An inspiring photography exhibition, titled “#My_Greece: Villages”, is taking place at Athinais Cultural Center (2-17 October 2021), showcasing the authentic beauties of Greece’s countryside, through its unique landscapes, people, and traditions. Characteristic Greek scenery, neighborhoods, architectural details, emblematic faces, charming customs: 270 special moments, 270 individual clicks from an equal number of insta-photographers transport viewers to every corner of Greece, aiming to show off the country’s timeless charm and identity.

Photos by: Polyxeni Myladie Stoumbou (Batsi Andros) and Vasilis Mantas (Amorgos)

From herds of sheep in Zitsa, Ioannina and Vitina, Arkadia, and the lavender fields Melenikitsi, Serres, to the familiar figures of people in traditional cafes in Sikinos and Crete, and images of sea sponge fishermen in Pserimos, the group’s temporary exhibitions open a window to the real Greece. As Elli Agiannidi, co-founder of the community put it:

“These photographs convey the traditional elements of the country – the values and traditions, giving birth to a sweet nostalgia for the Greece of genuine relationships and companionship.”

Photo by: Giorgos Vegardos (Kalyvakia, Karditsa)

The idea for the exhibition developed from an open competition organized in the summer of 2019 by Greek Instagramers Events, a community that was formed in 2013 with the aim to promote Greece through photographic projects on social media. To become a member, users did not have to be professional photographers or exclusively use Instagram. The sheer love for photography was enough and all users had to do was to share their travels by simply using a hashtag.

More specifically, a total of 4,500 entries was gathered, out of which 270 photographic works were selected. The selected works were first exhibited at the 35th Thessaloniki Philoxenia Tourism Fair in November 2019 and were to travel around Greece if it was not for the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the community’s plan for a travel photo exhibition has been rescheduled for 2021, under the auspices of the Greece 2021 Committee, as part of the celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the country’s Independence War.

Photo by: Elentina Manataki (Argalios art, at Gavalochori village, Chania Crete)

Last but not least, Bell Books also published a 180-page catalog (available both in Greek and English).

“Because the reach of Instagram goes far, this medium is one way to promote places and images we do not know about.” In fact, this is the purpose of the book. “There are 270 views of Greece enclosed in this book; small glimpses into the daily routine and people of the Greek countryside that may be familiar to each and every one of us. It is one way of discovering real life in Greece,” said Haris Nikolakakis, editorial manager of BELL Publishing and manager of the page Travel Drops, with 267,000 followers.

More info: visit the Greek Instagrammers Events website and Facebook page.

Read also on GNA: Greek Seas: A photographic journey in time; Photographer Aris Katsigiannis: "Dreams can’t be quarantined"; Photography: W. Mark Wilman on "Discovering the Beauty of the Cyclades"; The first photograph of the Acropolis and its history; Photographers invited to showcase Greece as a film location

E.S.

The post #My_Greece_Villages: Exploring the Real Greece Through the Eyes of 270 Instagrammers appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

The non-profit organization Greece in USA - a New York City-based organization that aims to promote contemporary Greek Culture in the United States – recently launched the second iteration of its program for the internationalization of Greek Culture in the USA with the group exhibition “The Right to Breathe”. Running through October 8, 2021, the exhibition - which is under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Culture - takes as a starting point the “shortness of breath” derived from the experience of social injustice, political pressure and economic austerity, exploring its connection with poetics, live art, and embodied politics.

The exhibition - which takes place virtually at Undercurrent with the participation of 100 Greek artists - is in dialogue with “The Right to Silence?” show, presented at Anya and Andrew Shiva Gallery, John Jay School of Criminal Justice (CUNY). Thus, the topic of breathability that the exhibition identifies and aims to historicize also provides an insight into the ongoing revaluation of criminal justice reform.

Sarra Katerina “Untitled”, 2017, Oil on canvas, 165cm x 215cm (The Right to Breathe exhibition)

The exhibition is curated by Dr Sozita Goudouna, founder of “Greece in USA”, in collaboration with GIRES-Global Institute for Research, Education & Scholarship and Out of the Box Intermedia arts organization. More specifically, “Greece in USA” organization aims to convey a comprehensive and distinctive representation of Greece by producing cultural and educational programs that encourage intercultural dialogue. When it comes to shaping the image of contemporary Greece in the US beyond existing stereotypes, Goudouna’s view is that “Greek artists can stand as equals alongside their American colleagues” and that “as institutions in Greece are enhanced and the Ministry adopts a systemic approach to contemporary art, the more openness and cultural diplomacy will be strengthened and reinforced”.

