ŞIRIN ZAIMAĞAOĞLU: “ART LIFTS EMBARGOES”

ŞIRIN ZAIMAĞAOĞLU: “ART LIFTS EMBARGOES”

The Iskele Festival, a vibrant and traditional event, has once again graced the cultural landscape of the region, bringing together a diverse tapestry of performances that showcase the rich tapestry of global folk dance. This year’s festival, spanning from June 28 to July 7, transformed Ecevit Square into a kaleidoscope of colour and movement, reflecting the unity and shared joy of artistic expression.

An international event

The presence of international teams alongside those from the TRNC and the Republic of Turkey, including participants from Uruguay, Hungary, Iran, Bolivia, Russia, and the Stars of the North, underscored the festival’s ethos of transcending boundaries through the universal language of dance.

Şirin Zaimağaoğlu, the esteemed Director of the Department of Culture, lent her voice and vision to the opening ceremony, embodying the collaborative spirit that the festival promotes. Her address, delivered on behalf of Minister of Tourism and Deputy Prime Minister Fikri Ataoğlu, resonated with the theme of love.

A  love that is palpable in the shared experiences of the festival’s attendees and performers alike. Zaimağaoğlu’s words highlighted the power of art and culture to navigate beyond the confines of geopolitical barriers, to lift embargoes not just in a literal sense, but also in the hearts and minds of individuals.

The festival’s commitment to fostering connections is further evidenced by the close cooperation between the Ministry and İskele Municipality, a partnership that Zaimağaoğlu was keen to acknowledge and commend. The commendation of Iskele Mayor Hasan Sadıkoğlu and the festival’s organizers by Zaimağaoğlu serves as a testament to the collective effort that makes such a grand celebration of culture possible.

It is this collective effort that ensures the Iskele Festival remains a beacon of cultural exchange and mutual understanding, year after year.

The Festival cuts through Embargoes 

As the festival continues to unfold, it promises to be a microcosm of the world’s cultural richness, a place where dance steps become a dialogue, and where every performance is a narrative woven into the larger story of human creativity. The Iskele Festival stands as a reminder that in a world often divided, there are moments and movements that unite us, that remind us of our shared humanity, and that celebrate the diversity that enriches us all.

It is in these gatherings that the true essence of culture is found—not within borders or behind barriers, but in the open squares and in the hearts of the people who dance, watch, and dream.

Source (Turkish): TRNC Ministry of Tourism

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