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Alarko Holding and İKSV Carry the “First Step into Art” Program into Its Second Year
The collaboration launched in 2025 between Alarko Holding and the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) continues into its second year, bringing children and young people together with inspiring artistic experiences. Through workshops and projects organized within the scope of İKSV festivals throughout 2026, the “First Step into Art” program aims to engage younger generations with the transformative world of creativity.
Standing out through its social responsibility projects centered on equal opportunity, Alarko Holding continues its support for the “First Step into Art” program, implemented in collaboration with İKSV. Designed with the vision of making culture and the arts accessible to everyone, the program offers a lasting model that introduces children and young people to art from an early age. Participants gain the opportunity to meet artists within the scope of İKSV festivals, develop their creative expression skills, and build meaningful connections with culture and the arts.
A Model Built On Scientific Foundations: Growing Through Art
The theoretical framework of the program is based on the report “Growing Through Art: From Early Childhood to Youth,” published within the scope of İKSV Cultural Policy Studies. Developed in light of the research conducted by Prof. Dr. Feyza Çorapçı, the model focuses on the positive impact of early engagement with art on self-regulation, problem-solving, leadership, and social skills. Designed by İKSV Alt Kat, the workshops represent a form of social investment that translates this academic knowledge into practice.
2026 Festival Calendar
Throughout 2026, the First Step into Art program will meet participants through special events held across four different festivals:
· 45th Istanbul Film Festival | Creative Editing Workshop:
Held in February and March under the guidance of editor Fırat Terzioğlu, the workshops invited young participants aged 14–16 and 17–19 to create their own stories around the theme “Create, Disrupt: Editing a Memory.” The films produced during the workshops were evaluated on April 11 during an online closing event attended by Istanbul Film Festival Director Kerem Ayan, filmmaker Nisan Dağ, and actress Damla Sönmez. Bringing together young creators and industry professionals, the event enabled participants to receive feedback on their creative processes while enriching their artistic perspectives. The films produced during the workshop series will soon be available on the YouTube channels of İKSV and Alarko Holding.
· 54th Istanbul Music Festival | The Music of Nature:
In parallel with the festival’s theme “Within the Moment,” a unique experience combining a nature walk and music will take place on June 13–14 at Atatürk Kent Forest. Organized for children aged 7–12 with the participation of the Roots & Shoots Türkiye team and flutist Beste Yalı, reservations for the workshop will open on May 13.
· 33rd Istanbul Jazz Festival | From Music to Painting with Selen Beytekin:
Led by musician Selen Beytekin and art educator Uğur Kaya, the workshop to be held at İKSV Alt Kat on July 7–8 will invite children to explore the relationship between rhythms, emotions, and colors. Applications for the event, designed for children aged 4–6 and 7–9, will open on June 18.
· 30th Istanbul Theatre Festival | Puppet Workshops:
Within the scope of the festival, “Abstract Puppet” workshops for children aged 4–6 with Anna Karayorgi and “Improvisation with Puppets” workshops for children aged 7–12 with the Kumbaracı50 Team will be organized. Registrations for this creative process, focusing on the animation of objects, will open on October 23.
A New Youtube Video Series: First Step Into Art
Launching in 2026, the “First Step into Art” YouTube project will bring a new dimension to the program. Supported by Alarko Holding, the series will feature intimate conversations with distinguished names from the worlds of film, music, jazz, and theatre, focusing on their artistic journeys and sources of inspiration. The series aims to encourage children not only to observe art, but also to think critically about it and engage with it through curiosity and questions.
A Sustainable And Inclusive Future
Strengthened in its second year, this collaboration aims to create long-term social value by opening the doors of the culture and arts ecosystem to new generations of participants. By transforming festival production environments into experiential spaces for children, Alarko Holding and İKSV continue to make art accessible to everyone.
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