Culture and Arts Awards of 2014 presented at Topkap?

The Presidential Culture and Art Grand Awards of 2014 were presented last night a ceremony held at the Topkap? Palace on Nov. 3.  

Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu said actress Gönül Ülkü Özcan, elegy performer Celal Y?lmaz, lyricist Be?ir Ayvazo?lu and the Kubbealt? Academy Culture and Arts Foundation were chosen as this year's recipients of the Culture and Art Grand Awards. 

"When we put four awards next to each other, they show us traces of the modern and the ancient," said Davuto?lu, adding that the relation between modernity and globalization would never be lost. 

Unfortunately, Özcan could not attend the ceremony because of a health problem. Culture and Tourism Minister Yalç?n Topçu and the State Theaters General Director Nejat Birecik visited Özcan on Nov. 4 at her house and presented the award on behalf of the prime minister. 

The awards are distributed by the state to Turkish and foreign artists and institutions that contribute and honor Turkish culture and art. The recipients of the awards are selected by a jury in accordance with the Culture and Tourism Ministry Awards regulations.

Turkish police raid Koza ?pek's media HQ in Istanbul amid protests

Turkey celebrates Republic Day against backdrop of political turbulence

Local authorities in Ad?yaman stir outcry for sitting under tent as schoolkids get wet

Halfeti - A town of mesmerizing beauty

Exhibition shows Istanbul through eyes of children

Secret weapons of Turkish army: locally produced rocket launchers, missile systems

The bugs of Ankara: The weirdest scenes that anyone can run into in Turkish capital

A bird's eye view tour of Turkey's eastern provinces of Van and Hakkari

Turkish man...