“Our goal is to create the “third way” for cultural diplomacy between the state and major institutions that will always be in good cooperation with the institutions, ministries of culture and foreign affairs” stated Goudouna in a recent interview.

Dr Sozita Goudouna* spoke to Greek News Agenda** about the “Greece in USA” initiative, the organization’s plans and goals for the near future, the legacy of Greek Diaspora artists, as well as the importance of building cultural partnerships and a long-term strategy for contemporary art.

What has been the feedback - how have your colleagues and the public in the US received the two first exhibitions organized by the “Greece in USA” organization?  

"GREECE IN USA" was founded in March 2020 in New York, during the pandemic. The sleepless city had been transformed into a ghost town like all metropolitan centers. The only similar experience for New Yorkers was September 11th. In this "atmosphere of fear" and following my experience in promoting Greek artists in London and New York, I was inspired by the founding principles of Performa Biennale. Performa is the organization to which I owe my settlement in New York in 2015, which was founded in part against the fear caused by the terrorist acts of 2001. For a month, Performa changes the way New Yorkers experience the city and especially the downtown, after 9/11, which as a traumatic event transformed the relationship of residents with public space. The Biennale aims to "reclaim" public space and locations that have changed use due to the dominance of Real Estate. Performa takes place in different parts of the city, from Times Square and New York Customs to museums such as MoMA, Whitney, Guggenheim, BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music and Dance), galleries, and other cultural venues.

In this context and dynamic landscape, I envisioned GREECE IN USA as an organization that does not align with the contemporary phobias of social distancing and complacency, but that "reclaims" the importance of art in everyday life in public space and that primarily gives a voice to a specific nationality that previously had no substantial or influential presence in American cultural events. The main challenges, apart from the pandemic that completely shifts the way we perceive art, concern the shift of the reception of contemporary Greek art abroad in addition to overcoming the stereotypes about Greek nationality imposed mainly by the dominant culture. Our main intention isn’t to focus on “Greek topics” but to engage with international aesthetic and social issues. Thus, the inaugural exhibition dealt with issues of confinement and the American justice system, and the second exhibition focused on notions around the “I Can’t Breathe,” movement and the history of Seneca Village. I consider that despite the challenges in dealing with these sensitive topics the audience welcomed the initiative.

For my colleagues, curators and scholars I think the reception of the initiative was also positive because they felt that it is significant that Greek artists are invited to respond issues that they haven’t really reflected upon due to the geographical and political contexts that they haven’t experienced. African American artists would consider these issues in an entirely different manner and this is I think the contribution of these exhibitions, to introduce complexities and asymmetric knowledge or to provide versions of “uncomfortable knowledge” (Steve Rayner) on how artists from the “periphery” can make sense of the complexity of the social sphere in a global context and without aesthetisizing political tensions. The initiative is also focusing on building cultural partnerships, like with Undercurrent.nyc that had invited me as one the consultants for their EUNIC- European Union National Institutes for Culture project entitled UN/MUTE that brings together American with European artists and this is the reason I considered that the EU-USA cultural exchange could be relevant for the second iteration of the project and for contemporary Greek Artists.

Performance of Figures by Maria Hassabi,  (2019), with Oisín Monaghan, Alice Hayward, Mickey Mahar, Omagbitse Omagbemi Sound: Stavros Gasparatos. Outfits: Victoria Bartlett. At Aixoni Sculpted Theater in Greece designed by Nella Golanda curated by Sozita Goudouna powered by Onassis Foundation.

How easy is it for Greek contemporary artists to stand out on the international art scene, especially in competitive environments like the ones in the UK and the US in which you have personally lived and worked?

