F. Eczacıbaşı, and its direct patronage of festivals. In particular, the Eczacıbaşı Group's support of the Istanbul International Music Festival has contributed to its international prestige. Starting in 2006, Eczacıbaşı has become the leading sponsor of the İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts. In its new role, Eczacıbaşı Holding will contribute to the International Istanbul Film, Theatre and Jazz Festivals as well as the Music Festival, enhancing its involvement in the Foundation and broadening its communication with art lovers. VitrA Ceramic Arts Studio Dr. Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı established the VitrA Ceramic Art Studio in 1957, with the goal of encouraging ceramic artists and public appreciation of this medium. Over the years, the VitrA Ceramic Arts Studio has opened its doors to talented ceramic artists, organized public exhibitions of their work and hosted master classes, conferences, slide shows and workshops on ceramic art. The VitrA Ceramic Arts Studio is a member of the Geneva-based International Academy of Ceramics (IAC). Eczacıbaşı Arts Encyclopedia Published in 1997 by the Dr. Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı Foundation, the Eczacıbaşı Arts Encyclopedia is a three-volume work on international art and architecture that begins with pre-historic Anatolian cultures and focuses especially on the Byzantine, Seljuk, Beylik, Ottoman and Republican periods in Turkey. About 250 researchers, writers and university faculty worked on the project, which contains 4,400 articles. Public policy and scientific research Eczacıbaşı Scientific Research and Medical Award Fund The Eczacıbaşı Group established this fund in 1959 to promote high caliber medical research. The fund has supported 171 medical research projects and presented 65 awards to Turkish scientists for research in health and medicine. Since 2002, the Scientific Research and Medical Award Fund is also supporting research carried out by medical students. The Eczacıbaşı Scientific Research and Medical Award Funds are presented every two years at Eczacıbaşı Medical Day. This biannual event organized by the Eczacıbaşı Group aims to provide a forum for scientists and health professionals in Turkey to discuss medical topics and developments in the health sector and to recognize the medical and health-related research of their colleagues. Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) Eczacıbaşı is a supporter of the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation, an independent, non-profit think-tank dedicated to conducting and supporting research on public policy issues. TESEV is the successor of the Economic and Social Studies Conference Board, which Dr. Nejat Eczacıbaşı founded in 1961. Every year, the Eczacıbaşı Group sponsors