'Art creates a peaceful city'

  • actual
  • 11:54 28 February 2024
  • |
img

MERSİN - Stating that the social, political and economic crises in the country can be overcome with art, Mersin Theatre Association Chair Salih Yıldırım gave advice to politicians before the upcoming elections with the words "Art creates a peaceful city".

Mersin Theatre Association, founded by four theatre groups coming together in 2013, has been trying to contribute to the artistic life of the city for years. Today, there are 12 theatre groups within the association, which has been jointly producing solutions to the problems encountered in halls, decor, actors, repertoire and technical materials since the day it was founded. Mersin Theatre Association President Chair Salih Yıldırım, who is also the General Art Director of Theatre Agon, gave information about their work and reminded the importance of the need for art.
 
Yıldırım stated that, as an association, they have provided many technical equipment such as costumes, lights and decorations to nearly 25 private Theatre groups, apart from schools and associations, in order to develop and spread art in Mersin and that they also arranged halls for these groups during their tours to different cities. Stating that they were able to provide these as a result of the protocols they made with the municipalities, Yıldırım said: “We organized festivals extending to the villages with the municipalities and international festivals. We have held 7 festivals so far. We will organize the 8th this year. We will bring people together with Theatre through the festivals we will organize. Of course, we do all our work jointly with theatre groups,"
 
Yıldırım complained that although they have undertaken many joint projects with municipalities so far, they have not been able to stage theatre plays in municipal halls for a long time due to the election process.
 
‘THIS PERCEPTION MUST END'
 
Emphasizing that municipalities should have a positive approach towards theatre groups in the city, Yıldırım also listed his expectations as an association. Yıldırım said: “First of all, there should be an understanding of municipalism in which the concept of 'I' towards groups carrying out artistic activities disappears. The perception of 'If you are with me, you are exist' must end. This is actually the biggest problem that groups face. If the common goal is to serve the public, this situation can end with some protocols. Again, all municipal halls are closed to events due to election propaganda. Everything was left until after the elections. However, municipalities should create alternative areas. Again, if municipalities want to serve this public in the field of art, they should work with people who understand art.”
 
'ART CREATES A PEACEFUL CITY' 
 
Drawing attention to the healing role of art on individuals and society by saying, "Art creates a peaceful city," Yıldırım added: "Over the years, there have been many cases of young people committing suicide. I want to say this; In a place where a city or a country has collapsed spiritually, any service you can offer to the public has no meaning. In other words, make as many roads as you want for a person who is disconnected from the world, that road will have no meaning. At this very point, art is a point that connects people to life, it is a connecting point, it is a lifeline. So, if you cut that bond, there is no possibility of getting that person back.”
 
'PEOPLE NEED ART'
 
Stating that the country has experienced social, cultural and economic crises, especially in recent years, Yıldırım underlined that in these conditions, people need art as much as eating bread and drinking water.
 
Stating that they saw and experienced such gains in the workshops they conducted, Yıldırım said: “We can also reintegrate individuals who cannot express themselves to the society or who have a criminal record. They cannot do this with prisons, but we can do this with art. Prisons are just gathering areas for the people we mentioned, but art opens different living spaces for those people."
 
Yıldırım also pointed out the upcoming March 31 elections and made opinions and suggestions regarding the local government approach.
 
'SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION CAN ONLY BE THROUGH ART'
 
Yıldırım said: “Social transformation can only occur through art. Do we want a healthy individual or a sick society? First of all, they should ask themselves this question. Then the service they provide will have more meaning."
 
MA / Ergin Çağlar
 

View More Articles

11:17 'Let's respond to dirty policies of government with Amed rally'
11:00 ‘Road map of Abdullah Öcalan is compass of solution’
09:36 There is a need to talk to interlocutor on a free ground say Alawite organizations
08:59 30 years in prison: Do you regret it?
04/02/2025
16:22 Turkish air attacks around Tishreen Dam
16:20 'Trustee turned municipality into a police station'
15:57 Journalist Ahmet Güneş releases
15:45 Preventation to releases in Tokat Prison for a year
15:00 Everyone must have a say and practice for solution says Cigdem Kilicgun Ucar
13:13 KCDP January report: 33 women murdered
11:24 Lawyers applies to meet with Abdullah Öcalan
11:23 Amed prepares for ‘Freedom for Peace’ rally
10:33 War and insolvency impoverish says HDK member
09:22 No funeral for 28 years
09:22 Copy-paste procedure in judiciary
09:19 Two months HTS rule: Destroying women's identity and history
03/02/2025
16:52 ‘Freedom for Öcalan’ call from Kobani
16:37 3 cities to join resistance in Tishreen
16:01 We are behind every step taken by Abdullah Öcalan says Sezai Temelli
15:42 Most important step is freedom of Öcalan says Cigdem Kilicgun Ucar
14:52 Turkish attack to water station in Kobani
14:43 Council meeting in front of Sêrt Municipality
13:21 DFG January report: Investigation to 42 journalists
13:02 Call for 'freedom' mitng in Amed
12:14 Solution possible with Öcalan's freedom say Peace Mothers
11:44 No solution without ensuring Öcalan's conditions says Zübeyir Aydar
10:50 Discussions on solutions: Government does not inspire confidence
10:19 Trustees made permanent by calling 'temporary appointments'
09:25 Peoples’ Platform Europe to meet in Vienna: Reclaim the Initiative
02/02/2025
16:29 Protest against will usurpation in Sêrt
15:55 Letter to UN for Warisheh Moradi and Pakshan Azizi
14:40 'Abdullah Öcalan has been proposing solution for 26 years'
14:33 State must now take steps as sign of sincerity says Cigdem Kilicgun Ucar
13:01 Bavê Teyar: He became a guiding star
12:42 Tishreen Dam resistance on its 26th day
12:28 We live free in democratic nation system says Co-chair of Armenian Assembly
11:41 Citizens in Ankara addresses Parliament for a solution
10:03 Let's embrace Rojava says TJA member Rojbin Bor
09:40 In 2 years only time changes in Hatay
09:26 House bombed in Kobani: 10 wounded including 7 children
31/01/2025
16:11 Shelling of villages in Zirgan
15:52 65 Syrian intellectuals call for 'decentralised solution'
15:26 Pervin Buldan from İmralı Delegation meets with imprisoned women politicians
15:15 'Social Peace and Freedom Meetings' starts tomorrow
14:47 Protests against trustee
14:09 Adana calls for '1 million signatures for peace' campaign
13:13 Mass visit to Zehra Sebat's condolence
12:38 Flow from 7 cities to the Tishreen Dam
11:59 Expectations of those who lost relatives in clashes from process
10:29 Families applies to go to İmralı