Balıkesir Culture Research and Application Center

Hello, I am Dr. Zeynep ŞİMŞEK UMAÇ, a faculty member at Balıkesir University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Turkish Language and Literature. Additionally, I serve as the director of the Balıkesir Region Culture Research and Application Center. Our center was established in 1998 with the aim of researching the culture of the Balıkesir region, supporting academic studies in this field, and coordinating these efforts. It serves as a hub where public institutions and organizations, including the Provincial Directorate of Culture, municipalities, and various non-governmental organizations, can collaborate and join forces to explore local culture and traditions. Our center strives to be a key stakeholder in fostering cooperation and partnerships with these entities within our university.
Presently, we are engaged in a collaborative project with the Provincial Directorate of National Education, called the "Sustainability of Balıkesir's Cultural Heritage Ideas Marathon." This project competition, which aims to generate innovative ideas for preserving Balıkesir's cultural heritage, is currently in the application phase. By May 22, we anticipate the completion of the application process, followed by the evaluation of the submitted projects. Researchers, scholars, and students focusing on Balıkesir's region, culture, as well as tangible and intangible cultural aspects, are welcome to benefit from our research center. Similarly, public institutions, municipalities, and non-governmental organizations involved in Balıkesir's local culture can collaborate with our university through our center whenever there is a need for cooperation.
Balıkesir is a city rich in culture, boasting diverse Turkish cultural heritage. There are ample opportunities for conducting research on the tangible and intangible cultural aspects of Balıkesir. Naturally, such research requires the fresh perspectives and visions of young individuals. We are here to support our students who are interested in language, history, culture, and ethnography. I encourage them to consider Balıkesir as a promising field of study and to take advantage of our center's resources. To all students preparing for the university entrance exam, I extend my best wishes for success. We wholeheartedly welcome you to Balıkesir University.