Founded in 2019 with the mission of “A Better Future,” Gate 27 is an international residency program established to expand research and production opportunities at the intersection of art, science, and industry. The organization has now published its first social impact report focused on its residents. Prepared using Social Value International’s impact measurement methodology, the report examines the individual and professional impacts experienced by residents who participated in the program between 2019 and 2024. The report is also notable for being one of the few social impact reports prepared by cultural and arts institutions not only in Turkey but also internationally.

Social impact measurement helps to understand not only the extent to which goals are achieved but also the behavioral changes required for sustainable transformation. In this way, institutions can redefine concepts of success and growth in a more inclusive manner. Gate 27’s first social impact report is significant in that it sheds light on the changes and impacts created among its residents—the primary target group of the residency program—within the framework of the institution’s mission to use culture and the arts as effective tools for building a sustainable world.

Gate 27 Is One of the Few Institutions in Turkey Measuring Social Impact in the Arts and Culture Field

Accessible via Gate 27’s website, the social impact report plays an important role as a resource for future social impact measurement reports to be prepared across the arts and culture sector, particularly in measuring the social impact of residency programs. Through improvements to be implemented based on feedback collected during the reporting process, Gate 27 aims to increase and expand the social impact it creates for its residents in the coming years. This report not only documents the work carried out but also analyzes Gate 27’s impact on its residents through lessons learned, evolving approaches, and relationships formed.

Gate 27 Founder Melisa Sabancı Tapan shared the following assessment regarding the report:

“We see this report not as a result, but as a living process. For us, what matters is not growth but depth; thinking more carefully, listening better, and continuing to learn together. Gate 27 values existing not as a fixed structure, but as an organism that evolves through transformation.”

 Gate 27’s Social Impact Report Was First Presented at the 35th Anniversary Conference of Artist Communities Alliance

Artist Communities Alliance (ACA), which offers an extensive network primarily for artist residency programs and artists in the United States, held its 35th anniversary conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico, between December 8–11, 2025. Held under the theme “Building Our Futures Together,” the conference brought together more than 200 artists and residency program professionals.

On December 10, 2025, Gate 27 Director Burak Mert Çiloğlugil presented Gate 27’s first social impact report to conference participants. The report attracted attention as one of the few international examples focused on measuring the social impact potential of artist residency programs. Gate 27’s international presentation of its social impact report highlights the pioneering role of an institution from Turkey in this field and its representational strength within global art networks.

97% of Residents State That the Artistic Value of Their Projects Increased, 94% Say They Developed Professionally by Trying New Techniques, and 90% Report Greater Visibility in the Sector

In preparing Gate 27’s social impact report, the non-monetary impact measurement methodology recommended by Social Value International (SVI) was used, along with its proposed reporting principles and standards. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed for data collection. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with a sample group drawn from 76 residents who participated in Gate 27’s residency program between 2019 and 2024, resulting in the creation of a change pathway reflecting the transformations experienced by residents. Subsequently, a survey was conducted with all participants to measure the impacts associated with this change pathway. The findings demonstrate that Gate 27 offers participants not only a space for production but also an environment that supports intellectual depth, professional development, and self-confidence.

More than 90% of participants report an increase in the artistic value of their projects, state that they experimented with new production techniques during their residency, felt more professionally equipped, and ultimately gained confidence and courage to continue their artistic practice. 90% of participants indicate that their visibility in the sector increased through the residency program, that they received greater recognition from professional circles, and that they were encouraged to experiment with new production techniques.

Beyond Physical Space: Deepened Support Through Mentorship and Feedback Processes

The support offered by Gate 27 is not limited to providing a physical space for production. 87% of participants state that they directly benefited from professional consultancy, feedback meetings, and evaluation sessions provided during the program. This rate demonstrates that Gate 27 adopts a mentorship-based approach in its program design and places intellectual development at the center of its support for residents. Feedback processes provide participants not only with technical guidance but also with opportunities to evaluate their work from different perspectives, reconsider their modes of expression, and develop an interdisciplinary production language.

Finally, 81% of participants report having found various opportunities to collaborate with other industries and stakeholders. Other findings indicate that residents gained access to a wider range of production tools and opportunities compared to before joining the program. The report also offers insights into residents’ sense of financial security during their time at Gate 27, supported by in-kind or financial assistance provided within the program.

In summary, the greatest social impact created by Gate 27 is observed in the professional development of its residents. At the same time, feedback environments, interdisciplinary encounters, and established networks enable participants to approach their work from diverse perspectives.

Gate 27 Does Not Only Provide Space; It Also Offers Professional Consultancy, New Production Areas, and Networks

Artist residency programs create not only production opportunities for artists but also spaces for professional development, intellectual deepening, and interdisciplinary interaction. From this perspective, individuals included in Gate 27’s residency program gain access to a broad network and advance their work through events and feedback gatherings organized by Gate 27. Particularly in Turkey, where artists’ access to scientific research laboratories is limited, Gate 27 aims to bridge this gap. By bringing residents together with universities, research centers, and different sectors, Gate 27 offers a structure that expands the boundaries of production. This approach creates a multilayered space for thinking in which art engages with science, sustainability, and social issues. The production process focuses not only on outcomes but also on relationships formed throughout the process, shared knowledge, and collective learning.

Gate 27’s activity outputs were first reported within the scope of the Almanac covering the years 2022–2023. It is aimed that these activity reports will be included in every new Almanac edition and developed into a comprehensive publication that can be read alongside the social impact report.

In conclusion, the changes experienced by residents hosted by Gate 27 since its establishment in 2019 largely align with the first-level changes targeted by the institution. This demonstrates that the residency program and support content are delivered effectively.

This social impact measurement study shows that the opportunities residency programs can offer participants should not be limited solely to professional domains, and that factors connected to professional life—such as income loss experienced during participation, which more strongly affect personal lives—should also be taken into consideration.

Gate 27 views this first social impact report as a starting point. In the coming period, the organization aims to deepen its impact by encompassing a broader range of stakeholders, make the role of culture and the arts in social transformation more visible, and contribute to impact measurement practices in this field.

About Gate 27

Founded in 2019 as an international residency program to support research and production processes of diverse practices and foster interdisciplinary interaction,
Gate 27 approaches art as a research method. It invites artists, researchers, and academics to its spaces in Yeniköy and Ayvalık to engage in dialogue around ecology, sustainability, accessibility, and local creative networks. Through public programs and events, it encourages the formation of new collaborations.

Gate 27 provides its participants with a calm working environment and studio space where they can turn ideas into production over a period of four to twelve weeks, while also facilitating access to various resources and individuals to deepen their research. Participants become part of a broad and continuously growing network of artists and researchers who have previously participated in the program. Gate 27’s Advisory Board consists of independent curators and art consultants. While benefiting from consultancy provided by experts in their fields, Gate 27’s residents also meet former participants of the program, expanding their professional networks.

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