Interview with Attorney Birgi Kuzumoğlu, Management and Coordination Officer of Şengün Art Atelier

We are pleased to share our interview with Birgi Kuzumoğlu, Management and Coordination Officer of Şengün Art Atelier and Partner Associate at Şengün & Partners, where we discussed the current work of Şengün Art Atelier, its future objectives, and the collaborative network it aims to build between the worlds of art and business.

What stage has Şengün Art Atelier reached in its development? What have you been working on so far?

Birgi Kuzumoğlu: We are developing Şengün Art Atelier through a structured and sustainable approach. In the initial phase, our primary focus has been on establishing a communication and collaboration network with women artists who are also legal professionals from around the world. Our network continues to expand, and we are in ongoing discussions with new artists.

When it comes to organising events, we do not believe in rushing the process. Our priority is to build strong relationships and allow for a natural course of development. As our dialogue with our network continues to grow, we see new ideas, collaborative projects, and areas of cooperation emerging organically. That is why we are taking a long-term approach, with the aim of building a lasting and meaningful platform.

Why did you choose to focus specifically on building a communication and collaboration network with women artists who are also legal professionals from around the world?

Birgi Kuzumoğlu: Although art and law may seem like different disciplines at first glance, they share strong common ground in terms of creativity, freedom of expression, social transformation, and the protection of rights. We believe that women who are both artists and legal professionals bring uniquely valuable experiences and perspectives that bridge these two fields.

Our goal of building an international network is rooted in bringing together experiences shaped by different countries, cultures, and legal systems. Our objective is not simply to create a platform that gives visibility to artists, but to establish a sustainable space for communication that encourages mutual interaction, the exchange of ideas, and collaborative initiatives that can develop over time.

For this reason, we see the relationships we build with women artists who are also legal professionals as one of the defining elements of Şengün Art Atelier's identity and approach.

Are you planning to carry out any initiatives specifically in the field of art law in the future?

Birgi Kuzumoğlu: At this stage, we do not have a separate, structured, or immediate plan focused specifically on art law. That said, we believe that art is inherently connected with the law in many respects, including intellectual property rights, authorship, exhibition and representation agreements, licensing, permissions for use, and the protection of artists' rights. In fact, we believe that this relationship is essential to ensuring the healthy and sustainable development of the art ecosystem.

The growing recognition of art at both the local and global levels, the increasing number of rights requiring protection, and the emergence of new debates surrounding authorship and copyright, particularly in the age of artificial intelligence, are all contributing to the growing demand for legal support. Whenever the need arises, we provide the necessary legal support while closely monitoring developments in this field.

As the art ecosystem continues to grow, new needs emerge, and the sector evolves in different directions, we will continue to develop our work in this area in line with those changing needs.

Alongside your legal career, you also play an active role in the business world. We understand that you also hold responsibilities at Şengün Stratejik Yönetim Hizmetleri A.Ş. We have also heard that you head the Group's Business and Strategy Department, and that your responsibilities are expected to expand further. What can you share with us about this?

Birgi Kuzumoğlu: I would rather not go into too much detail at this stage. What I can say is that we are currently involved in a great deal of dynamic work behind the scenes.

As a Group, we have developed a way of working that we call "Connection." We are in regular contact not only within our own organisation, but also with a wide network of external contacts and long-standing professional relationships we have built over the years. We continue to strengthen this network, build new collaborations, and create value across different fields.

We will share more about the projects we are working on and the progress we are making when the time is right.

Gizem Yağmur Gölbaşı: It has been a real pleasure speaking with you. Thank you very much for sharing your valuable insights with us.

Birgi Kuzumoğlu: Thank you. It has been a pleasure for me as well. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to share the work and aspirations of Şengün Art Atelier with you. I look forward to speaking with you again.