This project proposes a jump in 500 years of joint cultural history between Europe and Turkey to change perceptions of citizens & artists from both sides. With its 6 partners & 7 associate partners from 9 countries, it will show to around 300,000 citizens the results of artistic exchanges between Europe and Ottomans a few centuries ago and stimulate artistic encounters and debates on cultural relations today. Its objectives are to:1. Raise awareness and change perceptions about the cultural relations that Europe and the Ottomans had during the Renaissance2. Explore and raise awareness on cultural relations between the EU and Turkey today3. Gather young artists from Turkey and Europe to generate new artistic ideasIn the current Mediterranean context, EU-Turkey cultural relations are crucial to stimulate dialogue. Mutual perceptions have suffered from centuries of mistrusts, in particular in Ottomans’ times, in spite of a reality which seemed to tell a different story with artists such as Dürer or Titian who were inspired by Ottomans. It is thus important to look back at our joint past to be aware of what can & should be achieved by artists and our cultural sectors in the presentThe project answers to the 3 specific objectives of CULTURE: It sets up 2 exhibitions and 1 thematic circuit (in a permanent collection) with 300 arts works coming from various European museums while also boosting collaboration of cultural workers; It gathers 16 young Turkish and European artists to stimulate creative interactions and encourage their mobility. It also fosters intercultural dialogue through these actions as well as 4 conferences and a manifesto to raise awareness of cultural operators, citizens and policy-makers about EU-Turkey cultural relations.To communicate the project’s results, partners will develop various materials and actions, from exhibition catalogues, brochures for young people, to mobile applications, audioguides, flyers, or 200 articles in the press.