American Turkish Society

The American Turkish Society (ATS) is a non-profit, nonpolitical organization based in New York City dedicated to building bridges between the United States and Turkey. The Society hosts a broad spectrum of programming, including lectures, workshops, symposia, conferences, festivals, performances, and exhibitions that highlight topics of relevance to the Turkish-American community.

History

The American Turkish Society was birthed on June 29, 1949 when eight men gathered in New York City to announce its establishment. Its founding members were Selim Sarper, Ernest Jackh, Asa Jennings, Lewis Owen, Charles Wylie and three Turkish representatives, ex oficio. The organization was formed in order to further cross-cultural understanding between the United States and Turkey. In 1979, the organization restructured and Atlantic Records founder, Ahmet Ertegun, became chairman of the board of directors. He served as chairman until his death in 2006. The current chairman is Murat Köprülü.

Programs & Activities

The American Turkish Society provides several scholarships, grants, and awards to students, educators, and artists, in the United States and Turkey. Scholarships include The Ahmet Ertegun Memorial Scholarship at The Juilliard School,[1] The Arif Mardin Music Fellowship[2] at Berklee College of Music, Summer Residency at the School of Visual Arts, and the Young Photographers Award.[3]

Throughout the year ATS presents various lectures, exhibitions, and workshops on a variety of cultural, historical, economic, and educational topics. The American Turkish Society hosts the annual New York Turkish Film Festival, which highlights Turkish film to the New York metropolitan area.[4] The American Turkish Society also hosts a gala as its major fundraising event; in 2015 the ATS honored Husnu Ozyegin, founder and chairman of Fiba Holding, and Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani for their philanthropic and humanitarian contributions.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Scholarship Created to Honor Ahmet Ertegun". The Juilliard Journal. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "Five-Week Summer Performance Program". Berklee College of Music. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "The Hidden Side of Turkey's Urban Transformation, Told in 10 Pictures". CityLab. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  4. ↑ "New York to host Turkish film festival". Daily Sabah Cinema. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  5. ↑ Bowles, Tony. "THE AMERICAN TURKISH SOCIETY’S 2015 GALA HONORS HÜSNÜ ÖZYEĞİN AND HAMDI ULUKAYA". The New York Exclusive. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
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