MUSEUM OF THE WEEK

Located in Istanbul, the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum’s collection includes notable examples of Islamic calligraphy, tiles and rugs as well as ethnographic displays on various cultures in Turkey, particularly nomad groups. These displays recreate rooms or dwellings from different periods and regions. The space utilized for the museum was once a ceremony hall for the original Palace. Many of the sections of the museum contain notable influences from the palace’s well-kept setting, making it an impressive art sanctuary dedicated to displaying the culture of Islamic art from various periods. The museum houses over 40,000 works of art that range from carpets, wood, and stone collections. Over the many years of its existence, the museum has received acknowledgment for being an Islamic art hub that narrates the relationship between art history and material culture. The museum was the first to bring together all Islamic arts of Turkey and it notably creates and has participated in temporary national and international exhibitions since its establishment. In 1984 the museum was awarded the Special Jury Award at the Museum of the Year Competition of the European Council.