The Greek art scene has only evolved into a more international scene very recently owing to the broader interest of non-Greeks in Athens. That is partly a result of the financial and social crisis, and of art initiatives by younger, local, and international artists and curators who understand the importance of experimentation. You are probably aware of the expression “Athens is the new Berlin” and the lack of visibility of local art scenes especially of the so called “global south.” I am reluctant of terms like “global south,” but at the same time, I understand the necessity of using these terms. I am also very interested in the heterogeneous and even imaginary provinces of the world as they can be formulated in artistic and curatorial research. The expression “Athens is the new Berlin” in spite of its predictability, shows a promise and is justified despite the lack of a systemic and long-term cultural governmental policy for contemporary art, or perhaps owing to this lack. Working closely with Raymond Pettibon and David Zwirner, Regen Projects, Sadie Coles (the galleries that represent the artist), I am also trying to support Greek artists through the networks that I have access to, but also through other networks than the art market. Given that few Greek galleries manage to have access to the international art fairs, due to the logistics and lack of accessibility for emerging or regional galleries. Adding to this, I consider it is vital for these artists to receive more support whether from European or local networks to promote their work abroad. “Greece in USA” with its modest means, but with strong cultural capital, is trying to contribute to these efforts. It is principally the support of the artists that is helping us realize this goal even more than the systemic partners. The organization also aims to raise questions about stereotypes and different expressions or perceptions of the Greek “nationality.”

Greece has the unique advantage of people’s pre-existing emotional connection to its ancient world, but how are things for contemporary Greek culture? In your view, what is the way forward for Greece’s cultural diplomacy?

Greek contemporary art is more resistant to mass culture, either due to lack of resources or different concerns. The cultural perspectives of Greek contemporary art differ markedly from those of the international community, and this "Greek uniqueness" that isn’t limited to the ancient world and has not yet been mapped internationally sparked the idea and contributed to the decision to create the "GREECE IN USA." The Creative Economy is constantly evolving around the world, with the United Kingdom and the United States clearly outperforming the sector. In the US, in 2017, the arts and culture contributed $ 877.8 billion, or 4.5%, to the country's gross domestic product (GDP). In the same year, more than 5 million wage - and - wage workers were employed in the arts and culture, earning a total of $ 405 billion.

The creative economy is one of the sectors most at risk from the COVID-19 crisis, so a substantial and sustained national strategy for the recovery of the creative economy is required. I hope that the Greek government focuses on the importance of promoting art guided by both local and international partnerships that not only focus on the ancient world but also on the contemporary. Our cultural diplomacy should initiate from partnerships between municipal governments, arts and cultural organizations, community groups, and private sector charities. Major cultural organizations such as the Armory Art Fair and Museums such as the MoMA, Whitney, The Frick Collection, and the Performa Biennial are already planning their actions and strategy for promoting art in the post-COVID era. In this context, GREECE IN USA investigates topics that reflect contemporary concerns and attempts to map the way in which Greek artists approach the social and cultural changes that take place. For many of us, contemporary art is a kind of refuge from the superficial tendencies of the dominant culture - a place where alternative values, politics, and different identities could claim to some extent cultural autonomy. I consider that in view of the lack of infrastructure in our country, our cultural diplomacy should focus on this “alternative” cultural capital.

John Akomfrah “The Airport” Central Stage, Municipal Theater Pireaus, September, 2021.

To this end, how influential has the presence of the Greek community abroad been, especially when taking into consideration the work of worldwide renowned artists of Greek origin, such as Stephen Antonakos and Chryssa?

The Greek Diaspora has a strong legacy of artists such as Loukas Samaras, Jannis Kounelis, Chryssa, Gregory Markopoulos, Theodoros Stamos, Stephen Antonakos and among the younger ones Eleni Mylona, Zoe Keramea, Mark Hadjipateras among others. The essential problem lies in the inability of cultural institutions in Greece to export the domestic cultural production mainly of the performing and visual arts. The reasons are multi-faceted, but I would first identify the problem in the lack of a systematic cultural strategy, but this is a generalization that has been shared by many. I would also add that to some extent in the past we did not realize the value of cultural exchanges. Hence, the presence of few selected Greek artists abroad was influential however it was a result of the artists’ personal endeavors without state support.

Could you give us an insight into your platform’s plans and goals for the near future?

“Greece in USA" aims to activate the dynamics of contemporary Greek art with interventions in cultural spaces and in the public space of New York. In November, it will collaborate with Nektarios S. Antoniou, member of our board of directors, to present Arvo Pärt’s world premiere at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a curator of Performa, I realized that Greek and Cypriot artists, like Maria Hassabi, were able to have a strong cultural exchange with American and international colleagues. I have the impression that fellow curators would like to learn more about the contemporary Greek scene and that is why the role of an organization like Greece in USA can be a catalyst for promoting the work of contemporary Greek visual and performing artists abroad through osmosis with international artists and curators. 

