Turkish museums celebrate banner year for history, architecture, art
From Italian architect Renzo Piano’s Istanbul Modern to a restored mansion in Izmir, Turkey’s museums swept awards for architecture and visitor experience.
IZMIR — In a year when cultural institutions across Europe were recalibrating their public roles, museums in Turkey found themselves unusually confident, visible and rewarded. That momentum was clear in Istanbul Modern, which entered its third decade with sweeping international acclaim.
Designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, the museum’s light-filled building on the Karakoy shore has become both a landmark of Istanbul’s skyline and a civic meeting point. The past year was marked by an expanded program of exhibitions, public talks, educational initiatives and free-access days aimed at broadening audiences, a strategy that resonated well beyond Turkey.
At the 2025 European Museum of the Year Awards, Istanbul Modern received the Portimao Award for Hospitality, Inclusivity and Belonging, joining a small group of European institutions recognized for redefining how museums welcome, engage and reflect their societies.
“Since our founding in 2004, we have striven to bring art together with society,” Istanbul Modern Chair Oya Eczacibasi said in a press release issued in May 2025, recalling an earlier EMYA Special Commendation in 2009. “Each award strengthens our belief in expanding art’s reach, while placing a greater responsibility on us.”
