İKSV announces new scholarship program

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

İKSV is set to honor its former manager Aydın Gün with a scholarship program.

The Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) has announced the creation of a new scholarship program for musicians and opera singers under the age 30 to honor its former general manager, Aydın Gün, who passed away in Berlin in 2007.

Gün was among the founding members of the foundation and is known for his important support for the development of opera in Turkey. Starting in 2012, his name will be attached to a new İKSV scholarship program that will consist of a one-time, 15,000-Turkish Lira donation to a talented artist.

The young talent to receive the scholarship will be determined by a jury consisting in globally renowned Turkish violin virtuoso Cihat Aşkın, Borusan Culture and Art General Manager Ahmet Erenli, famous Turkish conductor Rengim Gökmen, Istanbul Music festival Director Yeşim Gürer Oymak and former Istanbul State Ballet and Opera Director Yekta Kara.

Born in 1917, Gün was among the founders of state operas in both Ankara and Istanbul. He was the general manager of the state opera, as well as the art director of the International Istanbul Music Festival. Gün is the bearer of many prestigious awards like the European Council Culture Award and the titled of State Artist.

Gün was the general manager of the İKSV between 1974 and 1993, leading a number of innovative projects organized by the foundation.

He was also the initiator of Contemporary Art exhibitions, which are seen as the preliminary form of the Istanbul Biennial. He was also among the founders of the International Leyla Gencer Competition.