Contemporary Istanbul Foundation

What Contemporary Istanbul Foundation does

Contemporary Istanbul Foundation (CIF) is a Turkish non-profit cultural foundation founded in 2019 and headquartered in Istanbul, operating as the institutional arm behind the Contemporary Istanbul contemporary art fair (now in its 20th edition). The foundation organizes and curates exhibitions, artist residencies, educational programs, and dialogue series, and operates programming across multiple Istanbul venues including the Cocoon exhibition space at the historic Fişekhane building, Müze Gazhane, Artİstanbul Feshane, MSGSU Istanbul Painting and Sculpture Museum, İş Sanat Kibele Gallery, and the open-air Haliç waterfront. CIF serves four primary audiences: general public and art enthusiasts accessing free exhibitions, contemporary artists seeking residency and exhibition platforms, private collectors seeking institutional curation, and university students (notably architecture and fine arts students at Hatay Mustafa Kemal University) participating in post-earthquake career development programs.

The foundation's core product lines include CIF Dialogues (annual two-day conversation programs), CIF Bridges (bi-weekly Instagram Live digital series launching April 2026 with Asia focus), CIF Awards (annual recognition program launched 2024), and signature exhibitions such as 'A Collector's Story: Taviloğlu Collection,' 'Meta Knowledge: Rhythms of Algorithm,' and 'What If Women Ruled the World?' with Judy Chicago. Specialized programs include the Artist Residency with Tosyalı Holding (ecological upcycling), Anatolian Contemporary Art Encounters (reaching 10+ Turkish cities), Qbicart children's workshops, and Architecture and Career Development programs for earthquake-affected students. Underlying technical capability is limited: CIF does not operate proprietary technology, with one notable exception being a deep learning-enabled language model deployed curatorially in the 'Meta Knowledge: Rhythms of Algorithm' exhibition (2023).

CIF operates as a vakıf (Turkish non-profit foundation) without disclosed revenue, generating programmatic support through corporate sponsorships (Tosyalı Holding, Borusan Otomotiv/BMW Motorrad, Hepsiburada, İş Sanat, LG OLED, Altınmarka), municipal and government partnerships (İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi, Eyüp Sultan Belediyesi, museum venue partners), project-based grants, and in-kind venue support. Exhibitions are free to the public, and there is no commercial product pricing. Leadership comprises Founder and Chairman Ali Güreli, Vice Chairman Hasan Bülent Kahraman, Board Member Rabia Bakıcı Güreli, and Art Director Sarp Kerem Yavuz.

Name

Contemporary Istanbul Foundation

Legal name

Contemporary Istanbul Foundation

Website

https://ciacef.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Contemporary Istanbul Foundation is a Turkish non-profit cultural foundation that organizes contemporary art exhibitions, artist residencies, dialogue programs, and educational initiatives, serving public audiences, artists, collectors, and university students across Turkey and increasingly Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art Foundation Services

NAICS

Museums (71211)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Multidisciplinary Arts Institutions (THAJADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts, Culture, Heritage & Tourism Congresses (THAHAJAN)

Keywords

• Contemporary art exhibitions
• Cultural foundation programs
• Art fair organization
• Artist residency programs
• Art education initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Zeytinburnu

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Operations and Institutional Support: CIF operates as a non-profit cultural foundation (vakıf) supported by institutional partners, sponsors, and project-based funding. Revenue is derived from partnerships with corporate sponsors (e.g., Tosyalı Holding, Borusan Otomotiv, Hepsiburada, LG OLED, İş Sanat), project grants, and in-kind venue support from municipalities and museums for exhibitions and educational programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Contemporary Istanbul Foundation (CIF) is a non-profit cultural foundation that organizes contemporary art exhibitions, dialogue programs (CIF Dialogues and CIF Bridges), artist residencies, and educational initiatives across Istanbul and partner cities in Turkey. The foundation operates the Cocoon exhibition space at Fişekhane, runs the Contemporary Istanbul art fair, and delivers free public programming including post-earthquake educational programs for university students. It is funded through corporate sponsorships, institutional partnerships, and project-based grants rather than commercial pricing.

Product overview

Contemporary Istanbul Foundation (CIF) is a cultural arts foundation that operates as a platform combining exhibitions, dialogue programs, and educational initiatives. The foundation's core offerings include CIF Dialogues (two-day conversation programs bringing together artists, curators, and cultural leaders), CIF Bridges (live digital series on Instagram), and CIF Awards (annual recognition program). CIF manages Cocoon Exhibition Space as its primary venue and runs various programs including Artist Residency (in partnership with Tosyalı Holding), Career Development Programs for earthquake-affected students at Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Istanbul The Lights (light art project), and The Yard Open Air Sculpture Exhibition. The foundation also organizes major exhibitions featuring international artists such as Tomokazu Matsuyama, Judy Chicago, and Canan Tolon, as well as showcasing collections like the Taviloğlu Collection. These programs collectively serve CIF's mission to promote contemporary art, expand public access to culture, preserve cultural memory, and foster intergenerational dialogue across Turkey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CIF Dialogues: Two-day talk program addressing continuity, patronage, institutions, architecture, collecting, and long-term cultural thinking from Asian perspectives.
• CIF Bridges
• CIF Awards
• Cocoon
• The Yard

