Borusan Contemporary

What Borusan Contemporary does

Borusan Contemporary is a contemporary art museum, collection, and education initiative operated as a nonprofit economic enterprise (İktisadi İşletmesi) of the Borusan Kocabıyık Foundation, a Turkish philanthropic entity tied to the Kocabıyık family and the broader Borusan Group. It is housed in the historic Perili Köşk mansion on the Bosphorus-side Rumelihisarı district of Istanbul's Sarıyer, and operates only on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 19:00 (last entry 18:00). The institution differentiates itself through an "office-museum" hybrid model, a focus on new media art, and a commissioning practice that invites major international contemporary artists to produce work specifically in Türkiye — exemplified by its current Edward Burtynsky: Shifting Topography exhibition (20 September 2025 – 16 August 2026), curated by Marcus Schubert and accompanied by an original Burtynsky commission supported in partnership with the TEMA Foundation (Günümüz Sanatı // Bir Başka). Other works in the permanent collection include Maurizio Nannucci's neon MOVE (1987).

Its core offerings fall into three layers: (i) rotational exhibitions and a permanent art collection, both tied to the foundation; (ii) the BC+ public programming platform combining a blog written by 27 contributors, education programs including children's workshops and weekend guided tours, and recurring event series (notably the art-and-technology talk series Tez | Antitez | Protez with amberPlatform, and the contemporary art discussion series Günümüz Sanatı // Bir Başka); and (iii) on-site commercial add-ons — MüzeCafe and a co-located Frankeştayn Bookstore in partnership since September 2023. The current exhibition is also accompanied by a floor-by-floor Digital Audio Guide, a multimedia feature developed in-house.

Its revenue mechanics are dominated by foundation subsidy rather than self-generated earnings. Pricing is denominated in Turkish Lira with adult admission at 350 TL, discounted tickets for students, teachers, and seniors aged 60+ at 100 TL, and group tickets (10+) at 300 TL per person; admission is free for children 12 and under, disabled visitors and a companion, ICOM card holders, accredited press, certified guides, and veteran families. Ticketing is routed through Biletix. The customer base is long-tail: individual consumers — general museum visitors, art enthusiasts, tourists, educational program participants, and a secondary set of artists, critics, and researchers engaging with the blog — with no enterprise customer anchors. Leadership comprises Kumru Eren (Artistic and Executive Director, D.A.), Başak Sönmez Beyazyürek (Museum Manager), and Asude Dilan Yiğit (Assistant Curator), supported by 18 total staff. Distribution is purely domestic and concentrated at the single Istanbul venue; program reach is extended online through social media, an email newsletter, and a content-heavy blog.

Name

Borusan Contemporary

Legal name

Borusan Kocabıyık Vakfı Kültür Sanat Müzecilik Koleksiyon Tanıtım Eğitim Öğretim İktisadi İşletmesi

Website

https://borusancontemporary.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Borusan Contemporary is the contemporary art museum, collection, and education initiative of the Borusan Kocabıyık Foundation, housed in the historic Perili Köşk in Istanbul. It commissions international artists to produce work in Türkiye and runs exhibitions, BC+ education and event programming, and a 27-writer editorial blog for art audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contemporary Art Museum

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Art Dealers (45992)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Museums (THAJADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

Keywords

• Contemporary art museum
• Art exhibitions
• New media art
• Art collection
• Cultural education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Istanbul

HQ country

Türkiye

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Borusan Contemporary is a contemporary art museum that operates rotating international exhibitions (such as Edward Burtynsky: Shifting Topography), maintains a permanent contemporary art collection featuring commissioned new-media works, and delivers public programming through the BC+ platform covering a blog, education programs, and events. It is housed in the historic Perili Köşk mansion in Istanbul and is open to visitors on weekends with tiered admission prices.

