Ankara's leading contemporary arts center occupies a handsomely converted early-20th-century railway workshop, the old state railway locomotive halls near the train station. Opened in 2010, its long industrial sheds of steel and glass make a dramatic setting for rotating exhibitions of Turkish and international modern art, photography, sculpture, and design. Alongside the galleries you will find a program of concerts, film screenings, workshops, and a stylish cafe that draws the city's creative crowd. The scale and raw architecture alone reward a visit even between blockbuster shows. It is a good reminder that the capital has a forward-looking cultural life beyond monuments and museums. Check what is currently on before you go, as the offering changes frequently and some shows are ticketed while the building and grounds are otherwise free to enter. The outdoor spaces sometimes host installations and weekend markets.
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