The cultural activities
and art in The Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus have an important part in the
life of the people. These activities
run in two different channels. The government
takes an active part in providing the
citizens with every aspect of the cultural
and artistic activities while the private
enterprises and associations also contribute
to these in great quantities.
The Constitution of the Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus is rather liberal
and protects the rights of the artists
and arts with the item 62 entitled as
the Protection of the Legal Rights of
the Artists and the Culture by saying
that:
1- The state creates the necessary liberal
medium for the development of the arts,
and takes precautions for the protection,
encouragement, supporting and awarding
the creativity of the artists.
2- The state enables the citizens to
take part and to have equal opportunities
to have the benefit of the cultural
life, new scientific developments and
their resulting contributions, and to
have their rights protected for obtaining
the benefits out of the available opportunities.
Cultural Activities
Theatre
Libraries and publications
Fine arts
Folk art
Music
TV, radio and cinemas
Also, research activities for the cultural
history of the island and celebration
of the bairams and festivals are the
efforts to preserve and protect the
past culture alive in the society.
The Theater
The interest of the Turkish people in
drama dates back to their origin in
Anatolia. Shadow plays such as Karagoz
and Hacivat and satirical drams such
as tuluat are the origin of this art.
The modern drama in the European sense
started early in 1900 by clubs, schools
or associations and followed with enthusiasm
by the local people. Plays and musical
dramas written by local composers have
gained the appreciation of the people.
Theater groups frequently visiting North
Cyprus from Turkey also contribute to
the cultural activities in North Cyprus.
The first theater group, Ilk Sahne was
established as an independent theater
in 1963 and this was later on changed
its status and became the State Theater
- Ilk Sahne (First Stage) in 1966. With
the increasing number of the graduates
from the Theater and Music Faculties
and also the candidates who attended
some special classes, the number of
staff of the theater increased in time.
The state theater has opened its stages
in a new building after 1974 and it
is carrying on its activities under
the directory of Cyprus Turkish State
Theater. More then a hundred plays have
been put on the stage until today by
this group with continuous plays within
the country and abroad while it is also
hosting the theater groups visiting
North Cyprus from time to time. The
Theater of Lefkosa Municipality, a group
separated from the state theater, established
in 1980 also put plays on the stage
in its own theater hall in Leflosa.
This was followed by other groups in
other towns, each establishing their
own theater groups. They also organize
special classes for the training of
young amateur artists and performed
plays for the children as well.
Cyprus
Turkish Folk Dances:
Cyprus has been subjected to several
civilizations throughout its history.
Cyprus Turkish folk dances does not
show a single character. Many folk dances
bearing several local characteristics
of Turkey as well as local characteristics
are known. The Turkish Cypriot folk
dances is having its characteristics
with rather colorful costumes which
shows similarities with the costumes
worn in Anatolia. Karsilama, sword and
sickle, the harvest time, spoon dance
and Cyprus bride is the most common
folk dance in TRNC. The folk groups
usually have performances during the
national festival days, weddings, hotels
or tourism areas. Also contests are
held regularly every year.
The State Folk Dance groups is the winner
of awards at Djon folk festival.
The main awards won that our folks groups
can boast are:
1. 1986 Special costume award by State
Folk Dance Group
2. 1989 3rd winner of the world bronze
medal by State Folk Dance Group
3. 1991 2nd winner of the world silver
medal by State Folk Group
4. 1994 Special Costume Award: by Folk
Dance Group of Magosa Municipality
5. 1995 The 3rd winner of worldwide
folk dance competition, Bronze medal
by Has -Der, an association of folks
arts.
The Libraries,
Archives and Publications
The National Library in Lefkosa is one
of the main libraries in North Cyprus
to provide new sources for the teachers,
students and readers. A special library
for the blinds has recently been established
within it as well. There are also seven
branch libraries within our seven main
towns. The Municipalities are also improving
the library facilities within their
boundaries. The recently established
Universities within this decade provide
specialized libraries that are open
for all researchers and readers in North
Cyprus by special permission. Particularly
the library of Eastern Mediterranean
University in Gazi Magosa is the largest
library in North Cyprus the sources
of which are in Turkish and English
with 70,000 volume of books and 600
periodical titles, the catalogue of
which can be reached through the internet.
