Public Colloquium #57: Dr. Mahir Polat

The new guest of our Open Colloquium series is Dr. Mahir Polat, Secretary General of the Union of Historic Cities and Deputy Secretary General of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

Prof. Dr. Mahir Polat’s presentation titled “Istanbul’s Cultural Heritage: Our Inevitable Wealth” on Tuesday, November 5 from 16.00 at Fener Hall.

Istanbul’s Cultural Heritage: Our Inevitable Wealth

Dr. Mahir Polat

Secretary General of the Union of Historic Cities

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General

Istanbul, one of the oldest known settlements in the world, continues to be a living city that can feel and reflect life in every aspect with its unique geography spanning two continents, multi-layered memory, breathing ecosystem and different dynamics. This long-lasting existence of the city, filtered through 8500 years of history, empires and different cultures, has turned into a character that makes it Istanbul with the touch of human beings. It gave it a unique spirit and became a heritage passed down from generation to generation. Istanbul’s cultural assets are the most important traces through which we can read this heritage today. These traces are also the primary sources that bring us together with previous Istanbulites, strengthen our sense of belonging and enable us to connect with the city. These traces, which establish a dialog between the past and the present of the city and explain that the Istanbul we live and feel did not exist spontaneously, are our “inevitable richness”…

Dr. MAHİR POLAT

He was born in 1976 in Erzincan. In 2002, she graduated from Istanbul University, Faculty of Literature, Department of Archaeology and Art History. In 2008, she completed her postgraduate education at Yıldız Technical University, Department of Art and Design with her thesis on ‘cultural management’. Between 2011 and 2015, she lectured on cultural heritage legislation as a lecturer in the same department. In 2023, she completed her PhD program at Istanbul University, Department of Art History with a thesis on ‘religious cultural heritage’. From 2005 to 2019, she worked at the General Directorate of Foundations. During this period, he took part in the restoration of many Ottoman period historical monuments and museum establishment works in Anatolia and Istanbul. In 2019, he started working at Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality as the Head of Cultural Assets Department. In 2020, Polat was appointed as Deputy Secretary General of IBB and established and managed IBB Miras, which has become a worldwide brand. With IBB Heritage, a total of 942 heritage sites, including 62 monuments and works of civil architecture, 21 new museums and living spaces, 34 public artworks, 197 registered fountains, 588 historical graves and cemeteries, and 19 historical mausoleums, were restored and taken under protection. Museum Gas House (Hasanpaşa Gas House), Basilica Cistern, Library Trolleybus (Beyazıt IETT Trolleybus Force Center), Cendere Art Center (Cendere Pump Station), Haliç Art (Fener Houses), Casa Botter Art and Design Center, Metrohan, Beyo