Istanbul, Istanbul, Türkiye
Senior communication professional working in the global cultural & creative industries over 15 years. Skilled in local and international media relations, talent management, corporate communications, strategy, programming, fundraising, event management, producing and writing-editing. Currently working at Netflix Turkey as PR manager, passionate about arts, culture, entertainment and storytelling.
Founded by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) with the aim of improving access to and participation in art and culture events, İKSV Alt Kat: Learning and Interaction Space has opened its doors in March 2019. Realised with the support of Istanbul Development Agency (İSTKA) and located in Şişhane at the basement floor of the Nejat Eczacıbaşı Building that also hosts the Foundation offices, İKSV Alt Kat presents event and workshop programmes in various disciplines year-round, free of charge. İKSV Alt Kat aims to directly reach children, youngsters and groups with limited access to arts and culture while reinforcing the communication between art and culture professionals, non-governmental organisation workers, artists, educators. İKSV Alt Kat provides a participatory, inclusive, multi-cultural and accessible platform with its year-round programme that includes workshops in a variety of disciplines such as music, film, theatre, design and visual arts, art education programmes, seminars, screenings, exhibitions and various events throughout the year. As well as specially organised events in conjunction with the Foundation’s sphere of activity, İKSV Alt Kat sets up new collaborations between the fields of arts-culture and education, and organises capacity building programmes.
As the International Media Relations Manager of Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV), I am responsible for developing the international media strategies and implementing the programmes for the Istanbul Film, Music, Theatre and Jazz Festivals; Istanbul Biennial and Istanbul Design Biennial, as well as the Pavilion of Turkey at the International Exhibitions of Art and Architecture, La Biennale di Venezia, throughout the year. Working for the leading non-profit cultural institution of Turkey and managing the international communications across various disciplines of creative and cultural sectors from performing and contemporary arts to film and design, I have a strong knowledge of the local and international cultural scene and thorough experience in working closely with the global media outlets and PR agencies, designing and managing press trips, organising targeted press events to promote the activities of the Foundation abroad.
Assisting members of the Marketing Department with the individual campaigns for NT productions; undertaking a research project on the NT membership scheme regularly reported to the line manager and presented to the marketing director; web editing and coordinating the social media channels for NT Live; implementing the NT signage project with the marketing director as an integral report of all directory and corporate identity signage around the NT building in Southbank for the reconstruction scheduled for 2012.
Preparing the short film festival’s communication plan with the director, handling media relations as the first point of contact for enquiries; managing and updating the press lists, writing and distributing releases, pitching story angles for festival films and contacting editors; organising the official competition screenings at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA); assisting more than 20 festival events including The Opening Reception and Premiere, BAFTA Short Filmmakers Day, and Awards Ceremony by managing guest lists and accreditations.
PR consultancy for two major clients in the cultural sector, Sabancı University Sakıp Sabancı Museum (SSM) and Garanti Bank (Ottoman Bank Museum, Garanti Gallery, Platform Contemporary Art Center) in several international art exhibitions, music and film festivals, seminars, concerts and cultural sponsorships. Specialisation in arts PR, preparing strategic communication plans, reports and budgets, organising press conferences, receptions and press trips. Working in collaboration with cultural institutions including Musée du Louvre, Gulbenkian Foundation, Deutsche Bank Art, Foundation Gala-Salvador Dalí, Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. Experience in fashion and cosmetics sectors with Harvey Nichols Istanbul and NIVEA accounts. Awarded ‘Team of the Year in A&B’ in 2007 with SSM team.