The Hatay Symphony Orchestra Culture and Art Association (HSO) is transforming the cultural and artistic landscape of Hatay. HSO is receiving grant and capacity development support from our Institutional Fund, which was set up in collaboration with our local partner the Support Foundation for Civil Society (Sivil Toplum için Destek Vakfı)*, and this year has increased its impact through contributions from other donors.
With this support, HSO is diversifying its resources and ensuring financial sustainability. This includes hiring two full-time employees and covering administrative expenses through grant support.
In our interview with HSO, we discussed the association’s activities, the cultural and artistic initiatives in the region following the earthquakes, and the capacity-building efforts undertaken with the grant.
Please read the following interview with the organisation for an insight into their work.
Can you tell us about your organisation’s founding purpose and activities?
Hatay is a city with a rich cultural history, having been home to the Hittites, Romans, Ottomans, and more, and experiencing the French occupation. Despite its rich past, Hatay lacks the cultural infrastructure it deserves, such as cultural centres, concert halls, and art centres. This absence makes it difficult for young people to develop their talents and see culture and art as viable career paths.
In 2019, we founded the Hatay Symphony Orchestra, the city’s first independent symphonic orchestra, with music teachers, conservatory graduates, and students. Our goal is to use music and art to transform the city, leveraging Hatay’s historical and cultural background. We aim to reach the entire city with our intellectual output, support new artistic movements, and expand cultural awareness. We are committed not only to making music but also to preserving and promoting Hatay’s cultural and artistic heritage for future generations.
Our goal is to use music and art to transform the city, leveraging Hatay’s historical and cultural background.
What capacity-building areas will you focus on with the support of our Institutional Fund?
Since our founding in 2019, we have implemented numerous projects including concerts, training sessions, and workshops through dedication and volunteer efforts, despite facing challenges due to limited resources. We had to postpone some of our goals because of insufficient financial and human resources.
The Kahramanmaraş earthquakes marked a turning point for us, emphasising our mission to heal and rebuild the city through art. During this process, we highlighted Hatay everywhere we performed, drawing attention to the region and becoming part of the solidarity effort. Being one of the grantees of the Institutional Fund has allowed us to strengthen and improve our capacity.
This grant and capacity development support has allowed us to hire three new staff members, enhancing our general coordination, communication, social media efforts, and resource development. We have also gained access to consultancy and mentor support, which has accelerated our capacity-building process.
With this support, we are launching two new projects, focusing on the right to access to art, which will bring concerts to container cities, promoting social healing through art.
The Kahramanmaraş earthquakes marked a turning point for us, emphasising our mission to heal and rebuild the city through art.
Can you describe the current state of cultural activities in Hatay following the earthquakes? What support do you need?
Before the earthquakes, Hatay was a vibrant, multicultural city with a rich artistic life. The Hatay Symphony Orchestra was an essential part of this cultural life, successfully building a classical music audience despite the lack of a culture centre, concert stage, or large hall.
However, the earthquakes caused significant destruction, displacing many musicians and leaving us without rehearsal spaces. We need regular rehearsal and performance spaces, the provision of missing instruments, and a supportive environment for our musicians. Encouraging the return of displaced musicians and supporting our art residency project are critical for reviving Hatay’s cultural scene.
What are your future plans and priorities for the HSO? How has our grant support affected your future goals?
The grant has enabled us to systematically pursue our goals and plant the seeds for future projects. Our immediate focus is on creating a safe environment for our Children’s and Youth Orchestra and Choir, which have not yet resumed activities post-earthquakes.
Our most ambitious goal is to establish an art residency that will serve as a hub for cultural production and transformation, not only for Hatay but for the broader arts community. This facility will foster sustainable cultural infrastructure, contributing to Hatay’s brighter future. With the support of the Support Foundation for Civil Society and Turkey Mozaik Foundation, we have gained momentum by establishing the infrastructure needed to realise our projects.
We thank you for recognising that rebuilding involves more than just providing basic needs.
Why is it important for donors to support cultural and artistic initiatives in earthquake-affected areas like Hatay? Do you have a message for the supporters of our fund?
The Kahramanmaraş earthquakes caused immense physical and social devastation. Rebuilding requires not just physical infrastructure but also community spirit. Culture and art play a vital role in this process by bringing people together and aiding in trauma processing and healing.
Supporting civil society in culture and arts is vital to healing the scars left by earthquakes and fostering hope and solidarity. Theatres, concerts, exhibitions, and workshops are effective tools for mitigating the impact of the disaster and reviving community spirit.
Support from various donors allows civil society organisations to operate more broadly and reach more people. Organisations like the Support Foundation for Civil Society and Turkey Mozaik Foundation, through their support of cultural and artistic projects, significantly contribute to the post-disaster reconstruction process, fostering resilience and hope for a stronger community.
We thank you for recognising that rebuilding involves more than just providing basic needs. Together, we wish to continue building a resilient and vibrant society.
*The 2023-24 term of the Support Foundation for Civil Society’s Institutional Fund was supported by Turkey Mozaik Foundation, the Bcause Foundation, Dalyan Foundation, Fondation de France, Karl Kahane Foundation, Kreuzberger Initiative gegen Antisemitismus (KIgA), and WNS (Holdings) Limited, who have joined forces to provide extensive support to the earthquake-affected areas.
