Talebeyiz Biz Association received grant support from the Regional Recovery Support Program II, launched under our Kahramanmaraş Earthquake Emergency Relief Fund, to increase young people’s capacity to cope with traumatic experiences by fostering access to culture and arts through sustainable initiatives in Hatay.
Please read the following interview to learn more about their work.
Can you tell us about the current situation of your organisation’s field of work?
At Talebeyiz Biz Association, we focus on youth participation and using art to create more just, equal, and free spaces. Unfortunately, there are very few initiatives targeting young people, especially those between the ages of 14 and 18. This age group has limited opportunities for self-expression, and there is a lack of accessible spaces where they can gather and socialise. When we set aside our biases, it’s clear that young people have a lot to say—they want to take responsibility and make a difference. Contrary to popular belief, they are not apathetic or indifferent.
Given this reality, it’s crucial to centre youth participation in our work. However, young people often face adultist attitudes that treat them as inferior, whether at home, school, or in public spaces. Prioritising participation and inclusivity is essential not only for achieving justice and equality but also for effectively engaging with young people. By recognising their rights, listening to their needs, and creating spaces where they can share their passions, we make it much easier to connect with them.
Art is a powerful tool for expression, mutual understanding, and collective action. It goes beyond traditional forms of protest and offers a transformative experience. The process of creating and experiencing art can lead to significant personal growth. We’ve seen how something like an exhibition can spark an awakening in people—something that doesn’t always happen through academic reports.
Our motivation to create fairer, more inclusive spaces through youth participation and art stems from these ideas. And we strongly believe in the power of community to achieve this goal.
Art is a powerful tool for expression, mutual understanding, and collective action.
You are currently running the “Art Ambassadors” project with our grant support. Can you tell us about the project’s goals and activities?
Our project focuses on three core activities. The first is our “nurture-create-exhibit” model, which we developed ourselves. We worked with 20 young people in the Arsuz district of Hatay, where they participated in workshops led by artists and experts. This was followed by sessions where they produced their own art. Initially, the program was planned to last nine days, but after we returned to Istanbul, the youth took the initiative to extend it to 12 days.
Our goal is for these young people to take on leadership roles as “art ambassadors” and help transform the cultural and arts ecosystem around them. Their early display of responsibility showed us we were on the right track. We are now preparing an exhibition that will showcase their work across various art forms, including visual, performance, digital art, literature, and music. We are working with the youth on every detail of the exhibition, from the catalogue to the layout. The exhibition will open in October and run for at least a month, accompanied by various events. We are also exploring ways to take the exhibition to other cities.
The second activity focuses on creating a youth-friendly space where they can gather, socialise, and create throughout the year. We are collaborating with the Architecture for All Association on the design of this space, which has generated a lot of excitement among the youth. After the earthquakes, the need for safe, accessible spaces where young people can meet and collaborate became even more critical. For example, the local library closes early, and it’s also shut on weekends. Spaces that consider the needs of young people are essential.
Lastly, we are building a support system for these “art ambassadors,” which is the third core activity of the project. This requires forming strong partnerships to sustain the work. We will begin this phase after the exhibition.
In addition, we are conducting ethnographic research on the project, which we plan to present in creative and accessible formats, beyond a traditional report.
You collaborate with many institutions, focusing on youth participation and access to culture and arts. What challenges have you faced in this process, and how have you overcome them?
Collaboration is central to our work because we deeply believe in the power of community. One key aspect of collaboration is working with local civil society organisations (CSOs). It’s important to avoid hierarchical, top-down relationships and instead value local knowledge, creating more genuine and impactful partnerships.
We’re running the Art Ambassadors Project in collaboration with the Füsun Sayek Association, in Arsuz, and we’re also working with the Arsuz Municipality, the Arsuz City Council Youth Assembly, the Iskenderun South Education Foundation, the Ali İsmail Korkmaz Foundation (ALIKEV), and Mustafa Kemal University’s Faculty of Fine Arts, among others. In addition, we’ve formed partnerships with other institutions to meet specific needs, such as transportation, space, and communications.
Beyond institutions, young people, their parents, and teachers are key partners. The youth bring in their friends, and the community grows organically. Creating connections with all relevant actors is essential, especially when resources are limited, as collective impact becomes even more important.
Given the scale of the devastation, the rebuilding process will take years, and it’s critical not to overlook the youth during this time.
What are your future goals and projects? How has our grant support affected your future goals?
We aim to create a sustainable and replicable model. Our “nurture-create-exhibit” framework is one aspect of that. We are constantly asking ourselves questions like, “How can we best connect the space with the content?” and “How can we build a sustainable collaboration model?” We’re exploring these questions both ethnographically and through our fieldwork. Building a community is always our focus, and we hope to continue working with youth communities in different regions. In the medium term, we dream of bringing these youth communities together.
This is the first project we’ve implemented with grant support. Previously, we carried out two projects and two exhibitions using our own resources and the help of friends, but we were reaching our limits. The support from the Support Foundation for Civil Society and Turkey Mozaik Foundation has been a lifeline for us.
Flexibility is crucial for us when applying for grants. Youth-focused, participatory work requires adaptability, and without this flexibility, true participation wouldn’t be possible.
Do you have a message for the donors supporting this fund?
When we visited the field in May, we met with youth-focused CSOs and learned about the growing issues young people face, such as substance abuse, school dropouts, depression, and even suicide. Given the scale of the devastation, the rebuilding process will take years, and it’s critical not to overlook the youth during this time. Unfortunately, most youth-focused efforts are limited to scholarship programs.
That’s why supporting rights-based work with youth is especially important. Change doesn’t happen overnight—it requires long-term commitment. For example, even after creating spaces for art ambassadors, ongoing support is needed to ensure they feel empowered and receive mentorship. In short, providing sustained support for youth-focused, rights-based initiatives is vital.
