänner
Skeppargatan 8, 3tr
114 52 Stockholm
E-mail: info@istanbulvanner.se

and and reach the association's board of directors not later than February 28, 2009.

Questions can be directed to the association's secretary Mr. Göran Engström, tel. +46-8-755 74 54 (evenings) or e-mailed to the association.

Modern Turkish literature – academic summer course in Istanbul, June 8-26, 2009

The Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul (SRII) organizes a course for Scandinavian researcher and students on contemporary Turkish literature June 8-26, 2009.

The course is a joint arrangement between the Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul and the Department of Central Asia Studies at Stockholm University with the financial support of the Section for Turkish-Swedish Cooperation at the Consulate General of Sweden in Istanbul.

Questions are answered by Birgit Schlyter,
 tel. +46 8 16 31 19 or Elisabeth Özdalga tel. +90 212 252 41 19.

The deadline for application is March 15, 2009.

Bergman and Women in Istanbul February 13-March 1

Nine Ingmar Bergman films are shown at the Pera Museum in Istanbul February 13-March 1. During the coming months films will also be shown in Ankara, Diyarbakir and Eskisehir.

The films are:

  • To say nothing about these women
  • Autumn sonata
  • Dreams
  • Secrets of women
  • Au seuil de la vie
  • Summer with Monika
  • Cries and whispers
  • Persona
  • and the documentary Bergman Island

Earthquake-proofing of the Consulate General

begins February 23. Then the office has relocated to temporary premises in front of the Swedish Palace.

At the same time the work of extending the Research Institute is ongoing. Both works are is expected to be completed by the beginning of 2010.

Looking back: One Shot Istanbul December 25, 2008-January 18, 2009

The New York-based Swedish photographer Alexander Berg photographed ordinary Istanbul people in his temporary studio in Beyoglu, December 2008-January 2009. Berg’s photos will be exhibited in Istanbul during 2010. The Istanbul project is part of a larger project involving New York and Beijing.

> Read more about the project on Alexander Berg's website