Yunus Emre Enstitüsü - Kanada

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Yunus Emre Enstitüsü - Kanada

Explore Türkiye at our Cultural Centers! Join us for Turkish language classes, arts programs, and cultural events and activities.

10/07/2026

What if a miniature painting came to life? What stories would it tell us? ✨

🎨 Nakkaş Osman was one of the leading artists of the Ottoman imperial atelier in the second half of the 16th century. Particularly during the reign of Sultan Murad III, he contributed to the illustrations of important manuscripts, depicting historical events, ceremonies, and scenes of daily life through richly detailed compositions. He played an important role in shaping the distinctive visual language of Ottoman miniature painting.
From his world, “The Procession of the Kebab Makers” brings the tradespeople, clothing, and colourful atmosphere of Ottoman city life across the centuries to us today.
Now, the miniature comes to life. The figures begin to move, bringing Nakkaş Osman’s world to life once again, centuries later. ✨

10/06/2026

Join us for a special exhibition and workshops as part of Islamic Heritage Month, exploring the classical Islamic arts of Hüsn-i Hat (Islamic Calligraphy) and Tezhip (Illumination) in the Turkish tradition.

Featuring distinguished calligrapher Ferhat Kurlu Hattat Ferhat Kurlu خطاط فرهاد قورلو and illuminator Zeynep Kurlu Zeynep Kurlu, the two-day program brings together an exhibition and hands-on workshops at the Toronto Yunus Emre Institute.

✨ Exhibition Opening
📅 Thursday, October 15
⏰ 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
🎟️ Free admission | Registration required

The exhibition will feature works by Ferhat Kurlu and Zeynep Kurlu, alongside works by artists who have received awards in the IRCICA International Calligraphy Competition. IRCICA

✍️ Hüsn-i Hat & Tezhip Workshops
📅 Friday, October 16
⏰ 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
🎟️ Registration required

Two hands-on workshops will take place at the same time in separate rooms:

• Hüsn-i Hat (Islamic Calligraphy) with Ferhat Kurlu
• Tezhip (Illumination) with Zeynep Kurlu

📍 Toronto Yunus Emre Institute
2 Berkeley St., Suite 210, Toronto

Separate registration is required for the Exhibition Opening, Hüsn-i Hat Workshop, and Tezhip Workshop. As both workshops take place at the same time, please register for one workshop only.

Spaces are limited and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

🔗 Register through the link in our bio.

10/02/2026

Meet the Artist | Zeynep Kurlu ✨

This October, we are pleased to welcome distinguished illumination artist Zeynep Kurlu Zeynep Kurlu to Toronto for our Hüsn-i Hat & Tezhip: Islamic Calligraphy and Illumination exhibition and workshop program, presented as part of Islamic Heritage Month.

Zeynep Kurlu specializes in classical Turkish illumination (Tezhip). Having memorized the Quran, she holds the title Hafız-ı Kalam. Her artistic journey began under the guidance of Saime Rikkat Çelebi and Dr. Hatice Aksu, and she received her ijaza (certificate of mastership) in 2010.

Her illuminated works, have been showcased in national and international exhibitions and are held in collections around the world. She continues her artistic practice at her workshop in Istanbul-Ümraniye.

Join us at the Toronto Yunus Emre Institute to meet Zeynep Kurlu and discover her work as part of our special two-day program:

✨ Exhibition Opening
📅 Thursday, October 15 | 6:30–8:30 PM
🎟️ Free admission

🎨 Tezhip (Illumination) Workshop with Zeynep Kurlu
📅 Friday, October 16 | 6:30–8:30 PM
🎟️ Registration required

📍 Toronto Yunus Emre Institute
2 Berkeley St., Suite 210, Toronto
🔗 Register through the link in our bio.

09/30/2026

Meet the Artist | Hattat Ferhat Kurlu ✍️

This October, we are pleased to welcome distinguished calligrapher Ferhat Kurlu Hattat Ferhat Kurlu خطاط فرهاد قورلو to Toronto for our Hüsn-i Hat & Tezhip: Islamic Calligraphy and Illumination exhibition and workshop program, presented as part of Islamic Heritage Month.

Ferhat Kurlu began his journey into classical Turkish-Islamic arts during his studies at the Faculty of Theology. He received his ijazas in Thuluth and Naskh scripts in 2000 and has since received numerous awards, including first prizes in prestigious calligraphy competitions.

Ferhat Kurlu has participated in more than 30 national and international exhibitions and contributed to the calligraphic decoration of mosques and historical sites. Alongside his artistic practice, he continues to contribute to the tradition of Hüsn-i Hat as an instructor and jury member.

Join us at the Toronto Yunus Emre Institute to meet Ferhat Kurlu and discover his work as part of our special two-day program:

✨ Exhibition Opening
📅 Thursday, October 15 | 6:30–8:30 PM
🎟️ Free Admission

✍️ Hüsn-i Hat Workshop with Ferhat Kurlu
📅 Friday, October 16 | 6:30–8:30 PM
🎟️ Registration required

📍 Toronto Yunus Emre Institute
2 Berkeley St., Suite 210, Toronto

🔗 Register through the link in our bio.

