Alarko Holding Aims to Foster a New Generation Growing Up with Art Through the “First Step into Art” Project, Implemented in Collaboration with İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV)

Alarko Holding Aims to Foster a New Generation Growing Up with Art Through the “First Step into Art” Project, Implemented in Collaboration with İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV)

Within the scope of the “First Step into Art” project, launched through the collaboration of Alarko Holding and the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), workshops organized in parallel with the 2025 Istanbul Film, Music, Jazz and Theatre Festivals offered nearly 400 children and young people the opportunity to engage with different art forms, express themselves freely, and explore their imagination.

Adding a new initiative to its social projects focused on equal opportunity in 2025, Alarko Holding supported approximately 400 children and young people throughout the year as the sponsor of İKSV Festivals’ Children and Youth Workshops. Held simultaneously with the Istanbul Film, Music, Jazz and Theatre Festivals under the title “First Step into Art with Alarko,” the workshops enabled children and young participants to develop their imagination and discover their creativity.

The activities, which also included the children of Alarko employees, created a shared cultural experience within the Group. Through the “First Step into Art” project, Alarko aims to support younger generations in growing up with art, increase their participation in creative disciplines, and make a meaningful contribution to their artistic literacy. The company plans to further expand the project in the coming years.


Bringing Imagination to Life Through the Stop-Motion Workshop

Organized between April and June as part of the 44th Istanbul Film Festival, the Stop-Motion Animation Workshop invited young people aged 14–19 into a unique creative production process. Participants designed their own animated characters and produced short films using the stop-motion technique supported by artificial intelligence-based animation tools.

The workshop was designed to cover all core components of animation, from storytelling and visual narration to editing and sound design. The short films created at the end of the workshop were presented to audiences during an online closing event held on June 30, attended by Istanbul Film Festival Director Kerem Ayan, workshop facilitator and director Gökalp Gönen, Anima Istanbul founder Mehmet Kurtuluş, and acclaimed actress Merve Dizdar, winner of the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival.

A Weekend Energized by Dance

As part of the 53rd Istanbul Music Festival, Hip-Hop Dance Workshops were held on June 14–15 at Yıldız Park and Fenerbahçe Park, and on June 21 at İKSV Alt Kat, with the participation of children aged 7–9 and 10–12.
Led by dance instructors Esma Akın and Aydan Uysal, the workshops strengthened children’s sense of rhythm while encouraging creative expression. Blending music and dance, these activities offered children the opportunity to express themselves freely while enjoying an engaging and dynamic experience.

Following the Rhythm with “Colorful Jazz”

The next stop of the First Step into Art project was the Colorful Jazz Workshops, organized as part of the 32nd Istanbul Jazz Festival. Held on July 10 and 12 with children aged 6–12, the workshops allowed participants to explore rhythm with Ezgi Daloğlu; transform instruments into portraits under the guidance of art educator Uğur Kaya; and learn about Latin jazz rhythms, including bossa nova and samba, with Meltem Ege.

A Journey into the Enchanting World of Theatre

Theatre workshops organized on November 9 within the framework of the 29th Istanbul Theatre Festival offered children aged 4–6 and 7–9 the opportunity to discover the magical world of theatre.
Inspired by Sevinç Erbulak’s book “A Day in Theatre,” the workshops introduced children to the stages of staging a theatrical performance. Through drawings inspired by stories, children also experienced the excitement of exploring behind-the-scenes aspects of theatre.

Within the scope of the “First Step into Art” project, a special workshop was also held in collaboration with the Social Development and Solidarity Association and the Educational Volunteers Foundation of Türkiye, facilitated by Bahar Elden. This creative drama workshop, combining movement, improvisation, visual arts and rhythm, enabled children to experience the excitement and enthusiasm an actor feels just before stepping onto the stage.