The National Archive located in Girne
and the archive of the Cyprus Turkish
Vakif Administration houses several
documents which are valuable sources
for the political and cultural history
of Cyprus. The National Archive has
a rich source of Cyprus Newspapers also.
The state kept herself responsible to
encourage and support the publications
although only five or six books are
published by the Ministry of Education
and Culture every year. Most authors
seek opportunities to have their works
published abroad while recently, private
enterprises also started to contribute
to the publications.
Fine Arts
The fine arts in the modern sense begun
in the middle of the present century.
The modernization of the education system
led to these changes and a rapid development
took place until today. The artistic
activities carried on are based on the
Turkish and universal culture evolved
after the acceptance of the contemporary
way of living.
Although it has been stated above that
the fine arts in the European sense
begun after 1950, there are a few artists
worth mentioning here who can be considered
as the first artists of this modern
movement.
Mehmet Necati is one of the first painters
to name for his courage to join to the
first painting exhibition opened in
Cyprus Museum under the supervision
of Newenham. He has exhibited four paintings
while three of them had the chance to
be sold out which encouraged the artist
to paint throughout his life.
Necati Ozkan painted in the impressionist
style.
Hasan Ozturk who practiced painting
merely on his personal skill painted
in the naive style.
Ismet Vehit Guney, who practiced painting
in Ibrahim Calli workshop is still painting
in the impressionist style and he was
the first Turkish artist to open a personal
exhibition.
Today, the art of TRNC has emerged rapidly
in the international art arena, participating
in various exhibitions. The artists
execute several art works in the form
of painting, sculpture, ceramic making
and in other media. They enjoy their
freedom to depict their work in every
new style.
An annual state exhibition is arranged
by the state every year and awarding
the artists. Turk Bank and some associations
also held prizes and awards from time
to time.
The exhibition of the local artists
as well as the visiting ones are organized
by the Ministry of Education and Culture
as well as by private galleries. The
state is trying to encourage the artists
for better works by the prizes and awards
given every year and also purchasing
some of the works produced. It can be
said that the opening of the Ataturk
Culture Center initiated these activities
although Saray Hotel and the halls of
the high schools hosted many early exhibitions
upto this date. This center which is
a multi purpose building including the
National Library and a conference hall
is almost booked throughout the whole
year.
There are plans for the opening of a
Modern Arts Museum within the boundaries
of North Cyprus in a near future. Unfortunately
it can be said that the number and conditions
of the exhibition halls in North Cyprus
are not enough at the moment. There
are great efforts to improve all the
facilities in a near future. The Universities
are hosting some cultural activities
very frequently. The spring festival
organized by the University students
is one of the main cultural activity
of Gazi Magosa city.
The Cooperative for Fine Arts is encouraging
the traditional folk art to be carried
on providing the market with the traditional
fine art objects such as embroideries,
lace work, Lefkara embroidery, a characteristic
Cypriot art, basket making and rug weaving
in Cyprus styles.
Music
The Musical Activities in North Cyprus
can be categorized under these headings:
Cyprus Turkish Folk Music.
Turkish Classical Art Music
Universal multi sounded music: Classic
Music
Pop Music
1 - Cyprus Turkish Folk Music:
It is
clear that Cyprus Turkish Folk Music is under the
influence of Anatolian folk music although it developed
its local characteristics as well. Most of the folk
songs were known orally since the collecting and
documenting this kind of information was delayed due to
the unorganized life of the Turkish Cypriots until 1974
under the impact of their political struggle for
survival.
