Ali Güreli, Contemporary Istanbul’s Founder and Chairman participated at the New York Times Art For Tomorrow conference, hosting by Qatar Museums. Ali Güreli joined Victoria Siddall, Director of the Frieze Art Fairs London and New York and Frieze Masters; Savita Apte, Chair of the Abraaj Art Prize and a committee member of Art Dubai; andHans Ulrich Obrist, Co-Director of The Serpentine Galleries. The discussion was moderated by Michael Kimmelman, Chief Art and Architecture Critic of The New York Times. Together they discussed Art Fairs and Festivals: Global/Local, Temporary/Permanent. In the first talk of the session, Victoria Sidall said that "%85 of visitors at The Frieze Art Fair, are not there to buy art. They are there for a cultural experience." Hans Ulrich Obrist added to his speech that “Art fairs shouldn't be homogenized but should support local groups and artists”. While CI Chairman emphasized the unique position of Contemporary Istanbul, both locally and to its immediate regions, he highlighted the importance of Istanbul and Contemporary Istanbul ‘s location in relation to its surrounding regions, linking East to West, Gureli also talked about the fair and the city and the at the centre of a series of constantly shifting cultural and political landscapes and how this translates into Istanbul cultural scene both now and in the future and he added that “The art of tomorrow will emerge from Istanbul”. Noting that Contemporary Istanbul's endeavors to showcase and discuss art expand beyond the traditional gallery booth format, Güreli also emphasized how the fair become a brand for the city and its power to make Istanbul a brand city. “CI does not only promote art, it promotes Istanbul. The city has become an important hub for networking.” According to the Chairman, through Contemporary Istanbul, business leaders, culture makers and artists become acquainted with each other and with the particular markets that flow through the city. Güreli also noted CI is celebrating its 20th year with a new team. Due to be opened by one of the world's strongest arts & culture advocates, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the inaugural Art for Tomorrow conference focused on the art and architecture that is playing a vital role in building communities, andlives enriching lives the throughout communities, developingdeveloping commerce commerce and enriching throughout globe. the globe. Art for Tomorrow welcomed 200 invited guests representing the arts, public and private sectors, tourism experts, city planners and business developers. The conference discussed the changing dynamics of art and architecture, and their potential to transform people and places. Editors’ notes CI Contemporary Istanbul will celebrate their tenth anniversary in 2015. CI brings East together with West, and to seriously consider the Black Sea, Caucasian and Eastern Mediterranean regions in addition to Turkey and further afield in terms of attending galleries and collectors. Directly as a result of its diverse collector base CI was ranked by Skate’s Art Market Research in New York as the second most attended contemporary art fair in the frontier markets. According to Artnews’ article, the fair is the most visited fifth art fair in the world. While, ARCO Madrid came out on top, the list goes on as, Armory Show in New York, Art Basel Miami Beach, FIAC, and Art Basel. Heralded as “an essential resource for any art collector, art investor, or art marker professional,” the Skate report reflects the fair’s general review on a yearly basis. The report reflects the art market’s wellbeing and fairs’ success. In 2014 80,000 visitors attended the fair 108 galleries from 23 countries were present at the fair, and the visiting museum groups included the Members of Royal Academy of Arts, the Palais de Tokyo, the Albertina Museum, Delfina Foundation, the Guggenheim Circle Venice, the Whitney Museum of American Art, Sotheby’s Preferred. The total value of exhibited works amounted USD $102 million of which 74%, the equivalent of works on display, were sold. About The International New York Times Art for Tomorrow Conference The conference will offer two days of exciting conversations among a diverse mixture of attendees — global leaders in their fields, from artists and architects to museum and gallery directors, cultural ministers and financial experts. Topics to be covered in this conference are mainly focus on art and architecture such as, the intersection of commerce with art and architecture, the challenges in creating new arts destinations, extending the reach of the world’s great museums, educating and enriching communities through art, the influence of new art collectors, investors, auction houses and gallerists and also new technologies, immersive experiences and the art market