On Taksim Square, the brutalist 1970s form of the Atatürk Cultural Centre – known locally as the AKM – is the city’s premier performing arts venue. It’s also home to the State Opera and Ballet, the Symphony Orchestra and the State Theatre Company and is the place to come to see performing arts. An extensive refit that began in 2008 wasn’t ready in time for the city’s 2010 Capital of Culture celebrations, but was completed for the 12th Istanbul Biennial in late 2011.