Canakkale Biennial Initiative (CABININ) is a Canakkale-based nonprofit initiative formed by cooperation of collaborators from various fields and occupations. As a platform for producing artistic and cultural ideas and events, CABININ organizes and supports national as well as international events, in particular, Canakkale Biennial, based upon social benefits and responsibility.
CABININ, a local non-governmental organization, due to its area of interest, focuses its activities primarily on contemporary art and has affected the art and culture scene in Canakkale with increasing momentum for more than ten years. Over the years, participation in and support of the large and inclusive national and international activities and events by CABININ have increased as a result of enhanced involvement and interest of the local populace. Biennial, exhibitions, seminars, symposiums, and performances have all been planned and produced through a sustainable systematic understanding of the principle of volunteerism. Within these projects, interdisciplinary art workshops have also been planned and organized simultaneously in order to target different groups and to be in contact with each and every layer of society.
Since the first event, the conceptual structures were aimed at integrating contemporary art into the everyday lives of citizens and creating an environment where art is a platform for democratic debates through its unique language. Event locations, such as Er Bath, Old Armenian Church, Old Tobacco Depot (recently named as Korfmann Library), abandoned buildings in Fevzipaşa district, Canakkale Waterfront, Marina, various public and private properties, the Old Coach Station, Public Gardens and some governmental buildings, have been chosen carefully to seamlessly integrate the activities into the city’s everyday landscape. In order to increase creativity and participation of underrepresented members of the community, artistic and cultural events have been developed focusing on various groups and topics, such as children, teenagers, adults, people with disabilities and gender identity issues.
Dialogue and collaboration have been cultivated to maintain the support and participation of local authorities, non-governmental organizations as well as the private sector.
So far CABININ has positioned the Canakkale Biennial as a signature event impacting art and culture scenes at the national and international levels. From the very first day onwards, CABININ kept contemporary art at the center, brought differentiated and fragmented parts of the society together, operated on principles of volunteerism, and sustained a systematic and collaborative approach to art and social issues.
