Turkish Cypriot Cultural and Arts Festival

A partnership of organisations, built on mutual respect and a thirst to preserve the communities Traditions.

In 2017 six organisations under the umbrella of Kibris Turk Kultur Sanat Festival Komitesi (The Festival), came together to consider holding a festival that will be open to all without restrictions, the idea of the festival being celebrate the Turkish Cypriot culture. Turkish Cypriot Community Association, was one of these founding members.

The Festival Website

In the summer of 2018, a festival was held and attended by over 14,500 people who enjoyed all things Turkish Cypriot inclusive of its culture, food, dance, songs, music, heritage, comedy, history, and its people. Feedback to date has been extremely positive, in fact the festival was also nominated for best new UK festival 2018.

As part of our evaluation following the festival, the committee agreed that work towards a second larger arts and cultural festival would begin, however this year the theme would be more in line with bridging cultural diversity and understanding across communities. We feel that at least one aspect of the festival should show that diversity is not only at the heart of what it means to be a member of community but also how diversity has brought huge benefits both in the past and present.

That diverse communities have contributed to and shaped everything that consider to be quintessentially British, from the society we live in, the food we eat, the music we listen to and the traditions we hold dear. We believe in rejoicing this shared heritage and focusing on what unites us instead of what divides us and celebrating our differences that in turn bring us closer together. We are dedicated to combating negative stereotypes, discrimination and false myths that surround aspects of the Turkish Cypriot community.

In 2019 we held an even larger festival, with more groups leading the management of the festival, more acts joining us from Cyprus, and Turkey. More stalls participating and the development of foundations that we expect will last for years. The headline act for the 2019 Festival was International acclaimed Turkish Cypriot singer Ziynet Salih.

With the outbreak of Covid 19, we are considering all viable options ad we are keen that the community has the opportunity to celebrate our music, our dance, our food, our culture, our heritage, however remain safe and not place a single person at risk of the virus. However the partnership took the decision to deliver an online festival. On the 21-22 November the Kibris Turk Kultur Sanat Festival Komitesi was able to deliver a two day International festival that had participation from artistes and organisations that spread from the UK to Australia.

International festival that had participation from artistes and organisations that spread from the UK to Australia

2020 International Festival

Due to Covid we brought the festival online and made it Fully International with contributions from Cyprus, Turkey, USA, Australia, France, Germany, Sweden, Pakistan, and Spain.

Here are all the videos from 2020