Eylül Aşkın conducted a special interview with Gökçeada Mayor Bülent Ecevit Atalay as part of the art days. The interview covered both the importance of the art days and the cultural and touristic future of Gökçeada.

The first “I Am Where the Butterflies Sleep Art Days,” organized this year in collaboration with Gökçeada Municipality and the Nusret Bey Foundation, brought together culture and art enthusiasts on the island on September 22-23, 2025.

The events began with a concert by artist Ege. The first day continued with exhibition and museum visits organized by the Nusret Bey Foundation. On the second day, an island tour, dance performances, and the screening of the film “I Am Where the Butterflies Sleep” took place at the Gökçeada Amphitheater with intense public participation.

The most special moment of the festival was the presentation of an honorary citizenship scroll to the film’s director, Ceyhan Kandemir, for her contributions to the promotion of Gökçeada. Presenting the scroll, Mayor Bülent Ecevit Atalay said in his speech:

“The film ‘I Am Where the Butterflies Sleep’ reflected the spirit of Gökçeada and the living culture of our villages in the most beautiful way. I felt that the soul of our villages, which we love very much, was reflected in the film. And as people watch it, they will get to know the beauties of the island even more.”

A Multicultural Island:

Mayor Atalay described Gökçeada as a place where different identities live together:

“This is a small Mardin. Our Greek friends, our people from different regions, are all creating a living culture here together. The children of the wind came together and created a culture in Gökçeada.”

The Contribution of Art and Events:

Emphasizing that the island’s events have a great impact on both the local people and tourists, Mayor Atalay said:

“In the past, Gökçeada was a closed society. But in recent years, it has broken its shell. With its cultural mosaic, it arouses more curiosity and is reaching historic records in tourism.”

Support for Local Artists:

“As the municipality, we have opened our doors to our local artists. They produce, and we provide support. We have also opened our streets to street artists; people can now listen to live music while walking.”

International Events:

The Mayor stated that Gökçeada will attract interest not only in Turkey but also internationally:

“With the Ultra Trail marathon we started last year, Hıdrellez celebrations, and different festivals, we are making the island attractive. People experience both nature and culture together.”

Organic Island Identity:

Mayor Atalay explained the “Organic Island” vision with these words:

“Gökçeada is the place where organic farming is most intensively practiced in Turkey. 95% of production is organic. Lavender, olives, and dairy products are completely natural. We provide all kinds of support to our farmers to protect this identity.”

Future Goal:

Mayor Atalay expressed a big dream for Gökçeada:

“My dream is to make Gökçeada an Island of Peace. Why shouldn’t Turkey’s Davos be here? This island, which has never been in a war throughout history, could be a meeting point for leaders. We want to build a convention center that can be the center of peace.”

🌿 Gökçeada: The Island of Peace and Art

Mayor Atalay underlined that Gökçeada is an example not only with its cultural diversity but also with its atmosphere of tolerance:

“Here, people live by accepting each other’s differences. We want to show this synergy as an example to other regions of our country. Gökçeada proves that it is possible to live together without marginalization.”