The Story of MAKSAD

The story of MAKSAD began in the late 1990s, when a group of artists from various corners of Turkey and the world who had settled in Marmaris began holding regular rehearsals to make music together. The foundation for what is now the MAKSAD Chamber Music Ensemble  was laid during those days.

With this momentum, the lack of a structure capable of regular cultural and artistic production in Marmaris was recognised, and the need to transform artistic production into an institutional structure led to the founding of our Marmaris Culture and Arts Association (MAKSAD) in 1999. Beyond ensuring the continuity of the chamber music ensemble, the association was shaped with the aim of creating a quality cultural environment in Marmaris that embodies the elements of interaction, sharing, quality and continuity, and it continues its activities in this direction.

Our association’s mission is defined as follows:

The Marmaris Culture and Arts Association (MAKSAD) was established in 1999 with the aim of contributing to the advancement of our country’s cultural and artistic life to universal contemporary standards and to accelerating social development, based on the principles of a democratic, participatory, and productive civil society organisation. The association’s aim is to establish a quality and lasting identity for our district Marmaris, with a focus on culture and arts, with the contribution of responsible, art-loving individuals and institutions; to provide qualified education in the field of culture and arts to children and young people living in our region; and to build new bridges between locals and foreign guests visiting our region as tourists through arts and cultural events.

In this respect, MAKSAD has become an inclusive and pluralistic production platform that opens up space for different art disciplines. Beginning with a chamber music ensemble, its journey has expanded over time to include performing arts, exhibitions, competitions, and festivals; and at this point, MAKSAD has become a recognized civil society organization in Muğla province and various regions of Turkey, undertaking social responsibility, building connections between local artists and international names, and valuing progressive and participatory collaboration.

Project Highlights

Domestic and International Musical Projects and Concerts:

  • “Symphony of the Sweetgum Tree” (2024) composition project, a collaboration between Dutch composer Bert Barten, Marmaris National Parks Directorate, the Embassy of the Netherlands in Turkey and MAKSAD, and its premiere at Marmaris National Park as part of MKSF24.
  • The world premiere of the orchestral work “Phoenix”, composed by Azerbaijani composer Ilyas Mirzayev for the MKSF22 opening concert, in reference to the devastating forest fires in Marmaris in 2021 (2022).
  • Composition of the “Odyssey” Oratorio by Ilyas Mirzayev with the Bürgerchor Stuttgart (Stuttgart Citizens’ Choir), production of the work and its premieres in Marmaris and Stuttgart (2017, 2019)
  • ver 150 concerts with the MAKSAD Chamber Music Ensemble in various formations and collaborations: thematic concerts such as Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Concerto with Suna Kan as soloist (2008), Atatürk and Music, Journey from Yunus Emre to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (2006)
  • Commission and premiere of the Muğla Folk Songs Symphony by Ilyas Mirzayev (2007)
  • Organisation of a series of Turkey-Germany friendship concerts in collaboration with the Mecklenburger Kammersolisten (Rostock, Germany), the Rostock Polyphonic Choir (Rostock, Germany), the Orfeon Chamber Choir (Ankara) and the MAKSAD Chamber Orchestra (2008)
  • Organisation of the orchestra and choir tour of Toonkunst Leiden (Leiden, Netherlands) and A Capella Group 34 (Istanbul) as well as of the ‘Mozart Mania’ Turkish-Dutch friendship concert (2007)

Social Responsibility

MAKSAD contributes to society and the environment through its projects and support for civil society organisations active in the Marmaris area, guided by a sense of responsibility towards society and the environment, with a focus on cooperation, empathy and sensitivity.

Recently, it has carried out or contributed to the following projects in this context:

  • Within the scope of MKSF2025, drama, photography, archaeology and history workshops on the ancient city of Kedreai and the students’ sense of belonging to their region at Çetibeli Middle School
  • Following the earthquake on 6 February 2023, a concert with members of the Antakya Civilisations Choir and Antakya Philharmonic Orchestra as part of MKSF23.
  • Financial support in the form of scholarships throughout the academic year for six students affected by the earthquake who are studying at the Department of Music, Faculty of Education, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University.
  • In February 2022, a tree planting event organised by Marmaris Nature Volunteers and numerous MAKSAD members in an area designated by the Marmaris District Forestry Directorate on the İçmeler slopes within the National Park boundaries, which were destroyed by the major Marmaris forest fire in the summer of 2021
  • Free public concerts in the villages surrounding Marmaris as part of the 2022-2024 editions of MKSF
  • A 10-week music and fine arts education project for children in the villages surrounding Marmaris, organised in collaboration with Marmaris Municipality, MAKSAD, ÜÇADER and the Marmaris Branch of Eğitim-Sen during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years.

STORY OF MAKSAD with VISUALS