Omuz is a support initiative dedicated to the arts & culture workers facing economic difficulties and other hardships caused by the precarious working conditions through forms of solidarity and resource sharing.

Omuz came to life during the COVID-19 pandemic to draw attention to the precarious conditions endured by arts & culture workers. The initiative aspires to lay the foundation for a solidarity-based professional association to be formed in the future.

Omuz was founded by a group of artists and cultural professionals concerned by the escalating economic challenges and social vulnerabilities in the field of culture. Its main objectives are to act as a conduit between individuals seeking assistance and those providing support, while also fostering the exchange of resources amongst peers. Omuz is not a legal entity, such as an association, foundation, or cooperative. Moreover, it does not engage in financial transactions, accept payments, solicit donations or financial support, nor does it take any commissions.

Support Criteria

  • The number of people who receive support will be determined according to the number of people willing to provide support.
  • Those providing support may commit to any amount individually or as an organization, association, foundation, or corporation. It is also possible to reach the minimum sum of 3,000 TL collectively.
  • Individuals who would like to receive support may only apply on behalf of their own. Applications submitted by other individuals and organizations will not be taken into consideration.
  • Those receiving support will be selected by a software that makes random picks and matched with the designated supporters. The order in which the application was received is not a determining factor.
  • Omuz will reach only those who are to receive the support within two weeks following the application’s closing date.
  • The bank account information of those who are to receive support will be disclosed to the supporters.
  • The information of those receiving and giving support is protected within the system of Omuz.
  • However, it is not possible to retain full anonymity due to bank transfer procedures.
  • The individual receiving support may only benefit from Omuz once a year.

Past Facilitators:

Amira Akbıyıkoğlu, Aslı Özdoyuran, Ateş Alpar, Ayça Telgeren, Bager Akbay, Banu Cennetoğlu, Berat Meryem Örnek, Betül Aksu, Canan Erbil, Cihad Caner, Civan Özkanoğlu, Deniz Artun, Duygu Demir, Ekmel Ertan, Emre Erbirer, Esra Aysun, Görkem İmrek, Irmak Karasu, Melis Bektaş, Merve Elveren, Neylan Bağcıoğlu, Özge Açıkkol, Saliha Yavuz, Sevim Sancaktar, Simge Burhanoğlu, Verda Tınmaz, Yasemin Özcan, Yavuz Parlar, Yelta Köm

Contributors:

Aksel Zeydan Göz, BAS, Ceren Özselçuk, Gülşah Öztekin, İz Öztat, Kaan Fıçıcı, Merve Ünsal, Metin Akdemir, Özge Ersoy, Philippine Hoegen, Selim Bilen, Serdar Darendeliler, Serra Şensoy, Ünal Bostancı