YTB Brings Together the Art World of Europe in Amsterdam

The "YTB Artists and Authors Gathering" was organized by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. Bringing together artists and authors living in Europe, the program addressed cultural accumulation, civilization values, and the future of cultural production in the diaspora. The event was attended by Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the İlim Yayma Foundation; Zafer Sırakaya, Deputy Chairman of the Justice and Development (AK) Party; Abdulhadi Turus, President of YTB; Fatma Ceren Yazgan, Türkiye’s Ambassador to The Hague; Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu, AK Party Istanbul Deputy; Mahmut Burak Ersoy, Consul General in Amsterdam; Sevgi Kısacık, Consul General in Rotterdam; and numerous guests. Prior to the program, an exhibition consisting of the artists' works was presented to the guests.

​A panel was also held as part of the program. While YTB President Turus moderated the panel, Bilal Erdoğan, Sırakaya, and Yenişehirlioğlu took part as speakers. During the panel, the future of cultural production in Europe, the consciousness of identity and belonging in the diaspora, and the function of art in building bridges between societies were evaluated comprehensively.

​High Intellectual Capacity in the Diaspora is a Source of Self-Confidence

​Evaluating the event, YTB President Turus emphasized that the Turkish presence in Europe grows not only in numbers but also through ideas, art, and science. Stating that they came together with artists and authors from all over Europe, Turus noted that they consulted on strengthening the voice of civilization through art and science, transferring the consciousness of identity, mother tongue, and belonging to younger generations, and making the intellectual accumulation in Europe visible and effective. Pointing out that the high intellectual capacity in the diaspora is a source of self-confidence, Turus stated that as YTB, they will continue to stand by every individual who produces value through their pen, word, and art, and to grow the Turkish presence in Europe with quality and impact.

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Cultural Erosion Affects Not Just the West, but the Entire World

​Bilal Erdoğan stated that cultural erosion in the world concerns not only non-Western societies but the West as well. Expressing that despite the West's attempts to protect its own culture, an understanding that tries to make everyone identical is being imposed, Erdoğan said: "Let them listen to the same things, read the same things, watch the same things, wear the same things, eat the same things... This is complete erosion." Erdoğan emphasized that the most effective way to be protected from this erosion is for communities to maintain their own cultures and identities. He stated that this approach would contribute to cultural diversity and strengthen the dialogue between communities. Conveying that claims of cultural superiority lead to oppression, injustice, and wars, Erdoğan said: "When one side thinks 'I am culturally superior, I am a more advanced race, you are all beneath us,' then oppression, injustice, and unfairness emerge, and wars are born from this. We see that this lies at the root of many wars we experience today."

​Today, We Express Ourselves Through Art

​Sırakaya drew attention to the process of younger generations in Europe discovering their own identities and developing a consciousness of civilization. Noting that the first generation was one that refrained from expressing itself and manifested its presence through labor, Sırakaya said: "The fact that we have now reached a position where one can express oneself through art and poetry is extremely precious and valuable to me."

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Congratulating the youth and the families who raised them, Sırakaya said: "Poetry should be in every area of our lives; when we devote ourselves to poetry, we can become more people of the heart, people of love and affection." Sırakaya emphasized that while youth in Europe produce value with their own identities, they make significant contributions to civilization.

​Yenişehirlioğlu stated that the concept of "intellectual" had been wrongly imposed in Türkiye for years, and that being forced to adopt Western norms created a false understanding. He noted that a true intellectual identity can only be formed if an individual develops a universal perspective after getting to know their own geography and cultural heritage.

​The program concluded with mutual evaluations and a commemorative photo session.