This paper focuses on the connection between performing arts and public space in Turkey, and forming different methods on creating and improving public spaces to be used for performing arts. There will be a brief history about performing arts and public space in Turkey followed by what public space is understood as since 1980. Three different methods will be discussed on how to create and increase the number of public spaces. These methods are: 1. How the private sector can share or create their venues for public space 2. Creating initiatives to perform in public spaces 3. The use of technology and media for public space During the Ottoman Empire, public art was periodical. In Ramadan, there would be plays in streets or coffeehouses open to the people or mistrals would sing and even contest between themselves in public. As said above, performing arts were performed only in periodical times until the 19'th century when theaters were developed. From then on, performing arts was trapped in venues. In the republican era the state imposed regulations on performing arts which is why performing freely in public spaces did not exist and through out history, performing arts did not develop in Turkey like it did in Europe or the USA. "Kamu" in Turkish means public where as "Devlet" means state. In Turkey we cannot separate these two concepts and "public" continues to be a problematic issue in many areas, mainly art. During the Ottoman Empire, people could not acquire property because all property belonged to the sultan meaning the state. This caused people to think that the private sector was actually the state giving its property to the public while as the property already belonged to the public. It was after the 1980's that the term public lost it's meaning and became state. With the state and the private sector hand in hand art became "public looking private". Since 2000, globalization has allowed people to connect with each other anytime, anywhere. Technology made possible worldwide broadcasting of performing arts and Turkey has not started to use this technology in full capacity. We are trapped in designated places, venues, spaces selling our art where as we should be sharing our art with everybody. Public spaces are exactly what we need in Turkey to gather the interest of people for performing arts and to create a collective art community.
