Help political artist Derya from Turkey to study in Europe!

**video below**

Hello, I'm Derya from Turkey. I'm an actress, and I’ve been accepted into the Master's program in Performance Practices at ArtEZ University of the Arts in the Netherlands. This is a huge step for me!

But I do not have the money that I need to actually go to University. The total cost for one year of tuition and living expenses is 26,700€.

I can contribute 10.000€ myself and was able to raise 3.000€. I’m still in need of 13.700€, plus gofundme fees. The school requires me to prove that I have this money in my bank account by 31th of may. So I don’t even have a week.

I have applied for scholarships, but the results will be announced later in the year. Due to not having a residence permit there’s no student loan that is available for me. I would love to take a bank loan, but since I don’t have an regular income that’s impossible. My parents can not support me.

My life has always been shaped by the courage to take different paths. After studying at a Science High School and being accepted into the Mathematics Department at Marmara University, I chose to follow my dream and entered the Theatre Department at Anadolu University State Conservatory. Since then, I’ve taken part in many projects in fields such as acting, dance, and music. I acted in Crossing, a film that premiered at Berlinale and received several awards. I played the lead role in the documentary „The Red Illusions of a Wild Anemon“ that won Best Documentary at the Grand Off Film Festival in Poland.

After doing Erasmus in France, I performed at festivals both in Turkey and abroad with original and innovative projects. I’ve made it a priority to be involved in works which center women and the experience of being a woman. To deepen my understanding of social and political interrelationships I studied sociology. As a solo artist as well as with collective work I was invited to festivals and received awards in Turkey and in Europe. I was also selected for residencies and masterclasses throughout Europe, naming one: I have beeen one of six participants from Turkey selected for the Erasmus+ project DOCUPEACE (Munich-Mardin), which focused on social peace, nonviolent communication, and documentary making.

With the “Sosyal Oyun Sokakta” collective, which merges art and activism, I worked with children in seismic zones, camps, and economically disadvantaged areas.

My CV if you want to know more

In December I used the resting days of my visa and traveled to Germany and Italy. The performances I saw and the connections I made — especially at the Venice International Performance Art Week — made me realize how much I missed living in Europe as an independent artist. It allowed me to feel alive again what I have been missing in my recent live in Turkey. Revived by those connections and experiences I understood that I want to study Performance Arts more deeply, in order to combine art with social work and political issues. Art, as a way of surviving, can enrich both, myself and society, in many ways.

Art as I see it, is a tool to search for and share what is in danger of being erased.

I’ve chosen a path outside of societal and familial expectations in Turkey. Now, I want to move forward and expand my artistic practice. I can only do so with your help.

If you have any other suggestions on how to finance my studies, I’m happy to hear them. Your support truly means a lot.

If you have any questions, I’m here.

Thank you!!