Culture Alert: Art scene revives in September

The Middle East’s vibrant cultural scene kicks off in September, with art festivals in Turkey and Israel, design and art fairs in Lebanon, and theater and film festivals in Egypt. Here are the picks of Al-Monitor's Culture Pulse on the cultural events of the month.

Istanbul hosts three major cultural events: If you love art, Istanbul is the place to be in mid-September. The 15th edition of the Istanbul Biennial is staged at six venues on Sept. 16-Nov. 12 around the concept of “a good neighbor.” Curated this year by artist duo Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset, the Istanbul Biennial brings together artworks by 55 artists from 32 countries, all addressing different notions of home, belonging and neighborhood.