Product overview

Borusan Contemporary is a contemporary art museum, collection, and education initiative of the Borusan Kocabıyık Foundation, housed in the historic Perili Köşk building in Istanbul. Its offering comprises rotating international exhibitions (such as the current Edward Burtynsky: Shifting Topography), a permanent contemporary art collection with commissioned projects, the BC+ public programming platform combining a blog, education programs, and events (including the Tez | Antitez | Protez technology talks and Günümüz Sanatı // Bir Başka discussion series), a digital audio guide for exhibitions, and the MüzeCafe retail space including the Frankeştayn Bookstore partnership. The institution operates an office-museum model focused on new media art, inviting internationally significant artists to produce work in Türkiye.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rotating Contemporary Art Exhibitions Rotating temporary exhibitions of contemporary art at the Perili Köşk venue, featuring internationally renowned artists. The current offering is Edward Burtynsky: Shifting Topography, curated by Marcus Schubert. Aimed at general museum visitors, art enthusiasts, and cultural tourists.
• Borusan Contemporary Art Collection A permanent curated collection of contemporary artworks held by the Borusan Kocabıyık Foundation, including works by Maurizio Nannucci and commissioned projects by international artists. The collection focuses on new media and is the basis for the museum's exhibitions.
• BC+ Public Programming Platform Public programming platform combining a blog with critical essays and artist interviews, education programs, events, and the Tez | Antitez | Protez and Günümüz Sanatı // Bir Başka discussion series. Aimed at art enthusiasts, critics, researchers, and cultural professionals.
• MüzeCafe (Museum Café and Art Store) On-site café and museum retail store at Perili Köşk, providing visitor refreshments and art-related merchandise, with a collaboration with Frankeştayn Bookstore. Aimed at museum visitors.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Frankeştayn BookstoreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2023Collaboration where Frankeştayn Bookstore operates an art bookstore at Perili Köşk, selling art books and publications alongside Borusan Contemporary's art store. Partnership began September 2023 and continues into 2024.
• TEMA FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Collaboration on the Edward Burtynsky 'Erosion' project (2022) and exhibition 'Shifting Topography'. TEMA Foundation provided expertise on soil erosion and environmental issues in Türkiye, collaborating on the artist commission and research process initiated in 2019. Dr. Hikmet Öztürk (TEMA Advisor) and Dr. Ferhat Taze (Head of Forestry and Rural Development) participated in expert interviews accompanying the exhibition.
• Flowers Gallery, LondoncoreOthersRepresents Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky, whose works are featured in Borusan Contemporary's collection and exhibitions including 'Shifting Topography'. The gallery provides works 'courtesy of the artist and Flowers Gallery, London'.
• Borusan Kocabıyık FoundationflagshipOthersBorusan Contemporary is the contemporary art, collection, and education initiative of the Borusan Kocabıyık Foundation. The foundation operates Borusan Contemporary as its museum, collection, exhibition, education, and communication commercial enterprise.
• amberPlatform / BIS (Body Process Arts Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt and technology platform collaboration with Borusan Contemporary on the 'Tez | Antitez | Protez' (Thesis | Antithesis | Prosthetics) technology and culture talk series (2018-2019 season). amberPlatform, operating since 2007 under BIS, brings expertise in art and technology festivals and new media projects.
• HEART FACTORYminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWebsite development and production partner responsible for the production and development of borusancontemporary.com website.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Arter: Contemporary art museum in Istanbul operated by the Vehbi Koç Foundation, presenting rotating exhibitions of contemporary art and maintaining a permanent collection. Closest peer in terms of foundation-backed contemporary art museum model with a similar commissioning ethos.
• SALT: Istanbul-based nonprofit arts and cultural platform (Garaj/Beyoğlu/Online) producing exhibitions, research, and publishing with a focus on contemporary art and critical discourse. Comparable as a foundation-supported contemporary art and education initiative in the same city.
• Sakıp Sabancı Museum: Istanbul private museum with a permanent collection of calligraphy, paintings, and decorative arts, plus temporary contemporary exhibitions. Comparable as a foundation-affiliated private museum in Istanbul offering both collection-based and temporary programming.
• Pera Museum: Istanbul-based private art museum presenting rotating exhibitions spanning Orientalist paintings, Anatolian weights, and contemporary art, with strong education programming. Directly comparable as a private Istanbul museum with curated international exhibitions.
• Istanbul Modern: Istanbul's flagship contemporary and modern art museum, also a private cultural institution focused on Turkish and international contemporary art. Direct geographic and category overlap, though operating at much larger scale and with daily hours.
• Elgiz Museum: Independent contemporary art museum in Istanbul focused on Turkish and international contemporary art with a permanent collection and rotating exhibitions. Comparable as a private contemporary art venue in Istanbul.

Broad incumbents

• Tate Modern: London's leading contemporary art museum and a benchmark for commissioning and exhibiting international contemporary artists. Comparable category and audience but at global-incumbent scale.
• Centre Pompidou: Paris-based national contemporary and modern art museum with a globally recognized collection. Comparable as an institution whose collection and new-media focus intersects with Borusan Contemporary's programming, though at vastly larger scale and as a public national museum.

Regional players

• Santralistanbul Contemporary Art Museum: Istanbul-based contemporary art museum operated by İstanbul Bilgi University, hosting temporary exhibitions of contemporary art and running education programs. Comparable as another Istanbul contemporary art venue with educational programming.
• Flowers Gallery: London-based commercial gallery representing Edward Burtynsky (whose works Borusan Contemporary exhibits). Comparable as a partner/peer in the international contemporary art ecosystem that supplies artists to Borusan Contemporary's exhibitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/borusancontempo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgFq4iyavjq9aOHLGMboshw
• Facebookfacebook.com/BorusanContemporary
• Instagraminstagram.com/borusancontemporary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/borusan-contemporary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Borusan Contemporary