Cultural Heritage Managers Came Together in Fatih in the Scope of “Sharing Space Management Experience in the Turkic World”

Cultural heritage managers came together in Fatih in the scope of “Sharing Space Management Experience in the Turkic World”. Detailed field investigations were conducted at Land Walls Nation’s Garden, Hacı Evliya Fountain, Bâlâ Süleyman Ağa Lodge and Yedikule Fortress within the program.

“Sharing Space Management Experience in the Turkic World” program organized by Turkish Culture and Heritage Foundation in Istanbul on September 23-27 brought together cultural heritage managers from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan in Istanbul. Fatih Municipality shared its long standing experience and projects on protecting cultural heritage with participants, reinforcing international cooperation.

On the second day of the program presentations on projects and restoration efforts carried out by Fatih Municipality on world heritage areas together with geographical information systems. These presentations covered the municipality’s strategic approached on protection of historic and cultural heritage in detail. Use of digital technologies, facilitating restoration processes, and the advantages it provides in the management process were described to participants. The importance of carrying historic structures to the digital setting with geographical information systems for sustainable heritage management was emphasized.

Following presentations the participants found the opportunity to visit some cultural heritage sites in Fatih district. During field visits to Land Walls Nation’s Garden, Hacı Evliya Fountain, Bâlâ Süleyman Ağa Lodge and Yedikule Fortress, application of restoration and protection efforts were studied on the ground. The participants were given information on the comprehensive restoration projects carried out in Yedikule Fortress, as well as the innovations made to protect the historical texture and to introduce the area to tourism. Steps taken for faithful restoration of historic sites to carry them to the future won general approval.

Fatih Municipality officers noted that such projects played a major role for not only protection of cultural heritage, but also for increasing tourism potential of the area. Thanks to the restoration and renovation activities, the historic artifacts in the region reach more visitors while an important infrastructure is formed to transfer the cultural heritage to future generations.

At Land Walls Nation’s Garden that was another important area to visit, landscaping projects realized by Fatih Municipality were introduced to visitors. Protecting and rearranging the green area around historic walls adds an aesthetic value to the region while also creating areas open to the public where cultural and social activities could be organized. In particular, protecting green areas and designing them in harmony with historical buildings inspired managers from participating countries.

Similar restoration and protection efforts were conducted at Hacı Evliya Fountain and Bâlâ Süleyman Ağa Lodge that are other stops in the program. Restoration activities undertaken by Fatih Municipality on these structures reinvigorate these artifacts that witnessed history, opening them for visitors. The managers that participated in field visits investigated historic structures in place, receiving detailed information on applications. It was emphasized that these applications could be used in similar projects with countries of the Turkic world and that it was an important step for cooperation and information share.

These field visits conducted in the scope of the program once again demonstrated the importance of sharing knowledge and information among countries of the Turkic world. The successful restoration and protection projects conducted by Fatih Municipality were appreciated in the international scene, underlining the importance of cooperation and developing joint projects on protecting the cultural heritage.

Sharing Space Management Experience in the Turkic World Program does not remain limited to sharing experiences and aims to lay the foundation for future cooperations. Such activities are expected to carry potential of Türkiye and other countries of the Turkic world in cultural heritage management one step further. Fatih Municipality once again demonstrated its determination to protect cultural heritage and transfer it to future generations while acting as an example with its relevant projects.

This meeting demonstrated the importance of cross border cooperation and information sharing in cultural heritage management. This organization hosted by Fatih Municipality signs that joint projects with countries of Turkic world will increasingly continue.