The 2025–2026 Academic Year Graduation Ceremony of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMÜ) was held with the participation of academic staff, students, and their families. With this ceremony, the Faculty proudly celebrated the graduation of its 9th cohort, sending its graduates into the world of art and design.

The ceremony was attended by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ayşe Pınar Sumer, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts Prof. Dr. Ali Seylan, Director of the OMÜ State Conservatory Prof. Dr. Fatih Akbulut, members of the Faculty’s academic and administrative staff, graduating students, and many family members who shared in their joy.

Ceremony Opened with a Musical Performance

The graduation ceremony began with a musical performance by Prof. Dr. Seyhan Cihangir and Research Assistant Mustafa Çağatay Erol, followed by the official opening speeches.

“Art and Design Are the Strongest Driving Forces”

In his opening address, Dean Prof. Dr. Ali Seylan stated that since its establishment in 2012, the Faculty has been committed to educating artists who embrace universal and ethical values. He noted that the Faculty currently offers education through six departments with 640 undergraduate students.

Referring to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s 10th Anniversary Speech, Prof. Dr. Seylan emphasized the vital role of science, art, and technology in social progress. He stressed that art and design are among the strongest driving forces enabling nations to remain competitive internationally.

“Art Inspires Society”

In her address, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ayşe Pınar Sumer congratulated the graduates and highlighted the connection between her own profession, dentistry, and art. She noted that aesthetic vision, balance, and proportion are essential in dentistry as well, adding that the graduates would inspire society through the works they create.

“Art Is the Courage to See the World Differently”

Speaking on behalf of the graduating class, Faculty and Department of Painting valedictorian Nurana Sadullayeva expressed her great pride in addressing the audience. She explained that she stood at the podium not only on her own behalf but also to represent the dedication of all her classmates who had shared the same studios, challenges, and aspirations.

Sadullayeva emphasized the personal transformation brought about by an education in the arts, stating that the person graduating today was not the same as the one who had first entered the University. Throughout her studies, she learned not only how to paint but also how to observe, question, persevere, and move forward despite uncertainty. She noted that art is less about providing definitive answers than about asking meaningful questions, describing it as the courage to see the world from a different perspective.

She concluded her speech by thanking Associate Professor Engin Güney, her studio instructor, for providing not only technical guidance but also an intellectual perspective, and expressed her gratitude to her mother, sister, and friends for their unwavering support.

Certificates of Achievement Presented

During the ceremony, Certificates of Achievement were presented to students who ranked among the top graduates of the Faculty, as well as to those who brought pride to the University by winning awards in national and international competitions throughout the academic year.

The graduation ceremony concluded with the traditional cap-toss celebration, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the graduates' professional and artistic journeys.