“Living Heritage Forum” Hosted by YTB Begins, Organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism

The forum was organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s General Directorate of Living Heritage and Cultural Activities, the UNESCO National Commission of Turkey, Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University, and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Association. The event took place at the YTB Conference Hall in Ankara.

The program opened with the inauguration of the ethnophotography exhibition titled “Without Drawing Borders, Without Building Walls”, dedicated to the late Vice Chair of the UNESCO Turkey National Commission’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Expert Committee, Prof. Dr. Muhtar Kutlu. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was performed by YTB President Abdulhadi Turus and Selim Terzi, General Director of Living Heritage and Cultural Activities at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

During the opening remarks, YTB President Abdulhadi Turus emphasized that the Culture Route Festivals vividly reflect Turkey’s ancient heritage and highlighted YTB’s work in conveying the legacy of Turkish civilization to over 7 million citizens living abroad.

Selim Terzi, General Director of Living Heritage and Cultural Activities at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, stated that efforts to preserve and promote intangible and living heritage continue to expand. Thanking YTB for its support, he added: “It is very valuable that we are conducting this work at YTB. We hope to also convey these initiatives to our related communities abroad. I wish these two days to be very productive and beneficial.”

Speeches were also delivered by Prof. Dr. Öcal Oğuz, President of UNESCO Turkey National Commission, and Prof. Dr. Evrim Ölçer Özünel, President of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Association. Umur Kutlu, son of the late Prof. Dr. Muhtar Kutlu, also spoke in memory of his father.

Following the speeches, the forum proceeded with the sessions organized as part of the program.