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Gala Modern, Istanbul Modern’s annual fundraising evening, wrapped up with a strong result as 12 artworks offered at auction raised a total of ₺29.6 million (over $693,000), with Azade Koker’s specially produced work Orchestra achieving the highest price of the night at ₺6 million (over $140,500).
The event, held at Istanbul Modern during a private gala, was organized to generate resources for the museum’s exhibition and education programs for children and young people.
Gala Modern is staged each year to help widen access to art education, particularly for children and youth.
The funds raised are channeled into Istanbul Modern’s learning programs, which aim to bring young audiences closer to contemporary art through exhibitions, workshops, and tailored activities.
The highlight of the evening was the Support Auction, where artworks donated by artists from Türkiye and abroad were brought together with collectors and patrons.
In total, 13 artists contributed, resulting in 12 works going under the hammer.
Among them, Orchestra by Azade Koker stood out, drawing the highest bid of the night.
The collage portrays female orchestra members as the driving force behind a celebratory evening, a theme that resonated strongly with bidders.
Speaking during the opening of the gala, Istanbul Modern Board Chair Oya Eczacabasi pointed to the event’s growing international reach, noting that Gala Modern has taken on a global identity thanks to the ongoing support of artists and guests from around the world.
She emphasized that the initiative has made it possible to connect hundreds of thousands of children and young people with art over the years, while also helping to develop programs and workshops designed to create equal opportunities, especially for young people in special education groups.
Eczacabasi also expressed her appreciation to Istanbul Modern’s Cultural Ambassadors, including Suzan Sabanci, Banu Carmikli, Banu Ipeker, Cem Hakko, Esra Ekmekci Calicioglu, Esra Ozsuer, Maya Portakal Bitargil, Melkan Gursel, Oksan Atilla Sanon, Rana Erkan Tabanca, and Sheli Elvasvili, for their sustained backing since the initiative’s early days.
The evening brought together figures from the cultural, business and public sectors, including Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, underlining the institutional importance attached to the museum’s educational mission.
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