ISTANBUL.- Contemporary Istanbul, the leading international art fair in the region, announced that Melih İsmail İnan will take on the role of Fair Director. Melih has been part of the Contemporary Istanbul family for nearly ten years. In his new role as Fair Director, Melih will take on the development of the overall vision for the 15th edition of CI, which will return this autumn from the 24th – 27th September 2020, and the realisation of the first edition of a digital version of the fair. Presenting a platform for Istanbul’s thriving art scene, growing art market and collector base, CI offers an access point to the best contemporary art from the wider region. In 2020, CI Continues to be supported by its main sponsor, Akbank.

In addition to this year’s new Fair Director, Contemporary Istanbul is also pleased to announce a new Executive Advisory Board led by Chairperson Suzan Sabancı Dinçer. Mrs. Sabancı Dinçer is the Chairman of Akbank, one of Turkey’s largest banks, and a leading art collector.

The 15th edition of CI will see the launch of a new digital version of the fair, which will provide exhibitors and visitors with the key characteristics of CI without having to leave their own homes. The initiative will run in parallel to the physical fair, and galleries will be able to interact with visitors as they would in their physical booths. The platform is scheduled to launch in September 2020. Further details of the initiative, galleries and presentations will be announced summer 2020.

Melih has more than sixteen years of experience in the industry and has worked across more than 160 successful exhibitions globally. Melih has worked with CI for the last ten years and he has been responsible for the planning and on-site execution of the fair. Melih is also an art collector, with a particular focus on Turkish contemporary art.