Art Statement from Bilal Erdoğan: Tradition and Academia Must Meet

İlim Yayma Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman Bilal Erdoğan drew attention to the importance of art at the opening ceremony of the 2026-2027 academic year of Ankara Music and Fine Arts University, held with the participation of Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin.

The Relationship Between Art and Civilization

Stating that music and art are not merely fields of aesthetics, Bilal Erdoğan said that art is directly connected to how societies view themselves and the world.

He expressed that Turkish civilization possesses a strong artistic accumulation ranging from its cities to its poetry, from its music to its daily life.

Cultural Competition and Influence

Stating that countries are in competition regarding carrying their cultures to the world, Erdoğan emphasized that a country's global influence is related to whether it has a story to tell the world and how it is portrayed.

Pointing out the importance of introducing children to their own culture from an early age, he noted that traditional instruments and methods must be taught.

Century of Turkey Education Model

He stated that the Century of Turkey Education Model, put into practice by the Ministry of National Education, offers a skill-centered and values-focused approach.

Expressing that the results of this model will emerge across generations, he noted that educational investments contain long-term impacts.

Meeting of Tradition and Academia

Emphasizing that art education should not be seen outside of the education system, Erdoğan said that tradition and academia should not be pitted against each other.

He noted that with the awareness of how much they will add to each other, they will bring the master together with the university and the traditional musical practice together with academic work.

Shared Responsibility and Goals

He stated that ministries, universities, artists, and non-governmental organizations share a common responsibility in transferring culture to future generations.

He wished that students, alongside becoming good artists, would be raised with the awareness of being carriers of a great cultural heritage.