Products and services

• CIF Dialogues Two-day conversation program bringing together artists, curators, architects, collectors, and cultural leaders to discuss contemporary art topics from various regional and global perspectives.
• CIF Bridges Live digital series on Instagram featuring 30-minute conversations every two weeks, bringing together artists, curators, and cultural professionals to explore current production and art ecosystem dynamics.
• CIF Awards Annual awards program recognizing contributions to art and cultural environment development in Turkey, honoring artists, collectors, institutions, and cultural contributors across multiple categories.
• Cocoon Exhibition Space Exhibition venue located in the historic Fişekhane building on Istanbul's waterfront, serving as CIF's primary exhibition space hosting dynamic programs, exhibitions, and educational initiatives.
• Artist Residency Program Artist residency program in partnership with Tosyalı Holding, focusing on ecological awareness in contemporary art with upcycling theme, hosting artists from different disciplines in a dedicated studio in Istanbul Maslak.
• Architecture and Career Development Program Interdisciplinary education initiative designed for Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Architecture Faculty students following the February 2023 earthquake, aimed at rebuilding professional skills and personal resilience through mentorship, workshops, and site visits.
• Career Development Education Project at Faculty of Fine Arts Eight-week training program helping art students combine creativity with professional careers, providing guidance on various paths in the art world including curatorship, art management, museology, and art criticism.
• Istanbul The Lights Light art project bringing together Istanbul with art and light, featuring light projections and repetitions of previously exhibited works celebrating the theme of 'Reflection.'
• The Yard Open Air Sculpture Exhibition Signature open-air sculpture exhibition showcasing industrial objects transformed into art, held along the Golden Horn waterfront during Contemporary Istanbul editions, curated by Marc Olivier Wahler.
• Mythologiques - Tomokazu Matsuyama Exhibition Groundbreaking solo exhibition by Tomokazu Matsuyama coinciding with Venice Biennale, examining individual identity construction through themes of global interdependence and cultural tensions, curated by Christoph Doswald.
• A Collector's Story: Taviloğlu Collection Exhibition bringing together Turkey's most comprehensive private collections featuring 903 artists and 2,412 works spanning 52 years, with free entry across multiple venues including Istanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture, ArtIstanbul Feshane, and İş Sanat.
• What If Women Ruled The World? - Judy Chicago Collaborative installation with Tersane Istanbul featuring feminist artist Judy Chicago's groundbreaking work shown for six days during Contemporary Istanbul fair, part of Focus: America initiative.
• Anatolian Contemporary Art Encounters Program designed to spread contemporary art across Turkey through collaboration with local universities, engaging with art initiatives in cities including Adana, Afyon, Antalya, Ankara, Balıkesir, Bursa, Diyarbakır, Erzurum, Hatay, and Van.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,412 works from 903 artists showcased through one exhibition program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tosyalı HoldingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTosyalı Holding partnered with CIF on the Artist Residency Program (May 2022 – September 2023), hosting 5 artists from different disciplines at a dedicated studio in Istanbul Maslak. The program focused on ecological awareness and upcycling, with 27 tons of scrap material used. Tosyalı is Turkey's global steel producer.
• Borusan Otomotiv / BMW MotorradcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMW Motorrad, represented by Borusan Otomotiv in Turkey, collaborated on 'The Mother Road' exhibition featuring photographer Rızacan Kumaş's journey along Route 66 on a BMW R 18 B motorcycle. The exhibition included a 360-degree VR experience simulating riding Route 66.
• HepsiburadaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHepsiburada partnered with CIF for the Akrasia exhibition at the 16th Edition of Contemporary Istanbul, exploring themes of ecological imbalance, social inequality, and societal inaction.
• LG OLEDminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLG OLED was the technology partner for the Homo Faber exhibition (April 2022), which combined a traditional hammam structure with new media art by ha:ar founders Hande Şekerciler and Arda Yalkın.
• Qbicart Disiplinlerarası Sanat OkuluminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQbicart Sanat Okulu (Cross-disciplinary Art School), an Istanbul-born international art school offering both online and in-person education, partnered with CIF for children's workshops held at Cocoon during each exhibition (October 2022).
• İş SanatcoreGTM or Marketing Partnerİş Sanat served as the main sponsor of 'A Collector's Story: Taviloğlu Collection' exhibition and provided its Kibele Sanat Galerisi as one of the exhibition venues in Istanbul.
• İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi (İBB)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerİBB collaborated with CIF on 'Istanbul The Lights' exhibition (December 2020 – January 2021) and is listed as a co-supporter of the Taviloğlu Collection exhibition alongside its cultural units.
• MSGSU İstanbul Resim ve Heykel MüzesiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMSGSU Istanbul Painting and Sculpture Museum served as one of the exhibition venues for the Taviloğlu Collection, extending the reach of the collection to museum audiences.
• Artİstanbul FeshaneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArtİstanbul Feshane served as an exhibition venue for the Taviloğlu Collection, hosting works in a historic Feshane building along the Istanbul waterfront.
• Müze GazhaneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMüze Gazhane served as one of the multi-venue exhibition spaces for the Taviloğlu Collection exhibition.
• AltınmarkaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAltınmarka listed as a supporter of the Taviloğlu Collection exhibition.
• Eyüp Sultan BelediyesiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEyüp Sultan Municipality listed as a supporter of the Taviloğlu Collection exhibition, with Galeri Eyüpsultan as one of the venue partners.
• Tersane IstanbulcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTersane Istanbul collaborated with CIF to host Judy Chicago's 'What If Women Ruled the World?' installation during the 20th Edition of Contemporary Istanbul fair, drawing visitor levels equivalent to the Serpentine North gallery run.
• Hatay Mustafa Kemal ÜniversitesicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHatay Mustafa Kemal University partnered with CIF on multiple post-earthquake educational programs including Architecture and Career Development Program (October–December 2025) and Career Development Education Project at Faculty of Fine Arts (April–May 2025), targeting students affected by the February 2023 earthquake.
• Erra Art Farm (Bodrum)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErra Art Farm in Bodrum, founded by Erol Tabanca, hosted an educational camp for Hatay Mustafa Kemal University architecture students as part of the Architecture and Career Development Program, facilitating interdisciplinary exchange in art, design, and sustainability.
• Art OnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArt On collaborated with CIF on the 'Spinning a Cocoon' exhibition (July–September 2020) held at the Cocoon exhibition space.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Asia Society: U.S. non-profit cultural foundation focused on Asia through exhibitions, education, and policy programs. Comparable to CIF as a foundation-led platform combining contemporary art exhibitions, cross-cultural dialogue, and educational programs funded by corporate and institutional partners.
• Art Basel (MCH Group): Operator of the world's flagship contemporary art fairs (Basel, Miami Beach, Hong Kong). Comparable to CIF as the organizer of the Contemporary Istanbul fair ecosystem, with broader international scope and commercial scale — a non-direct incumbent that benchmarks what a mature art fair operation can become.
• Frieze (art fair and foundation): Global art fair operator (Frieze London, Frieze New York, Frieze Seoul) with affiliated foundation programming. Comparable to CIF's fair + dialogue + education model and represents the global benchmark that CIF/Contemporary Istanbul is positioned against in the international art market.

