Cultural Agenda

The Notre Dame de Sion French High School in İstanbul is hosting an exhibition titled “Rousseau and Turkey -- Dreams and Theories” until June 2 to celebrate the 300th birthday of French writer and philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

İstanbul’s Sakıp Sabancı Museum (SSM) hosts “Where Darkness Meets Light: Rembrandt and His Contemporaries,” an exhibition that explores the Golden Age of Dutch Art, until June 10. The museum is closed on Mondays.

The Consulate General of Greece in İstanbul is hosting a photo exhibition titled “İstanbul through the lens of Achilles Samandji and Eugene Dalleggio” until June 20 in the historic Sismanoglio Megaro in Beyoğlu. Visiting hours: 3 p.m.-8 p.m. weekdays; 12 p.m.-7 p.m. weekends

The Pera Museum presents “Goya: Witness of His Time,” a selection of engravings and paintings by the Spanish artist, through July 29. The museum is closed on Mondays.

“Fifty Years of Urban Walls” a retrospective of works by pioneering Turkish contemporary artist Burhan Doğançay, will open on May 23 at İstanbul Modern, where it will remain on display until Sept. 23.

The İstanbul Modern is also home to two other exhibitions; “After Yesterday,” a selection from its photography collection; and its permanent show, “New Works, New Horizons.” The museum is closed on Mondays.

The Cer Modern museum in Ankara is home to “The Art of Escher and His Contemporaries,” an exhibition featuring the work of 20th-century Dutch printmaker Maurits Cornelis Escher and printmakers artistically related to him, until Aug. 5.

Also at Cer Modern, “Dali,” an exhibition featuring a selection of Salvador Dali’s well-known works, wraps up today. The museum is closed on Mondays.

An exhibition titled “İstanbul Eindhoven-SALTVanAbbe: 68-89,” presenting a selection of works created between 1968 and 1989 by artists from Turkey and the Netherlands, is on display until Aug. 26 at the contemporary art space SALT Beyoğlu in İstanbul. Online: http://saltonline.org/en

FESTIVALS

The 18th İstanbul International Theater Festival runs until June 5, presenting more than 100 performances by 45 theater and dance companies from six countries in 22 venues around the city. For detailed information and the full program, see http://tiyatro.iksv.org/en.

The 3rd Antalya International Theater Festival runs until May 25, presenting theater and dance productions by companies from eight countries at the Haşim İşcan Cultural Center. The full festival program is available online at www.antalyadt.gov.tr.

MUSIC & PERFORMING ARTS

The İstanbul State Opera and Ballet will present the Turkish ballet “Hürrem Sultan” on Friday at 8 p.m. at the Süreyya Opera House in Kadıköy. The same venue will host a concert performance as part of this year’s Türksoy Opera Days on Saturday at 8 p.m.

The İzmir State Opera will stage the ballet “Zorba,” based on the famous movie “Zorba the Greek,” on Tuesday at 8 p.m. and on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the İzmir Opera House.

FILM PROGRAMS

The Goethe-Institut İstanbul’s Thursday Films screening program that ran throughout February and March has been extended until the end of May. The program, held weekly at the institute’s auditorium, continues with films made in the past three years by German directors. The admission-free screenings are held each Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Goethe-Institut İstanbul.

The Pera Museum presents a program of five works for the big-screen in “Goya On Screen” through July 15 on the sidelines of its ongoing exhibition, “Goya: Witness of His Time.” For the full schedule, check http://en.peramuzesi.org.tr.