December 7, 2007 "Clashes" by Alper Yýlmaz Project
  April 17-June 1, 2008 MayFest 2008
  May 2, 2008 Crossing Borders: A Cinematic Journey from the West to the East
  May 21 - June 3, 2008 The Edge of Heaven: A Film by Fatih Akin
  May 28, 2008 Tribute to the Life and Work of Ilhan Mimaroglu
  May 28-June 28, 2008 Painting and Mixed Media in New York
  June 13-15 2008 4 // From Istanbul by MEZZE
  October 4 - 12, 2008 10th Annual New York Turkish Festival

Through the production of high-quality festivals that attract interest from diverse cross-sections of the community, our Festival Department's mission mirrors that of the Moon and Stars Project. Through events such as MayFest, the Festival Department seeks to bring the American and Turkish communities together through fun and exciting events and to make a mark on the multicultural mosaic that is America.

Some MayFest presentations are made possible by the Moon and Stars Project's Community Project Grants program to encourage local artistic efforts and initiatives in the Turkish-American community.

Supporting Organizations:
ArteEast
Bilmed USA Canada
Center for Middle East Studies at Rutgers University
Deutsches Haus at NYU
ITSS
MEMEAC (Middle East & Middle Eastern American Center) at Graduate Center, CUNY
New York Foundation for the Arts
New York Sanat
Soongraph
Turk North America
WIN (Women Inspired by the Network) of Turkish-American Business Forum
 

Fazıl Say Piano Recital
Friday, April 14 (8:00 pm)

Timur Selçuk in Concert
Sunday, April 16 (8:00 pm)


Performance by the Alper Yilmaz Project
Thursday, April 20 (7:00 pm)


Vaults of Heaven: Sanctuaries of Byzantium
Wednesday, April 26 – Friday, July 28, 2006


Letter from Istanbul by Derya Türkan and Sokratis Sinopoulos
Sunday, April 30 (7:00 pm)


Exodus: A Sculpture Exhibition by Mehmet Ayanoglu
Reception: Thursday, May 4 (6:00 pm - 8:00 pm)
Exhibition: Thursday, May 4-Sunday, May 21 (11:00 am - 7:00 pm)


A Tribute to Attila Ilhan featuring Sunay Akin
Friday, May 5 (7:00 pm)


Cercis Project featuring Ozan Aksoy Trio
Saturday, May 13 (8:00 pm)


Synthetic Lands: An Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings
by Yasemin Kaçkar - Demirel
Reception: Tuesday, May 23 (6:00 pm - 8:00 pm)
Exhibition: Tuesday, May 23-Saturday, June 10 (11:00 am - 7:00 pm)


A Reading by Anastasia Ashman and Jennifer Eaten Gökmen:
Tales from the Expat Harem: Foreign Women in Modern Turkey

Thursday, May 25 (6:30 pm)


A Mediterranean Journey:
Cem Duruöz, Demetra George and Richard Weiss

Saturday, May 27 (8:30 pm)

 

 

Past Projects
Mayfest 2005


 Click for Mayfest 2005

 

Mayfest 2004


 Click for Mayfest 2004

 

Mayfest 2003


 Click for Mayfest 2003

 

Mayfest 2002
  • Laço Tayfa in Central Park
  • Ankara State Opera's presentation of Sen Sen Sen and Our Songs in Merkin Hall
  • The award winning play Neyzen
  • A collaboration with the Poetry Society of America to celebrate the centennial of Nazim Hikmet, Poets on Poets: Carolyn Forche on Nazim Hikmet
  • Elif Uras' exhibition The Ladder
  • Zishan Ugurlu's performance titled Musica alla Turca which was presented in collaboration with La Mama theater.
Mayfest 2001
  • Omer Faruk Tekbilek in Central Park
  • Nilufer in Concert
  • Aksanat Production Theatre's production of "Molly S."
  • Okay Temiz, Tiger Okoshi and Audiofact at the Blue Note Jazz Club
  • The Drama of the Gifted Child: A Photography Exhibition by Merve Berkman
  • A Group Exhibition: Levent Tuncer, Serdar Arat, Sermin Kardestuncer, Ozlem Paker
  • LOVEYOUFOREVER: An installation by Ipek Duben
Mayfest 2000
  • Sezen Aksu in Concert, a pop concert which broke our community's audience record with 2,200 people from 33 states attending
  • Genco Erkal's Yosma, a Bertolt Brecht adaptation starring Zeliha Berksoy
  • Yilmaz Erdogan's Cebimde Kelimeler
  • Millenium of Dance which showcased a history of dance from folk dances from Africa, Turkey and India, to hip-hop and ballet.
  • Echoes of the Streets: A Photography Exhibition by Attila Durak
  • In-between: A Light Installation by Goktug Sarioz
  • Studio Visits to Burhan Dogancay, Ertugrul Ates, Ipek Duben, and Sukran Aziz
Mayfest 1999
  • Cem Yilmaz Show
  • Yeni Turku in Concert
  • Yasar in Concert
  • Ugur Yucel Show
  • Hoy-Tur Folkdancing Ensemble
  • A Jazz Brunch with Ilhan Ersahin
  • Tango and Flamenco Night
  • Red Women: A Photography Exhibition by Guler Ugur
  • Video and Contemporary Music Show at Gallery X
  • X'treme X'teriors