Bursa Culture, Arts and Tourism Foundation

The Bursa Culture, Arts, and Tourism Foundation (BKSTV) was established in 1987 with the aim of organizing the Bursa Festival more systematically and enhancing the city’s cultural and social life throughout the year.

Officially beginning its activities on January 1, 1988, under the leadership of the Bursa Governorship and Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, the Foundation was formed by 89 artists, businesspeople, academics, association heads, and public officials, becoming one of the city’s most important institutions shaping cultural, artistic, and tourism life.

Today, BKSTV continues to contribute to the international promotion of both Bursa and Turkey through its events, which attract hundreds of artists and tens of thousands of visitors each year. Additionally, by designing and producing unique souvenirs, the Foundation strengthens the city’s cultural identity.

Events We Have Organized Over the Years

Since its establishment, BKSTV has brought numerous significant events to Bursa:

• Bursa Conquest Days (Bursa Fetih Günleri) - 1996
• Bursa Liberation Festival (Bursa Kurtuluş Şenliği) - 1996
• European Film Festival (Avrupa Filmleri Festivali) - 1996
• Bursa Literature Days (Bursa Edebiyat Günleri) - 1996
• Bursa Cinema Celebration (Bursa Sinema Şöleni) - 2000
• Bursa Sufism Symposium (Bursa Tasavvuf Sempozyumu) - 2002
• International Bursa Silk Road Film Festival (Uluslararası Bursa İpekyolu Film Festivali) - 2006

Our Ongoing Events

• International Bursa Festival (Uluslararası Bursa Festivali)
• International Golden Karagöz Folk Dance Competition (Uluslararası Altın Karagöz Halk Dansları Yarışması)
• International Bursa Children and Youth Theatre Festival (Uluslararası Bursa Çocuk ve Gençlik Tiyatroları Festivali)
• International Bursa Karagöz, Puppet, and Shadow Festival (Uluslararası Bursa Karagöz, Kukla ve Gölge Oyunları Festivali)
• Bursa Photography Days (Bursa Fotoğraf Günleri)

We also enrich Bursa’s cultural life with theatre performances, concerts, film screenings, and special projects focused on traditional arts.

Our Contributions to Bursa

• Karagöz Folk Dance Ensemble (Karagöz Halk Dansları Topluluğu) - 1988
• Bursa Metropolitan Municipality City Theatre (Bursa Büyükşehir Belediyesi Şehir Tiyatrosu) - 1995
• Bursa Regional State Symphony Orchestra (Bursa Bölge Devlet Senfoni Orkestrası) - 1996
• Karagöz House Museum (Karagöz Evi Müzesi) - 1998
• 22nd Century Schools Building (22. Yüzyıl Okulları Binası) - 2013

Our Vision

• Contributing to the development of a shared urban culture and a sense of civic belonging.
• Presenting cultural and artistic events to the public in ways and settings that align with the city’s traditional fabric.
• Enhancing ongoing festivals and introducing new ones to showcase the healing power of art.
• Bringing together people from diverse cultures through the unifying power of art.
• Creating original and innovative projects worldwide to convey the transformative power of art to society.
• Supporting the formation of shared universal values.

Our Service Policy

• Fostering intercultural friendship and promoting a spirit of peace.
• Engaging with all segments of society.
• Conducting all our work with honesty and integrity
• Acting with solidarity and a strong sense of commitment.
• Bringing art to the community with a commitment to continuous growth and improvement
• Keeping our doors open to everyone.

Our Ethical Values

• In our work and events, we do not discriminate based on race, language, gender, or region.
• We conduct our event planning impartially and independently, free from any vested interests.

BKSTV has been steadfastly committed to contributing to the development of culture, arts, and tourism from past to present, and to making art an integral part of everyday life.