Bucking the trend and opening in the unfashionable neighborhood of Dolopdere rather than on İstiklal Caddesi alongside most of the big-name privately endowed cultural centers, ARTER (arter.org.tr; adult/senior/child & young adult under 25 ₺450/250/free) is home to the Vehbi Koç Foundation's collection of contemporary art – one of the most impressive in Türkiye. The building was designed by London-based Grimshaw Architects and features a shimmering facade of glass-fiber concrete reinforced with pearlescent handmade mosaics. Inside, there are multiple exhibition spaces, performance halls, a library, an arts bookstore and a bistro. The collection includes paintings, drawings, sculptures, prints, photographs, film, video and mixed-media installations from the 1960s to the present. Exhibitions include work by Turkish and international artists.
The gallery is closed on Mondays and offers free entry on Thursdays. Regular free shuttle buses run from Taksim and Tepebaşı during visiting hours; check the website for details.
