France enjoys season of Turkish culture.

France is in the midst of a series of hundreds of cultural events aimed at promoting Turkish culture in France, which got under way July 1 with spectacular shows at Paris' Trocadéro Square.

More than 400 events reflecting various aspects of Turkish culture are not only being organized in Paris but also in such cities as Lille, Marseille, Lyon, Strasbourg and Bordeaux throughout nine months, offering French citizens a chance to get to know Turks better through examples of contemporary art, architecture, photography, theater, dance, music and cinema.

The Season of Turkey presents an opportunity to introduce Turkish culture in Europe and establish cultural bridges between the two societies and of course altering the perception of Turkey in France and the overcoming of prejudices. It is important to note that the Season of Turkey and the reaction it receives are not confined to Paris. The best example for this is that France celebrated its Republic Day with artists from Turkey.

The deal to hold the Season of Turkey in France was signed during the term of office of President Jacques Chirac, and it was confirmed during the term of Nicolas Sarkozy. “The source of inspiration was the success of the French Spring series of cultural events organized in 2006 in Turkey on the occasion of a renewal of relations between the two countries,” says Görgün Taner, the general director of the İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Art.

No doubt, there's an expectation of reinforcing cultural relations between the two countries which, in fact, have been in contact for centuries, since the Ottoman period. “We can summarize the expectations of the two countries as getting to know each other better, developing and maintaining cooperation in cultural, social and economic grounds,” confirms Taner. “We believe the season is going to influence the stereotypical ideas about Turkey in a positive way, that the French will get to know modern-day Turkey better and that this interest towards Turkey will continue after the season.”

One of the most important events of the Season of Turkey in France is the bestowing of the Médaille de Vermeil de la Ville de Paris (the Grand Medal of the City of Paris) on famous Turkish personalities: legendary photographer Ara Güler, art house filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan and Nobel Prize-winning author Orhan Pamuk.

What's next for the Season of Turkey in France?

Turkey is the subject of around 400 events held in France during the nine-month Season of Turkey in France, running through March 31, 2010. Not just the capital but also other cities host events as part of the Season of Turkey, which boasts a budget of around 20 to 30 million euros.

Among the most significant events in the remaining two-thirds of the Season of Turkey is an exhibition that will open early next month at Paris' Grand Palais. On Oct. 8 President Abdullah Gül and his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, will jointly inaugurate the “From Byzantium to İstanbul, One Port for Two Continents” exhibition, one of the major shows in the lineup. The chronological exhibition, illustrating the different phases in the history of the city, will feature a selection of 300 items from various Turkish, French and international collections.

Three other major thematic exhibitions are scheduled to go on display at the Louvre from Oct. 11 to Jan. 18, 2010. These are: “At the Court of the Great Turk: Kaftans from Topkapı Palace,” a look at the Ottoman court lifestyle and the sultan's regalia through kaftans, jewelry and accessories that once belonged to members of the imperial family; “From İzmir to Smyrna, Discovery of an Ancient City,” a chronological look at the Greek and Roman roots of the Aegean city with its monuments, carvings and most typical artworks; and the “Royal Tombs of Anatolia, Alaca Höyük in the Third Millennium,” which will explore the period of chiefs of tribes and clans in Anatolia in the third millennium BC.

Author Orhan Pamuk will be featured at a literary gathering called “An Exceptional Encounter with Orhan Pamuk” on Oct. 7 at the Villa Gillet, the prominent cultural institution in Lyon, just two days after he speaks at an event dedicated to him at Paris' Odéon Theater.

The season will wrap up with an exhibition by the French-based Armenian-Turkish conceptual artist Sarkis Zabunyan, a true bridge linking the two countries, who will unveil an exceptional installation at the Centre Pompidou.