09/28/2026

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Türkiye 🇹🇷

🎶 Âşıklık (Minstrelsy) Tradition is a centuries-old Turkish tradition of poetry, music and storytelling, performed by poet-singers known as âşıks. Accompanying themselves on the saz, âşıks bring together verse, melody and oral storytelling in their performances.

Traditionally performing at weddings, coffeehouses and public gatherings, âşıks develop their art through years of apprenticeship. Their poetry often explores themes of love and everyday life, and performances may also include storytelling, riddles, improvisation and lively verbal duels between âşıks.

One distinctive feature of the tradition is the mahlas, or poetic pseudonym, which the âşık traditionally includes in the final verse of a poem.

Travelling between communities, âşıks have long played an important role in passing down cultural values, stories and ideas from one generation to another, enriching both Turkish literary culture and community life.

In 2009, the Âşıklık (Minstrelsy) Tradition was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 🇹🇷

09/23/2026

Join us for a special exhibition and workshops as part of Islamic Heritage Month, exploring the classical Islamic arts of Hüsn-i Hat (Islamic Calligraphy) and Tezhip (Illumination) in the Turkish tradition.

Featuring distinguished calligrapher Ferhat Kurlu Hattat Ferhat Kurlu خطاط فرهاد قورلو and illuminator Zeynep Kurlu Zeynep Kurlu , the two-day program brings together an exhibition and hands-on workshops at the Toronto Yunus Emre Institute.

✨ Exhibition Opening
📅 Thursday, October 15
⏰ 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
🎟️ Free admission | Registration required

The exhibition will feature works by Ferhat Kurlu and Zeynep Kurlu, alongside works by artists who have received awards in the IRCICA International Calligraphy Competition. IRCICA

✍️ Hüsn-i Hat & Tezhip Workshops
📅 Friday, October 16
⏰ 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
🎟️ Registration required

Two hands-on workshops will take place at the same time in separate rooms:

• Hüsn-i Hat (Islamic Calligraphy) with Ferhat Kurlu
• Tezhip (Illumination) with Zeynep Kurlu

📍 Toronto Yunus Emre Institute
2 Berkeley St., Suite 210, Toronto

Separate registration is required for the Exhibition Opening, Hüsn-i Hat Workshop, and Tezhip Workshop. As both workshops take place at the same time, please register for one workshop only.

Spaces are limited and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

🔗 Register through the link in our bio.

09/18/2026

✨ Our online Hüsn-i Hat (Islamic Calligraphy) course has started!

Led by calligrapher Hattat Qudsiyyah Bhayat Qudsiyyah Bhayat , our participants have begun their journey into the art of Hüsn-i Hat in the Turkish tradition, focusing on the Thuluth script.

Here are a few moments from our online classes as we continue learning and practicing together. ✍️

The online sessions will continue through December, followed by an in-person workshop at the Toronto Yunus Emre Institute on November 28.

09/16/2026

Turkish Consul General in Toronto, Mr. Can Yoldaş, visited the Toronto Yunus Emre Institute as he completes his term in Toronto.

During his visit, we were pleased to present Mr. Yoldaş with a special Ebru artwork by Hacer Özcan Hacer Atar Ozcan as a farewell gift.

We are grateful to Mr. Yoldaş for his valuable support throughout his time in Toronto and wish him every success in his future career.

09/14/2026

We are pleased to have held an Ebru (Turkish marbling art) workshop with Hacer Özcan Hacer Atar Ozcan on September 13, 2026. 🎨

Participants had the opportunity to learn about the history and techniques of this traditional Turkish art form, including the abstract technique, and to create their own unique designs on water.

Reminder 🌷 Only a few spots left for our Floral Patterns Ebru Workshop on September 27!

Please stay tuned for our upcoming workshops and cultural events!

09/10/2026

From Our Library 📚

Empire of the Sultans: Ottoman Art from the Khalili Collection

Spanning nearly seven centuries of Ottoman history, Empire of the Sultans offers a rich look at the artistic world of the Ottoman Empire through works from the Nasser D. Khalili Collection.

The collection brings together illuminated and illustrated manuscripts, calligraphy, textiles, metalwork, weapons, treasury objects and İznik ceramics, highlighting both the diversity of Ottoman artistic production and the central place of the written word within it.

The catalogue also challenges the idea that the golden age of Ottoman art ended around 1600, presenting works that demonstrate the continued creativity of Ottoman artists into the final years of the Empire.

Originally accompanying an international exhibition presented in cities including Geneva, London and Jerusalem, and later toured across the United States, the catalogue places these works within the broader history of Ottoman art and culture.

Address

2 Berkeley, Unit 210
Toronto, ON
M5A4J5

Website

https://www.eventbrite.ca/organizations/events, https://linktr.ee/yeekanada

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