Osman Kavala

Osman Kavala is a Turkish businessman, cultural patron and civil-society leader whose work at the intersection of heritage, human rights, and narrative freedom has earned global recognition. He founded the Istanbul-based arts and culture organisation Anadolu Kültür, which since 2002 has promoted intercultural dialogue, minority narratives and heritage preservation across Turkey, the Caucasus and the Balkans.

His leadership has been honoured with major international awards: in 2022 he received the ifa Award for the Dialogue of Cultures, in 2023 the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe), and most recently the Goethe-Medaille from the Goethe‑Institut in recognition of outstanding cultural commitment under immense pressure. Despite being unjustly imprisoned from 2017 onwards, Kavala has continued his cultural work and advocacy for civil society, symbolising resilience, dignity and freedom of expression.

As a member of Hakawati’s Honorary Board, Kavala brings visionary leadership in heritage, rights and cultural infrastructure—directly aligned with our mission: lineage-rooted storytelling, healing through presence and the transformation of shadow into creative power.