Turkish cities launch new cultural centers in Bursa and İzmit

The Yıldırım district municipality in Bursa is restoring a historic church in the Kurtoğlu neighbourhood into the Setbaşı Sanat Merkezi. The two‑storey cultural hub will include exhibition, presentation and seminar spaces on the ground floor, two multipurpose rooms, and reading and relaxation areas on the upper floor. Mayor Oktay Yılmaz said the centre will become a “living cultural valley” for residents and visitors, and restoration work is about 75 % complete.

Meanwhile, the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality is building a 650‑seat cultural centre in the Gündoğdu neighbourhood of İzmit. The 2,000 m² facility will house a wedding hall, kitchen, administrative offices, a bride’s room, a children’s playroom, and a shelter on the basement level. The project is slated to be completed within 270 days after the site hand‑over.

Both projects aim to expand municipal cultural services and provide modern venues for arts, events and community activities across Turkey.