THE DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF FINE ARTS MUST ISSUE A STATEMENT!

THE GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF FINE ARTS MUST MAKE A STATEMENT!

While events for children organised by the State Opera and Ballet and the State Theatres continued as part of 23 April National Sovereignty and Children's Day, it is unacceptable that the children's concerts of our State Symphony Orchestras planned for the same date were announced as cancelled via social media accounts, without any official justification.

23 April National Sovereignty and Children's Day is not only the historic day on which the Grand National Assembly of Turkey was opened; it is also the only holiday in the world dedicated to children. For our children, living in the shadow of recent painful events, the value of art, music and shared joy is greater today than ever.

Many events were planned by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for this special day. While children's performances continued at the State Opera and Ballet and the State Theatres, the cancellation or postponement of only the children's concerts of the State Symphony Orchestras under the General Directorate of Fine Arts — announced, moreover, without disclosing the reason for the decision or the authority that ordered it — is no ordinary programme change.

This decision disregards the parents who bought tickets days in advance, the children who awaited the concert day with great excitement, and the labour of the art workers who prepared for months. More importantly, it takes away children's right to meet art on a national holiday. On this meaningful day dedicated to children, the public must be told clearly and openly why the State Symphony Orchestras' children's concerts were cancelled. The authorities who took the decision must not remain silent, out of responsibility to the audience and the public; the General Directorate of Fine Arts must immediately issue a statement on this matter.

THE BURDEN OF CONCERT CANCELLATIONS CANNOT BE LOADED ONTO ORCHESTRA MANAGEMENTS THROUGH INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN OVER THE PHONE!

It is unacceptable to leave the orchestra boards and directors, who work devotedly to bring these programmes to children, in uncertainty without a written instruction.

The concert-cancellation announcements we have unfortunately seen so often recently — without justification, without stating which authority took the decision, and casting suspicion on our orchestras — are a grave disrespect to our people, our audiences and art workers.

Our union is following this process in all its dimensions.

CULTURE WORKERS' UNION