Most prestigious French award presented to two Turks Friday, April 1, 2011

Chevalier dans L'Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur, or French Legion of Honor Medal, which is the most prestigious award of France state, was presented at a ceremony to Istanbul Modern Chair Oya Eczacıbaşı and the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts Director Taner Görgün by French Ambassador to Ankara Berbard Emie

Taner Görgün (L), Oya Eczacıbaşı (C) and Berbard Emie at the award ceremony.

Istanbul Modern Executive Board Chair Oya Eczacıbaşı and the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, or IKSV, Director Görgün Taner have been deemed "Chevalier dans L'Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur," is regarded as the most prestigious award in France.

The award was presented Thursday at a ceremony at Istanbul Modern by French Ambassador to Ankara Berbard Emie two days before leaving his duty in Turkey.

Emie said Istanbul Modern had become a symbolic place dedicated to contemporary creation and modernism in Turkey, adding that the award was presented to two leading actors in Turkey's cultural life who had played a great role during the Turkey's Season in France.

He said Istanbul's first private modern and contemporary art museum Istanbul Modern was the first one in a series of concepts that would become an ecol, and he addressed Eczacıbaşı, saying: "You have showed great determination to reach this result that we all appreciate today. You were searching for a place to establish a big and private contemporary art museum to exhibit Turkey's modern face. Since you are a very good negotiator, you succeeded at drawing the attention of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to this issue and the old depot in Karaköy Port was renovated in 2003 for this aim."

Emie said Taner had been in collaboration with the French Embassy in Ankara and the Cultural Action Office, or SCAC, for many years. "This collaboration proved itself especially during the 'Turkey Season in France,' which was one of the most important Turkish events that organized abroad," he said.

He said Taner had effective relations network in France. "The success of the event in France showed the deep interest of French people in Turkey. France opened its arms and heart to your country."

He said Taner was deemed worthy of the award due to his contributions to the Turkey Season in France and his services in Turkish-French relations."

Eczacıbaşı said they had started collaborating with the Centre George Pompidou during the establishment of young Istanbul Modern, which is pioneering in the education of young artists. "I believe that our collaboration with Centre George Pompidou has been improving relations between two world cities Paris and Istanbul and strengthening our long-time ties and cultural relations."

She said culture and arts had great role for societies to know and understand each other and that culture and arts was the strongest bridge that could be established between two societies. "It makes me very happy that with the establishment of Istanbul Modern, we have been contributing to mutual relations with France. This contribution will continue with our further projects," she said.

IKSV Director Taner said he was one of the rare people presented with this award although he did not speak French. He said he always attached importance to intercultural cooperation, and continued, "French Spring in Turkey and Turkey's Season in France were examples to this cooperation. IKSV and Culture France have worked under very difficult conditions but with great determination. We will continue to see the good results of this cooperation between Turkey and France in future."