Direct peers

• Istanbul Modern: Turkey's first museum of modern and contemporary art, operated as a non-profit foundation. Comparable to CIF as a contemporary art institution combining exhibitions, collection, education, and large-scale programming, with overlapping corporate and municipal sponsor base.
• Faena Foundation: Cultural foundation supporting arts, education, and community in the Faena ecosystem (Miami, Buenos Aires). Comparable to CIF as a privately funded non-profit foundation combining contemporary art exhibitions, artist residencies, and cross-disciplinary cultural programming.
• Odunpazarı Modern Müze (OMM): Privately funded contemporary art museum in Eskişehir founded by Erol Tabanca (a 2024 CIF Awards 'Institutional Sustainability' honoree). Directly comparable as a non-profit, corporate-backed contemporary art museum with education and exhibition programming.
• Pollock-Krasner Foundation: U.S. non-profit foundation providing financial assistance to individual working artists and supporting artist-related programming. Comparable to CIF's artist-residency and professional development components (Career Development, Artist Residency with Tosyalı).
• SALT: Istanbul-based non-profit cultural institution with research, exhibition, and public programming in contemporary art and architecture. Closely comparable to CIF on non-profit foundation model, exhibition programming, free public access, and corporate sponsorship structure (Garanti BBVA).
• Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV): Turkey's largest private non-profit cultural foundation, organizer of the Istanbul Biennial, Istanbul Film Festival and similar flagship events. Directly comparable to CIF as a Turkish sponsorship-driven cultural foundation running cross-disciplinary exhibitions, dialogues, and educational programs funded by corporate and municipal partnerships.
• Arter (Foundation for Contemporary Arts): Koç Foundation–operated contemporary arts institution in Istanbul with dedicated exhibition spaces (Arter Museum), collection, and education programs. Directly comparable to CIF in mission (contemporary art access and education), non-profit foundation structure, and corporate-backed operating model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xlinkedin.com/company/contemporary-istanbul-foundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvnTDxsRD8t_wfmYWxJwxMg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/contemporary-istanbul-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/ciacef

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Contemporary Istanbul Foundation