In one of the oldest neighborhoods in the heart of the global city of Istanbul, there is an area near the Fatih district called Balat. Known for its colorful buildings, some of which have been around for almost 200 years, the Balat area holds significant historical value and is frequently visited by tourists. And it was in Balat that a creative young couple from Syria chose to open a hub for cultural exchange and personal development that they hoped would provide a safe space for young people living in Istanbul, an ancient city that not only sits on two separate continents, but also brings together people of many races, colors, and cultures.
Forced to flee their homeland like millions of other Syrians seeking safety since 2011, Bayan Agha and Jihad Bakr realized that there were limited opportunities in the arts for migrants and refugees in Turkey. Seeking to remedy the situation, they came up with the idea of creating a center that would provide young people from the growing Arab population in Istanbul with an outlet for expressing their creativity and a platform for building community. It was the English phrase “You Only Live Once” that provided Bayan and Jihad with the inspiration for the center’s name, the YOLO Art Center and Cafe.
Upon entering the center you will find young people of different nationalities speaking Arabic, Turkish, and English, all sharing a common interest in creative expression. Bayan considers the center to be a kind of laboratory that welcomes and includes anyone interested in culture and art; where all are free to express their own individuality and exchange experiences.
Bayan, who has an architectural background, began renovating the building in Balat in 2020 along with her partner, Jihad, and a talented group of friends. Approximately 500 people attended the grand opening of the YOLO Art Center in May of 2022. Jihad talked to SYRIAWISE about the psychological effect that multiple crises in recent years, such as the violence that drove many Syrians into Turkey, the global pandemic, the wars in Ukraine and now in Gaza, have had on the young people of today and how important it is that they have someplace where they can go to decompress and find inspiration.
In the little more than two years since its opening, the YOLO art Center and Café has become a hub of creativity and cultural exchange in Istanbul that includes an open stage, a community cafe, and a training center. “We have offered therapy sessions, open discussions, game nights, chess tournaments, karaoke, open mikes, jam sessions, and much more,” Bayan told SYRIAWISE. YOLO has hosted a variety of international artists and their Arabic-language stand-up comedy has attracted a growing audience from inside and outside of Turkey.
“Many talents from the younger generation have emerged, bringing smiles to the audience’s faces when presenting their performances,” Jihad told SYRIAWISE, emphasizing how much it means to the community-minded couple that their center has managed to provide an oasis from the everyday worries and life struggles being faced by so many young people these days.
Bayan and Jihad believe that YOLO Art is serving a higher purpose than just making money and have worked hard to maintain a steady stream of free social events and educational classes for all ages as well as live shows that draw an increasing number of visitors from farther away. “We work and strive daily to expand the range of events and activities,” Jihad told SYRIAWISE, adding that he hopes that everyone who comes to the center will leave full of positive energy with a desire to come back again.
It is unfortunate that despite the wellspring of positivity that the YOLO Art Center and Cafe has provided for young people in Istanbul, the center has not been immune to the widespread effect of inflation and political instability in Turkey. Since the opening of YOLO Art, rent for the building, employee wages, and other operating expenses have risen exponentially. Recently Bayan and Jihad have started a GoFundMe campaign in the hope of raising enough money to keep the center open until further funding can be acquired, hoping that they will be successful in finding benefactors who share their passion for the arts and the emotional well-being they provide for an underserved community of young people in a city they now call home.
