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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