Bu̇lent Gönültas

Biography

When Bu̇lent come on the International Training Programme he was working as an Archaeologist, Culture and Tourism Expert at the Turkish General Directorate for Cultural Heritage and Museums.

Between 2015 and 2019, Bülent worked as the coordinator of all restoration and conservation laboratories in Türkiye for the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums.  Then in 2019 he became the Head of Museums Department at the same general directorate.

Currently, Bu̇lent is Deputy General Director of cultural assets and museums and is responsible for all museums, archaeological excavations and research, efforts to combat the smuggling of historical artifacts and restoration and conservation laboratories in Türkiye.

Bu̇lent is also the Deputy President of ICOM Türkiye.

At the British Museum

During his time on the International Training Programme in 2010, Bu̇lent was based in the Department of Greece and Rome, and his partner placement was spent at Birmingham Museums Trust.

In 2010 participants were asked to develop a proposal for a small temporary exhibition – based on British Museum objects – on some aspect of their own cultures. Bu̇lent’s exhibition project proposal, with colleague Pinar Kusseven, was entitled Lycian Burial Traditions and Art.

Bu̇lent’s participation on the International Training Programme was generously supported in the memory of Dr Patricia L Baker.