Socio-cultural evaluation of Gaziantep museums

Our country, which stands out with its deep-rooted historical and cultural heritage, is among the countries with high museum potential in the world with its museums that are increasing day by day. One of the cities that stands out in terms of the number of museums in our country is Gaziantep. Gaziantep, which has a history of thousands of years, is in a strategic geographical position. Due to this feature, the city has hosted more than one civilization throughout history. Gaziantep has a developed urban texture with its deep-rooted and rich cultural heritage. This texture has enabled the establishment of many museums in the city. The number of museums that shed light on the city's history and culture is increasing day by day. It is observed that these institutions, which convey the common cultural heritage of the society, also constitute an important share in the city's destination. Museums and historical sites are among the places frequently visited by local and foreign visitors. The main subject of the study is the emphasis on the place of museums in urban culture and their socio-cultural and economic structure is evaluated. The aim is to reveal the museum activities of these places and to create an attractive center for visitors. In line with this purpose, the classification of museums according to their administrative management has been made and a comprehensive and detailed research has been carried out by focusing on the physical condition of the museums, the exhibition and organization style, administrative and management approach, social events and activities, and visitor statistics data. The study includes the examination of 3 museums affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, 11 museums affiliated with the Metropolitan Municipality, 2 museums affiliated with the Şahinbey Municipality, 1 museum affiliated with the General Directorate of Foundations, 1 museum affiliated with Gaziantep University, and 5 private museums. It is understood that the majority of these museums examined within the scope of the study operate in accordance with the modern museum understanding. It has been determined that traditional patterns and modern techniques are used in other sections of the museums. At the same time, the study touches on the steps taken and problems of museums towards branding and offers some suggestions.