First held in 1997 and subsequently organized in 2000, 2003, 2006, 2010, and 2013, the International Student Triennial is distinctive as Turkey’s first student triennial. Organized with the participation of faculties of fine arts and design from Turkey, along with many art and design schools from all around the world, the triennial forms an extensive network for and provides valuable inputs to students who are preparing for the international arts and design arena.

Organized during the tenure of Dean Prof. Erol Eti in 1997, the first triennial hosted 18 institutions from 11 countries and was held in what is currently the National Palaces Storage Museum. The second and third triennials were held during the tenure of Dean Prof. Hüsamettin Koçan. As the number of participants increased, Valide-i Atik, which is the last masterpiece of Sinan the Architect, was also appended into our exhibition sites. The triennials of 2006 and 2010 were held during the tenure of Dean Prof. Nazan Erkmen, with 2010 triennial being held in conjunction with 2010 Istanbul World Capital of Culture events. The sixth triennial, held in 2013 during the tenure of Dean Prof. Dr. İnci Deniz Ilgın, is the first triennial that extends to all through the year, increasing the dynamism and effectiveness of student participation. The sixth triennial hosted 50 institutions from 16 countries.

Bringing hundreds of students together from all around the world, the triennial has an important role in enabling comparison between different approaches in art and design education. Through exhibitions, workshops and short films the Triennial aims at providing a resourceful and international environment for students to question, observe, discuss the production process, share, and interact with each other, and so to position themselves in the international arena. With this event, initiated by Marmara University Faculty of Fine Arts 19 years ago, the goal is to strengthen the communication and friendship among international institutions of art and design education and prepare a platform for the prospective young artists and designers.

The framework of the Triennial is distinctive as a first, in establishing a platform to create a wide array of new and alternative languages of production. As students from various art and design schools come together, educators of these students also contribute to the triennial. Triennial is, therefore, a participatory act of cooperation that transforms into a true sphere of communication. No communicative technology is as effective as vis-a-vis conveyance of ideas. Artists and designers who contribute to the inception of a universal language between cultures will be meeting once again in 2017, in İstanbul, which has embraced different cultures throughout its history.