Awards Presented at the “700 Years of Bursa” Photography Competition Organized in joint by IGU and Gökkuşağı College

The award ceremony for the "700 Years of Bursa" Photography Competition, organized by the Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) Center for Art and Design Studies (SATMER) for middle and high school students in Bursa, was held at Bursa Gökkuşağı College on March 25, 2026. Students who placed in the competition, in which young talents captured Bursa's historical and cultural heritage through their lenses, received their awards.

The ceremony was attended by Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Mehmet Aydın Saldız, Provincial Directorate of National Education Vice Director Bülent Altıntaş, Nilüfer Municipality Vice Mayor Bukle Erman, Dean of the Faculty of Education at Bursa Uludağ University Prof. Salih Çepni, Bursa Provincial Directorate of National Education Private Education Branch Director Tülay Aydın, Nilüfer District Directorate of National Education Private Education Branch Director Kahraman Şık, President of the Bursa Photography and Cinema Amateurs Association Tarık Akkurt, as well as participating students, school principals, and Gökkuşağı College students.

700 Years of Historical Heritage Through Young Eyes

The competition aimed to raise awareness among young people studying in Bursa about the city’s rich cultural fabric, including its Ottoman heritage, natural landmarks, and living traditions. Organized by the planning committee chaired by SATMER Director Asst. Prof. Mustafa Günay, the event also sought to provide young participants with the freedom to express themselves artistically and to foster their aesthetic sensibilities.

IGU Board of Trustees Member and Gökkuşağı Colleges General Manager Mesut Döner spoke at the ceremony and emphasized the importance of the partnership between Istanbul Gelisim University and Gökkuşağı College. Noting that both institutions regard contributing to the artistic and cultural development of young people as a shared responsibility, Döner stated: “Istanbul Gelisim University regards the preservation of cultural heritage and its transmission to future generations as one of its core objectives, alongside scientific research. This competition is a valuable project that allows young people to reinterpret historical values through their artistic perspectives.”

Academic Excellence and Art Combined

Assoc. Prof. Taylan Maral, who attended the ceremony as a representative of the jury, noted that entries were evaluated according to the criteria of technical proficiency, relevance to the theme, composition, and originality, and drew attention to the significance of participation. Images generated by artificial intelligence were excluded from the competition; only original photographs taken by students were considered.

Nehir Koçakoğlu from Yıldırım Borsa Istanbul Vocational and Technical High School took first place, while Ecrin Torun from Zübeyde Hanım Vocational and Technical High School placed second, and Elif Yılmaz from TOFAŞ Science High School came third. The award-winning students received their prizes on stage as part of the ceremony.

Bursa’s Streets to Come Alive with Art

Following the award ceremony, it was announced that the prize-winning works, along with other selected entries deemed worthy of exhibition, will be displayed on billboards and digital screens in Bursa's city center. In this way, the students' works will become part of urban life and reach a wider audience.

As part of this project, realized through the collaboration of Istanbul Gelisim University and Gökkuşağı College, the goals include not only making young people's artistic output more visible but also raising awareness of the city's cultural heritage.

Detailed information about the competition and upcoming events is available at satmer.gelisim.edu.tr.