I'm continuing my exploration of the art museums in the vast city of Istanbul. In the past, I’ve written about the Istanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture, the Istanbul Modern Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Borusan Contemporary exhibition. This time, we’re going on a virtual tour of the Arter Museum, located near the main attractions on the European side of the city.
How to Get There
The museum’s address is Irmak Caddesi No: 13 Dolapdere, Beyoğlu. I walked here from Taksim Square, which took about 15 minutes. The area I passed through wasn’t particularly scenic or interesting, so I would recommend those planning to visit save time by taking a taxi or bus. There’s a bus stop called Bülbül Mahallesi right by the building.
As of August 2024, admission to the exhibition is 200 lira. Entrance is free on Thursdays. The museum is closed on Mondays and January 1st.
A Walk Through the Museum
Arter is a museum of contemporary art. Previously, its exhibitions were housed in a building on Istiklal Street. Between 2010 and 2018, 35 exhibitions were held there. In 2019, the museum moved to its own building. The new six-story complex with exhibition and concert halls was designed by London architects.
Arter’s space covers 18,000 square meters, and its collection holds around 1,400 works by 400 artists. The earliest pieces date back to the 1960s.
The Arter Museum frequently hosts temporary exhibitions. During my visit, there were exhibitions titled ThisPlay and Rounded By Sleep. The first was dedicated to childhood and games, while the second transported visitors into the world of dreams.
I would describe Arter as an educational and entertainment complex. In addition to art exhibitions, it hosts concerts, film screenings, lectures, and guided tours. On the ground floor of the museum, there is a bookstore where you can find publications by Arter as well as other publishers.
As I mentioned at the beginning, there are many interesting and famous attractions in Istanbul nearby. After your museum visit, you can head up to Galata Tower, take a stroll along Galataport, or find an unusual bright church right on the city’s main pedestrian street.
Have a nice trip!
