In the summer of 2016, OneBeat Istanbul brought together young socially-engaged musicians from Turkey’s many ethnic backgrounds and those temporarily fleeing conflict, with musicians from the U.S. to collaboratively invent music-driven projects that contribute to building resilient civil societies. During the 10-day program, OneBeat Istanbul fellows engaged in a series of collaborative music endeavors, developing new musical works in pairs and small ensembles, and designing and leading youth engagement activities with a focus on young refugees and other marginalized communities. Fellows also produced events throughout the city, culminating in a final showcase presenting original musical works and proposed ideas for future projects. OneBeat Istanbul empowered participants to become leading forces in their communities, employing their musical and entrepreneurial skills to address important issues such as combating discrimination, promoting democratic participation, women’s empowerment, creative economies, and youth education.
OneBeat Istanbul is a public/private initiative in partnership with the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul, Bilgi University Department of Music, and Found Sound Nation.
