The Ruhr meets Istanbul 2010
The Turkish-German Cultural Festival
A major Turkish-German festival was held on 26 June at locations owned by METRO Group Asset Management, namely shopping centres in Duisburg and Istanbul (shown here) / Photo: METRO Group Asset Management
The "Ruhrgebiet meets Istanbul 2010" event bridged the gap between two Capitals of Culture, as heartbreaker Ferhat Göcer created a stir in Duisburg and chart-topping act Alphaville from Münster took the stage in Istanbul. On Saturday, 26 June, METRO Group Asset Management organised a festival for Germans and Turks at its shopping centres in Duisburg and Istanbul.
The colourful celebrations kicked off at 3 p.m. in the Mercator Center Duisburg and Meydan Shopping Square in Istanbul-Ümraniye, with German and Turkish citizens warmly invited to attend the free events. Alongside headline act Ferhat Göcer, who performed his mellow songs with a large band, the German-Turkish cultural exchange also offered the chance to catch up on classics from the Neue Deutsche Welle era: once again, the Ruhr rocked to the sounds of "Extrabreit" from Hagen. In Istanbul-Ümraniye, situated in the Asian part of the city, Turkish pop singer and Bremen resident Atiye, other guests and Alphaville staged a musical spectacular featuring everything from hip-hop to folklore.
Numerous other national and regional artists such as "Germany’s Best Guitar Teacher" Peter Bursch from Duisburg and the Pottporus break-dance and dance project rounded off the non-stop programme of music, culture, dance and entertainment from popular presenters. Meydan meets Mercator: live satellite links allowed festival-goers on the Ruhr and the Bosporus to share in each others’ celebrations. Some parts of the event were relayed from the Ruhr to Istanbul and vice versa and projected onto huge screens.
In the open-plan area of the Mercator Center in Duisburg-Meiderich, a Turkish market offering specialities from baklava to belly-dancing was organised by the Turkish community in NRW. Meanwhile, at a "Taksim Meydani", a marketplace resembling a bazaar selling crafts, artworks and culinary specialities, visitors could enjoy an authentic insight into diverse facets of contemporary Turkish life.
The aim of Metro Group Asset Management in organising the "Ruhrgebiet meets Istanbul 2010" event was to make a unifying contribution to the European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010. The Ruhr region alone is home to around 450,000 people of Turkish descent - the majority of whom live in Duisburg. The festival was held under the patronage of Mayor of Duisburg Adolf Sauerland.
The Ruhr meets Istanbul 2010
Saturday, 26 June 2010
3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Mercator Center, Duisburg-Meiderich
Meydan Shopping Square, Istanbul
Organiser and main sponsor: METRO Group Asset Management
Project partners: City of Duisburg, City of Istanbul, Türkische Gemeinde in NRW e.V., and others
For further information, please visit: