Deniz Ova is director of international projects at the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV) and the director of the Istanbul Design Biennial in 2013. After working as an assistant director in several theater productions at the Stuttgart state and city theater, she started to work for the management and organization of festival events in Stuttgart. She then moved to Istanbul to lead the international projects department of IKSV and has, since then, developed and organized numerous festivals and events of IKSV in European cities. She coordinated the Turkish pavillion at the Venice Biennale and the artist residency studio 'Turquie' at Cité International des Arts. Deniz was appointed to write with co-author a critical report on the arts and culture scene in Amsterdam following the nomination of Görgün Taner as art advisor for the Amsterdam City Council. She graduated in political science and linguistics from the University of Stuttgart, in Germany. Deniz is a Fellow of Session 498 Young Cultural Leaders Forum.