** Interview by Eleftheria Spiliotakopoulou

* Dr Sozita Goudouna is a professor, curator, and the author of "Beckett's Breath: Anti-theatricality and the Visual Arts" published by Edinburgh Critical Studies in Modernism released in the US by Oxford University Press. She is an Adjunct Professor at CUNY City University of New York and in 2019 she joined Raymond Pettibon Foundation as Head of Operations to curate "Whoever Shows" at New Museum NY, Performa Biennial.

More info: visit “Greece in USA” website

See also on GNA: Arts in Greece | Stephen Antonakos: The Greek-American Sculptor of Neon; Former Tobacco Factory Transformed into Athens’ New Cultural Hub; Arts in Greece | Elpida Rikou on the Learning from documenta project; Arts in Greece | Athens: Europe’s New Mecca for Street Art ; Arts in Greece | Katerina Koskina on the need for cultural dialogue & EMST’s role as an arts capsule for the city branding of Athens

The post Creative Greece│Greece in USA’s founder, Sozita Goudouna, on the Internationalization of Contemporary Greek Culture in the US appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

In an international environment, where cities focus their efforts on becoming key actors, city diplomacy is increasingly becoming more relevant. New technologies foster the creation of active city networks in order to address common challenges and achieve mutual goals. Global challenges, such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic can be effectively tackled at local level as well, and the debate on the role of cities in a multilateral environment is becoming central.

In this context, the 2nd Public Diplomacy Talks (2021) that took place on Wednesday, June 16th, focused on “City Diplomacy: Creating Global Networks” and was organized by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Greeks Abroad, Konstantinos Vlasis, and the Secretary-General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, John Chrysoulakis. The “Public Diplomacy Talks (PD Talks)” constitute an annual Forum inaugurated in 2020 by the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in order to provide a platform for a vibrant and fruitful exchange of views and best practices on Public Diplomacy.

Opening remarks by the organizers

“Public Diplomacy constitutes the third pillar of Greece’s foreign policy and plays a key role in our diplomatic imprint. During the last two years, the Greek Government has managed to tackle effectively a series of challenges, with Covid-19 being the most recent. Due to the pandemic, it has become evident that, in an interconnected world, collaboration and partnerships are necessary in order to overcome global challenges”, said Konstantinos Vlasis, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Greeks Abroad, greeting the event and stressing its timeliness.

“The 19th century was the century of empires, the 20th century the century of nation-states, and the 21st century will be that of cities”, John Chrysoulakis, Secretary-General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, underlined in his greeting, quoting Wellington Webb, former Mayor of Denver.  

First part

In the first part of the discussion, Dr Lorenzo Kihlgren Grandi, co-founder and chair of Urban Flag and a lecturer in City Diplomacy at Sciences Po Paris, École Polytechnique, and Columbia University, Ms Sohaela Amiri, researcher at the University of Southern California, and Dr Antonios Karvounis, Head of the Interministerial Committee for the International Partnerships of Local Government, focused on the new globalized role of the cities with examples from Greece and abroad. The discussion was moderated by Ms Nektaria Stamouli, foreign affairs reporter at Athens News Agency and regional correspondent for Politico who posed questions to the speakers regarding the function and best practices of City Diplomacy, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the relationship between local authorities and central government.

Dr. Lorenzo Kihlgren Grandi

It is true that we live in the century of cities, Dr Lorenzo Kihlgren Grandi noted in his introductory remarks, because cities are demonstrating a powerful ability to act internationally and establish a series of relationships with other international actors.

Taking Paris and Rome as a study case, he went on to underline that three basic elements determine the success of city diplomacy:

1. When mayors identify city diplomacy as a priority
2. Human resources: the need for experienced personnel that combine diplomatic skills with thorough knowledge of the cities and their legal limitations
3. Shared knowledge of what public diplomacy does; clear communication that encourages citizens to participate

Dr Grandi commented that, historically, a system that reports the impact of city diplomacy has been lacking and many programmes were intricately connected with the mayor. City networks such as the C40 or intercultural cities have added a series of indicators that assess the progress made by the cities in the global goal that these networks have been pursuing. The same goes for international projects. Especially when these projects are financed with EU money, there is a need to assess their impact.

Referring to the pandemic, Dr Grandi noted that it was an example of an urban crisis with 90% of Covid cases registered in cities with many consequences. The coronavirus crisis suspended many city diplomacy initiatives, but at the same time, many cities reacted in a very inspiring way. They used technology to connect with each other. Cities that were first hit shared their experience with others and helped them adapt. There were also examples of concrete solidarity, e.g. the money donation the city of Frankfurt made to the city of Milan that was heavily hit by Covid.

