When a Tarsus American High School mate distributed the photographs of the Cultural and Social Lifetime Centre, I decided to visit the centre and meet with the Director and also introduce Turkish Library and Museum Project. This project was initially introduced on January 28, 2011 during a Symposium organised by the ‘’Adana Güç Birliği Vakfı’’, which incidentally is the opening date for the Cultural centre as well.
Ford Motor Company and the Vehbi Koç Foundation built the Centre on the 10th anniversary of the Ford Otosan Factory to provide services to the people of the plant and Gölcük. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Vehbi Koç Foundation.
The opening exhibition at the Centre was by Mr. Devrim Erbil, a famous painter of unique views of Istanbul and Anatolia with emphasis on nature. As Ms Semahat Arsel has stated during the opening ceremonies, Erbil’s art also represents the making of a car from hundreds of pieces.
The present exhibition at the Centre is by Raif Çancı, called ‘’Nefes – Breath’’, collection of photographs taken at a closed factory in Izmit, which retains many memorials.
We hope that Gölcük Cultural and Social Lifetime Centre, Vehbi Koç Foundation will be among the sponsors of the Turkish Library and Museum Project.
Yuksel Oktay