Ankara Kadın Ressamlar Derneği - Necatibey Cd. No: 102/11

Ankara Women Painters Association 1970

The association was founded in 1970 by Naciye İzbul, Semiha Kocabay, Güney Hastemoğlu, Gönül Göle, Nuran Altıata, Ülkü Uludoğan, Nevide Gökaydın, Özlem Peker, İffet İnan and Nermin Pura who are dilettanti and conscious of sense of duties and responsibilities of Turkish women.

The purpose of the association is to support and introduce the women painters in accordance with the Atatürk revolution and principles and to contend with social reasons that causing women become of secondary importance in art by providing contribution of Turkish women to both World and Turkish Painting Art. Also to organize exhibitions and competitions, to establish relationships which related to international art, to work out all kind of efficiency for contemporary painting art and to cooperate other organizations which work for same purpose are the other purposes of association.

In 1975, by support of the Ministry of Culture, association organized an award-winning art competition in Turkey between women who had never exhibited any painting till that day, and these paintings were exhibited in various parts of the country.

Members of the Association made an art observation trip by the support of Unesco-Turkey National Commission in Vienna. Austrian Federal Ministry of Education showed great interest to invited artists and The Dean of Fine Arts Academy declared these sentences; T have read a great many books about Atatürk and I know about his personality well but I shall confess that I would not imagine much of these. I comprehended one more time his wisdom when I saw that Turkish women of art had closed the difference between Turkey and Western art concept.’

The association was invited to Vienna to hold another exhibition subsequent to this art observation trip and this exhibition was held by the support of Culture, Tourism and Foreign Affairs Ministries in 1977. Vienna Radio and Television praised Turkey of Atatürk and Turkish women a lot and the association participated in Inter Kunst Art Fair on same date which the association had been invited.

An exhibition held on 29 October 1996 in Bishkek capital city of Kyrgyzstan upon another invitation from Kyrgyzstan and viewed with great interest. The Association held an exhibition on 29 November 1998 within celebration of 75. anniversary of Republic Day in Slovakia/Bratislava. An exhibition was organized by the support of R.T Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 28 November 2003 which was unveiled by President Rauf Denktas. Another exhibition was held under the auspices of R.T Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in consequence of World Mother Day in Sarajevo and same exhibition was held again in Mostar. These exhibitions took great places on media with praise.

The other Exhibition, held on 8 March 2008 for International Women’s Day in Austria-Bregenz upon invitation from Turkish Consulate General, was organized again in Bluedenz on 15 March 2009. On 22 May 2017 exhibition held at Paris, France.

New exhibitions are being held on various districts of country beside exhibitions which are held traditionally every year in Ankara.

Beside exhibition activities, by the sustain of our national artists and scientists, in the contemplation of personnel development improves the social life, public conferences and slide shows are being organized monthly for public and these conferences are being published as booklet.

Painting courses had been taken by the children who is about 6-11 year old in slum area of Ankara in the period between 1997-2002. All equipments were afforded by association and all workouts were exhibited at the end of the period. So children could find a way to experience their excitement of their art life.

The association has cooperated with nongovernmental organizations so it could hold many donation exhibitions and meetings till today. And also it had provided contribution by cooperating with earthquake committee in 1999.

The association is the founder member of Federation of Woman Association of Turkey.