Editing of Turkish folk music has begun in
1973 and they were recorded in musical notes. The
research for the discovery of the unforgotten folk songs
are still going on. The Turkish Folk Music group
established by the government and others by private
institutions are contributing to the activities of
Turkish Folk Music actively today. Has-Der which is an
Association of Folk Arts is rather active in collecting
and editing Cypriot Folk music and dances as well as
some other cultural and anthropological aspects of
Cyprus.
2. Turkish Classical Music:
These
activities had been carried on by private enterprises
and people, while since 1986 these have also been
handled within the government establishments as well. An
institution entitled State Turkish Classical Music Group
is giving concerts every year and new musicians in this
field are encouraged by the special classes organized by
the same institution.
3. Multi-Sounded Universal Music: Classical
Music:
The first attempt to establish a
classical music group has been achieved by a group of
musicians by establishing an amateur Orchestra in the
Turkish society while the State Symphony Orchestra and
Chorus was established in 1975 which enabled the
musicians to study and produce works on professional
basis. The Symphony Orchestra and chorus is giving
annual concerts as well as chamber concerts. The special
classes offered and newly established Fine Arts School
have enabled the education of new musicians. TRNC
Symphony Orchestra also is hosting artists coming from
Turkey and other countries as well.
4. Popular Music:
An active popular
music activity exists in the life of the Turkish society
since 1970. Several young people had established pop
music groups that served to the entertainment life of
the Turkish people. New pieces were also composed and
prepared as record players by these musicians since
1980. Some of the groups had chances to reproduce the
new compositions as cassettes and compact discs. Several
young people carry on the pop music activities in North
Cyprus, some of which had chances to bid even in
international competitions.
Multi Media as a
Cultural Commodity
The Turkish people had newspapers
published in Cyprus since the middle of the nineteenth
century. These are providing local and universal news
while they also contribute to the cultural life of the
society.
The Turkish people had their first radio
stations opened in 1964. Bayrak was the first one and
Canpolat, and Lefke radios joined to this line in the
same year soon.
Today, BRT has been developed as a
state organization broadcasting on medium and FM
frequencies as Radio One and Radio 2. The most important
development in this field took place by the transmission
of TRT programs and introducing a fully Turkish
television programs for the Turkish society, while the
establishment of local Television station in 1975 gave
the opportunity to the Turkish society in North Cyprus
to produce their own programs.
Until then the
Turkish Society were more attracted to the cinemas.
There were active cinemas until 1980. The introduction
of video-tapes and increasing number of the TV. channels
led to the decline of the cinema business but there is
an attempt to revive this mood within the last few years
and now new cinemas halls are contributing to cultural
life of TRNC. A new regulation is under its way to
enable the private enterprises to broadcast TV and radio
program as well.
The Research activities for the Political
and Cultural History
The state is encouraging the research
activities on every branch of science while the research
activities for the political and cultural history has a
rather important place. There are some institutes
recently established for this aim. The Cypriot Research
Center at Eastern Mediterranean University is aiming to
foster the studies in this area and a journal is being
published quarterly based on the academic studies in
this field.
Bairams and Festivals
The Cypriot
Turkish people keep on the principles of Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk's ideas on secularism. The society life and
education system is based on these principles. The
faiths and beliefs of the Turkish Cypriots relating to
religious bairams have an important place in their life.
Some of the old traditions for the celebrating of the
bairams are still carried on with enthusiasm.
The
feasting month Ramazan and the Bayram following this, as
well as the Kurban Bairam which is the time of
sacrificing animals to donate to the poor people, is
celebrated every year. This is the time of paying
respect to the elders by visiting them and buying
presents or giving money to the children. Visitors are
being offered with Turkish type of sweets during their
short visits. A fair place is also opened for the
entertainment of the people especially the children.
Local festivals are arranged by the municipality of
each city or village is bringing much cultural
activities in Cyprus. The most important festival is the
national celebration for peace operation in 20th July
every year. Every kind of cultural activity is offered
within the one week program.
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