Ankara
20.10.2026
- 29.10.2027
Founded in 1912, the *Türk Ocakları* (Turkish Hearths) served as a significant hub during the final period of the Ottoman Empire, where ideas concerning Turkish identity were debated. Through lectures, publications, and educational initiatives, the organization contributed to the dissemination of a shared consciousness of language, history, and culture. In the early years of the Republic, it also played an influential role in establishing the cultural foundation for nation-building. The building that currently houses the Ankara State Art and Sculpture Museum originally served as the headquarters of the *Türk Ocakları* starting in 1927.
For the *Türk Ocakları*, folk culture was not merely a legacy from the past, but a living body of knowledge that required research and promotion. An interest in local dialects, traditions, folk literature, music, attire, and handicrafts fueled ethnographic studies that brought the cultural diversity of Anatolia into the spotlight.
On June 13, 1978, 1,306 artifacts belonging to the *Türk Ocakları* were transferred from the Ankara State Art and Sculpture Museum to our institution, becoming part of our museum’s collection. This exhibition presents 70 of the most distinguished pieces from this unique collection, 52 of which are being displayed for the first time. By bridging the *Türk Ocakları*'s efforts to understand culture and forge a common identity with traces of daily life from that era, the exhibition is open to visitors from October 22, 2026, to October 29, 2027. It has been organized to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the *Türk Ocakları* headquarters in Ankara.
Location: Ankara Ethnography Museum, Temporary Exhibition Hall No. 9
