I had the opportunity to present the first social impact report of Gate 27 at the 35th annual conference of the Artist Communities Alliance (ACA), held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on December 10.
Gate 27 is an international artist residency program founded in 2019, with locations in Istanbul and Ayvalık, Turkey. The program supports interdisciplinary research and production across the arts, culture, and ecology, while fostering socially engaged practices.
The three-day ACA conference brought together artists and representatives of artist residency programs from around the world to exchange ideas, share experiences, and explore best practices. More than a networking event, the conference provided space for active engagement, inviting participants to co-create and collaborate around the urgent challenges facing the arts and culture ecosystem today. I especially appreciated the way the conference was designed inclusively, fostering diverse perspectives.
My 1.5-hour session focused on the findings of Gate 27’s inaugural social impact report. The session also included a “think-together” component centered on understanding a philanthropist’s perspective—acknowledging that fundraising remains one of the most pressing issues for artist residency programs worldwide. The audience was highly engaged, with many thought-provoking questions raised around our social impact measurement methodology.
Presenting Gate 27’s work in such an open, forward-thinking environment reminded me how valuable it is to be part of a global community that’s actively shaping the future of residencies. It reinforced the belief that socially engaged art practices, when supported with thoughtful frameworks, can create long-lasting and transformative impact.
Here is a short clip from the presentation…
Burak Mert 