marfaa for Publishing and culture

We want to take a moment to introduce "Marfaa", the Mediterranean Cultural Forum. We are
a newly established cultural organization, founded in 2023 and based in Istanbul, Turkey. Our
objective is to foster new horizons of cultural exchange and contribute to building bridges
between institutions and individuals working in the field of culture across the countries of the
Eastern Mediterranean.
The cities, ports, and human settlements in the Eastern Mediterranean have been interacting
socially, economically, and culturally with each other and with other regions for over 4000
years. They share many similarities yet display important distinctions from each other. By
looking at the Eastern Mediterranean as a region, our work goes beyond the severing
framework of south/north and refocuses on a region that has deep shared historical, cultural,
and social ties. In recent years, the term "Eastern Mediterranean" has regained attention as a
result of displacement and migration between and from the countries of this region, affecting
various domains such as politics, economy, society, environment, and others.

At Marfaa, we believe in the importance of bridging the gap in cultural, intellectual, and artistic
exchange in the Eastern Mediterranean.
How will we do this?
Together, we seek to enhance networking between cultural institutions in the region,
contribute to the transfer of experiences and expertise, and create spaces for intellectual and
cultural dialogue and exchange, while breaking down language and ideological barriers among
these countries.
We believe in the importance of freedom, tolerance, and dialogue in creating a diverse and
multi-voiced cultural community. We seek to support cultural and artistic production and
provide platforms for artists and actors in this field, as well as to protect the shared heritage of
the region, especially in light of the conflicts, displacement, and climate change that threaten
this heritage.