The Turkish Cultural Foundation has awarded 15 fellowships under its 2016 Cultural Exchange Fellowship Program. The TCF Cultural Exchange Fellowship Program was launched in 2012 to encourage cultural and artistic exchanges between Turkey and the world by supporting artists and art/culture professionals. The Fellowship has been awarded to 112 individuals from Turkey and all over the world to date.

Ekin Akalın (Turkey), an associate researcher at the Istanbul French Institute of Anatolian Studies, conducted an inventorial study of the Ottoman collection at the Pierre Loti House in Rochefort from September 5 - 9, 2016.

Lerna Babikyan (Turkey), dancer, performer, choreographer and dance pedagogue, participated in the Escola Estudio Raizvanguarda dance residency program in Portugal from August 29 to September 30, 2016.

Pelin Başar (Turkey), a ney player, performed with the Mehmet Polat Trio on their U.S. concert tour in New York City, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago, Toronto, San Francisco, and Phoenix between August 11th and September 11th, 2016. She also gave several educational workshops and master classes.

Mansur Bildik (Austria), a musician and bağlama/saz artist, led a workshop on Turkish folk music at the University of Texas, Austin from March 28 to April 4, 2016. He also gave a concert “Mozart Allaturca” at the University's Butler School of Music on April 2, 2016.

Naz Cuguoğlu (Turkey), a freelance curator, art writer and cultural researcher, curated the artistic exchange project "Asymmetric Kin," collaborating with the Coop Curatorial Collective in Nashville from October 1 to 29, 2016.

Nurduran Duman (Turkey), a poet and writer, presented her work and represented Turkey at the UNESCO European Literature Night, held in Edinburgh on May 13, 2016 and the European Poetry Night, held in London on May 14, 2016.

Grant Garmezy (USA), a glass artist, gave an advance sculpting class at the Glass Furnace in Istanbul from July 12 - 23, 2016.

İdil Kemer (Turkey), a dance artist and movement / improvisation teacher, participated in the Dance OMI residency program in Ghent, New York from July 19 to August 8, 2016.

İpek Kotan (Turkey), a ceramist, participated in the residency program at the European Ceramic Workcentre in Oisterwijk to make large scale works from September 5 to November 5, 2016.

Zeyno Pekünlü (Turkey), a painter and contemporary artist, showed her work in the exhibition "The world precedes the eye," an affiliate project of the Singapore Biennial from October 24 - 30, 2016. She also gave a workshop at Lasalle College of the Art.

Mehmet Polat (Turkey), an oud player and composer, performed with the Mehmet Polat Trio on their U.S. concert tour in New York City, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago, Toronto, San Francisco, and Phoenix between August 11th and September 11th, 2016. He also gave several educational workshops and master classes.

Victor Sams (Dutch Antilles), a ngoni & percussion player, performed with the Mehmet Polat Trio on their U.S. concert tour in New York City, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago, Toronto, San Francisco, and Phoenix between August 11th and September 11th, 2016. He also gave several educational workshops and master classes.

Ayşe Gül Süter (Turkey), exhibited her work at the Coop gallery in conjunction with other collaborative works as part of the Asymmetric Kin Project from October 1 to 29, 2016. She also gave a formal public presentation about her work and visit local universities and artist studios.

Ümit Şimşek (Turkey), a musician, bağlama artist and educator, led a workshop on Turkish folk music at the University of Texas. He performed with University's Middle Eastern Ensemble at the Bates Recital Hall on April 23, 2016.

Tan Taşpolatoğlu (Turkey), a painter, participated in the residency program for the Derealization project at the Lincoln Square Artist Guildin Chicago from July 1 to October 1, 2016. He also held a solo exhibition "Derealisation II" at the Scharpenberg Art Gallery of the Dank Haus German American Cultural Center in Chicago between September 10 and October 1, 2016.

2018 TCF Cultural Exchange Fellows

2017 TCF Cultural Exchange Fellows

2015 TCF Cultural Exchange Fellows

2014 TCF Cultural Exchange Fellows

2013 TCF Cultural Exchange Fellows

2012 TCF Cultural Exchange Fellows