Arts foundation launched to fulfill Erdoğan's wish for 'ideological governance'
Turkey's Culture and Tourism Ministry launched a new arts foundation weeks after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed sadness over a lack of what he called "ideological governance." "When we look at the past 18 years, I believe that we couldn't obtain the progress we sought in education and culture," Erdoğan said on Oct. 19.
Duvar English
An arts foundation was formed with government officials and pro-government figures on the executive board weeks after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed regret over a lack of "ideological governance" over the people on Oct. 19.
"We know that the real governance is the governance of ideas. The path to governance of ideas is long and difficult. I feel a little sad about this issue. When we look at the past 18 years, I believe that we couldn't obtain the progress we sought in education and culture," Erdoğan said at the opening of İbn Haldun University.
Turkey's Culture and Tourism Ministry launched the New Art Foundation, the Official Gazette reported on Nov. 6, funded by TV show producer Mustafa Fener's investment of 90,000 Turkish Liras that also granted him a seat on the board.
Two government officials were placed on the executive board of the foundation: Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın and Culture and Tourism Deputy Minister Ahmet Misbah Demircan.
Brother of Erol Olçok who died during the 2016 coup attempt, Cevat Olçok, pro-government movie producer Hasan Kaçan, Chairman of pro-government Kalyon Construction Mehmet Kalyoncu and Chairman of numerous government funds' recipient Gürsoy Group, Hasan Gürsoy were also given seats on the board of the arts foundation.