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www.kiraathane.com.tr Kıraathane takes its lead from the European literature house movement and was designed as an example of like-minded centres elsewhere in the country. Since 2018, Kıraathane has developed a recognisable style of informal but informed debate and its premise, that Turkey needed open spaces for ideas to flourish, proved justified. In its first 12 months Kıraathane attracted 7,000 attendees to 393 events. Independent publishers organise book fairs, trans-feminists dance the tango, readers attend lectures on neglected post-War Armenian novels. Its democratic character derives from its role as a meeting point between readers, writers, editors, translators, all from different backgrounds.

www.yesayansalonu.com Founded in 1993 in Istanbul, Aras Publishing quickly established itself as one of the only bilingual publishing houses in Turkey, producing books in both Turkish and Armenian. Defining itself as the “window into Armenian literature”, Aras aims to sustain and carry on the cultural legacy of Turkey’s Armenians. In December 2019, Aras opened its multipurpose venue, Yesayan Room, a place for art and thought, a space for dialogue, discussion and collaboration. Named after the writer Zabel Yesayan, it holds a variety of events from talks to panels, film screenings, workshops and gatherings.

www.istospoli.com Istos was founded in 2012 as a publishing house by Rums of Istanbul in order to contribute to the cause of multiculturalism in Turkey, by disseminating Rum culture to the wider public. In addition to the publishing house, Istos continues its activities in many areas such as film production, Greek language, music and dance courses, a choir, public lectures etc. Its focus on Rum culture and its addressing of today’s problems are the main distinctive features of Istos, compared to other organizations functioning in similar fields. For 10 years, Istos has been operating on an independent and mostly, volunteer basis.