The festival, held at the Cappadocia University campus in the Ürgüp district, was attended by Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gökhan Yazgı, Nevşehir Governor Ali Fidan, provincial dignitaries, and numerous other dignitaries. The festival began with the opening of the "From Sketch to Pixel Digital Art" exhibition. Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gökhan Yazgı said, "We are thrilled and delighted to be back with you here today, in Nevşehir, one of the most special stops of the Turkey Culture Road Festival.
It is an indescribable pride for us to once again be immersed in culture in the magical lands of Cappadocia, in this unique geography where history and art intertwine. The Culture Road Festival, which began in one city in 2021 and now encompasses 20 different cities, has evolved into Türkiye's most inclusive culture and arts movement. As part of this grand vision, Nevşehir, hosting this festival for the third consecutive year, is not just a week of events; it is also a stage for a lasting cultural transformation."
"EVERY COLOR OF ART WILL BE PRESENT AT THIS FESTIVAL"
Noting that Nevşehir will be transformed into an open-air stage between August 2nd and 10th, Yazgı said, "A rich program of nearly 400 events, spanning nearly 40 locations across the city, will appeal to art lovers of all ages and interests. From concerts and theater plays to exhibitions and street art, from workshops specifically for children to gastronomic experiences filled with traditional flavors, every color of culture and art will be featured at this festival.
With our festival programs, we bring our children and young people, in particular, into the center of cultural life, ensuring they become active participants in this richness. We inspire future art lovers with specially prepared theater, drama, painting, music, dance, and traditional handicraft workshops."
CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY AND PAINTING EXHIBITION OPENS
The "Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition" was opened by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Ankara on the terrace of a hotel in the Uçhisar district of Nevşehir as part of the "Nevşehir Culture Road Festival," the 8th leg of the Turkey Culture Road Festival organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gökhan Yazgı said, "In Cappadocia, shaped by nature and history, we wholeheartedly feel both the legacy of the past and the confluence of cultures. We are delighted to witness the richness of Chinese culture in this unique region, the 8th stop of the Turkey Culture Road Festival. The Culture Road Festival is a grand stage that opens up to the shared cultural heritage of not only Türkiye but also humanity. The elegance displayed by Chinese culture with its centuries-old traditions on this stage reinforces the festival's international identity and offers the finest example of the coming together of melodies, colors, and meanings from different geographies. With its thousands of years of history, Chinese culture meets us today with its unique heritage that touches the human soul, from the elegant ceremony of tea to the finesse of calligraphy, from the depth of music to the aesthetics of dance. Similarly, Turkish culture, with its spiritual depth like the sema and deep-rooted traditions like our folklore, adds its own unique flavor to this gathering." THE 6,000-YEAR-OLD SILK ROAD HAS CLOSELY BINDED THE TWO COUNTRIES
China's Ambassador to Ankara, Jiang Xuebin, expressed his great pleasure in attending the opening of the "Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition," held as part of the "Nevşehir Cultural Road Festival," jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Ankara. Ambassador Jiang Xuebin emphasized the development of relations between Turkey and China in every field, saying, "China and Turkey are located at the eastern and western ends of the Asian continent. The thousand-year-old Silk Road has closely bound the two countries. In recent years, under the strategic leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, China-Turkey relations have maintained their upward trend. Our human relations have been steadily expanding, our cultural cooperation has deepened, and cooperation has been undertaken in many areas, including cultural heritage, mutual visits by performing arts groups, and tourism promotion."
"ADDED A DIFFERENT VALUE TO THE FESTIVAL"
Nevşehir Governor Ali Fidan stated that the Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition added a unique dimension to the festival, emphasizing the indispensable importance of such cultural and artistic events for the two countries to collaborate in all areas. Governor Fidan stated that the number of Chinese tourists visiting historical and tourist sites in the Cappadocia region in 2023 was 26,000, and that this figure reached 90,000 in 2024. He expressed his hope that this number would reach even higher levels this year.
CHINESE DANCE AND WHIRLING PERFORMANCE
The event featured performances of traditional Chinese dance and music. The Chinese calligraphy and painting exhibition opened to the public, along with a Chinese dance and whirling dervish performance. A concert of Qanun and Guzheng music was also presented. Tomorrow, a traditional Chinese painting workshop and a Chinese tea ceremony will also be held.
Source: https://www.dha.com.tr/foto-galeri/nevsehirde-kultur-yolu-festivali-basladi-2692105/9