The project “Istanbul Woman- Woman Istanbul” which was organized by the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency, Library of Women’s Work and Information Centre Foundation, went on at full speed in September. The Project’s main goal is to introduce Istanbul as a city of women with locations, architecture, culture and rituals.

This project aims at revealing women and women’s history in Istanbul, historical locations built or inhibited by women, exposing the role of women in cultural history of Istanbul and disclosing the folklore forgotten or continued.

Within the context of “Panels on Istanbul and Women” as one of the two main headings of the Project; two panels were organized in September with the participation of expert speakers: “Women’s Movements in Istanbul during the Ottoman Era” and “Women’s Organizations founded during the Republican Era”.

All the panels were also attended by certain NGOs intending to examine the history of Istanbul and women together, to introduce the creative intelligence of women and cultural diversity of Istanbul.

Within this project, a total of thirty-six conferences and panels were held about Istanbul Woman – Woman Istanbul, each realized with the participation of NGOs for women and, eighteen Istanbul tour guides and an “Istanbul guide from a woman’s eyes” got printed.

Conferences and panels organized were: Istanbul through the Eyes of Foreign Woman Travelers, Different Woman Lives in Ottoman Istanbul, The firsts and pioneering women in Istanbul, Woman Movements in Istanbul during the Ottoman era, Women in Istanbul’s Entertainment World, Woman Magazines printed in Istanbul, Sufi Women in contemporary Istanbul, Women feeding the world, Women Hosted by Istanbul: Foreign Women who lived in Istanbul, Woman’s fashion in Istanbul, A history and geography of Woman Organizations founded during the Republican era in Istanbul.

Another event of the Project “Istanbul tours from a woman’s eyes” aimed to introduce the heritages of women and to explain Istanbul’s multicultural structure from woman’s perspective. A history and geography of woman organizations were founded during the Republican era in Istanbul. Within the scope of the project, tours were organized to historical sites like Kadıköy Bazaar.

Along with a relevant academician and the project coordinator, the bazaar culture all through history and woman’s efforts to meet the needs of their houses were discussed. The main shopping points during the Byzantine, Ottoman and Republican eras were pointed out.

Tours were also arranged to “Holy Places established by women in Üsküdar” and “Women’s Traces in Pera”.

The “Library of Woman’s Work and Information Centre Foundation” celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2009. The most comprehensive project launched by the Foundation is expected to continue until December 2010. The events include researches and organizations regarding the integrative and transformative power of women, to introduction of cities’ most important cultural heroines and to present the invisible history of woman to international community.

In this direction women from neighboring countries were also invited to the events in order to form an interaction.

The Women's Library and Information Center was established in 1989 by women in Istanbul and came into activity in 1990.

The purpose of the library was to gather knowledge about the history of women, to present this information in an organized way to those who do research today, and to preserve the written documents of the past and of today for future generations.

The library, opened in a historic building owned by the Istanbul municipality, had only 100 books in its shelves when it was opened to public. Within 20 years, it included thousands of books written by or about women, periodicals and articles on women and a special collection to preserve the personal and conference documents of women, an audio-visual collection and an oral-history collection.

The library has generated projects on women's oral history and women's publications.

The library is financed by donations made by its members and by the sale of its publications and annual diaries.

The “Istanbul Woman - Woman Istanbul” project launched by the Foundation played an active role during the ongoing process of Istanbul to be the European Capital of Culture in 2010.

Now the women constituting half of the city population in Istanbul while presenting their creative power by joining the events also have an opportunity to witness their own power.

To rewrite Istanbul’s history within the axis of woman will honor women and all citizens.