The 5th edition of the Istanbul Digital Art Festival (IDAF)—Türkiye’s first and only digital art festival—was held from June 11–15, 2025, under the theme “Connecting”, with the support of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism, organized by Mezo Dijital and with PASHA Bank as the main sponsor. As PASHA Bank celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, it continues its commitment to supporting the arts and expanding access to creative platforms by serving as IDAF’s main sponsor for the fifth year in a row.
The concept of digital art, which began gaining traction during the digital revolution of the 1990s, evolved in the 2000s into what is now known as "new media art"—driven by the proliferation of computers and the internet. Especially after the pandemic, digital art has accelerated rapidly and, with the integration of artificial intelligence technologies, is carving out a significant space in the global art market. Operating for 10 years in the Türkiye-Azerbaijan-Georgia triangle, PASHA Bank has made sustainability and digital transformation central to its mission. In this milestone year, the Bank reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to the digital arts by once again supporting IDAF, Türkiye’s pioneering festival in this field. This year's edition, held at the Atatürk Cultural Centre, featured works by 80 national and international artists. The festival also hosted a rich program including children’s and youth workshops, theatre performances, digital shows, robotic displays, panels, and audio-visual performances—bridging generations and cultures through digital creativity.
Finance Goes Digital—and So Does Art
Commenting on PASHA Bank’s ongoing support of the festival, Deputy General Manager A. Hale Yıldırım stated:
“We now live in a world where the financial sector faces an urgent need for transformation in response to rapidly evolving technologies and digitalization trends. Digital transformation has become critical for financial institutions aiming to enhance efficiency, improve customer experience, and secure a competitive edge. Advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technologies are enabling financial services to be delivered faster, more securely, and more transparently than ever before. For us as banks, digital transformation is no longer just a technological necessity—it’s a strategic imperative for sustainable growth and customer satisfaction. At PASHA Bank, we are continuously evolving our services in line with our digitalization vision, aiming to provide faster, more efficient, and more accessible solutions to our clients. In parallel with the digital transformation sweeping across the finance sector, we are also reshaping our banking activities to meet the needs of the future. We believe that digitalization is not only a transformative force in finance, but also in the realms of culture and art. As finance goes digital, we are proud to be contributing to the digital transformation of art by supporting IDAF as main sponsor for the fifth consecutive year. It gives us great joy to help expand access to art through this remarkable event. From the very beginning, our deep interest, belief, and support in this project have been fully validated by the festival’s ongoing success. With pre-shows in Milan last year and Paris this year, and with growing interest from artists, audiences, and the international art scene alike, IDAF is taking our cultural heritage to the world through the lens of contemporary digital storytelling. We are honored to be part of this meaningful journey and, as PASHA Bank, we reaffirm our commitment to continue supporting the arts in the years ahead.”