Developmental aid, which is also a big component of city diplomacy, was offered by cities such as Paris or Barcelona in the middle of the pandemic when they decided to financially support cities in developing countries that had fewer means to respond to the crisis either in terms of communication or protective materials. In these cases, the impact of city diplomacy became very concrete, Dr Grandi noted.

The collaboration between local authorities with the central government is always a tricky issue. Opposing government policies give a Mayor national or even international visibility. A famous example was the Coalition of Mayors fighting climate change in the USA while the Trump Government was retiring from various international agreements. Huge visibility also comes with certain types of endorsement, as was the case with the French presidential endorsement of the Mayors coalition, but such incidents are extraordinary. City diplomacy is not to be intended as an opposition; it is best exercised at a multi-level approach, in coordination with different levels of government, national and regional and citizens. Strong alignment becomes increasingly more important in order to face challenges such as migration and climate change, concluded Dr Grandi.

Sohaela Amiri

Amiri identified the five key functions of City Diplomacy in the USA:

2- Diplomatic Representation and Protocol 

3- International Exchanges, Cultural Ties, and Aid 

4- Civic Engagement and Education

5- Policy Collaboration, Advocacy, and Action

Amiri added that the most tangible outputs of city diplomacy are trade and any kind of materials and services that are exchanged. Another is policy change (f.e. e.g. regarding climate change, migration etc). Covid-19 and the aid offered by twinned towns was a very clear example of city diplomacy impact that actually saved lives.

Covid-19 caused many offices that worked on city diplomacy to close or reduce personnel, posing issues of sustainability for city diplomacy practice. Many city diplomacy offices in the USA house diplomatic missions or consular services. The help of the city diplomacy officers in maintaining communication with Consulates of other countries and the Diaspora during the pandemic was of crucial importance, Amiri stressed.

Dr. Antonios Karvounis

Focusing on the Greek case, Dr Karvounis referred to the General Principles of International Partnerships of Local Government as the criteria for successful partnerships.

Dr Karvounis, who is Head of the Interministerial Committee for the International Partnerships of Local Government in the Ministry of the Interior, underlined that trust, coordination and communication between municipalities and central Government is always necessary for efficient city diplomacy in Greece.

He added that the most popular forms of City Diplomacy are the participation in European Programmes and of course town twinnings, which date since the end of WWII in Greece. Cyprus and Italy are the cities with most town twinnings, while the main policy domain for a town twinning is culture.

Dr Karvounis also referred to best practices, mentioning Shanghai sending 20.000 masks to its twinned Municipality of Piraeus during the pandemic. Another best practices instance was the City network “Q-Cities” set up in Amarousion in 2008, which promoted quality and innovations in local government; it consisted of 12 cities and has been very successful. He concluded that best practices should engage locals and take the local opinion into account.

Dr Karvounis continued with the impact indicators of City Diplomacy which are useful in measuring the success of a policy process: administrative organisation, cognitive modernisation (good practices exchanges and capacity building), financial viability and political lobbying (city branding).

According to Dr Karvounis, the Covid-19 pandemic showed the limits of cities’ capabilities to coordinate procurement among themselves. In most cases, the coronavirus crisis highlighted globally the city dependency on the State. In Greece, many cities exhibited solidarity with many sister cities abroad, the pandemic however still made the limits of city diplomacy evident, as well as the need of Municipalities to reorganise themselves, he concluded.

Second part

During a discussion between Greek and foreign Mayors about cooperation and expectations as regards City Diplomacy, the Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, and the Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, underlined at first what both cities have in common, mentioning the UNESCO Heritage Sites and the fact that both Athens and Porto came out stronger from a severe financial crisis. Both Mayors agreed that city diplomacy was affected by the pandemic, noting however that their cities did well to the surprise of many, proving that Southern Europe can handle the uncertainty in a better way showing more flexibility.

Regarding the image of their cities, Bakoyannis and Moreira agreed that both Athens and Porto showed the rest of the world that they are not only cities with gastronomy, sun and tourism, but they are also cities that can deliver professional services guaranteeing the safety, the security and the public health of citizens and visitors. As the Mayors said, “they are cities that people can live, work and invest”.

When it comes to the relationship between the city and national diplomacy, Bakoyannis and Moreira underlined that they have no antagonistic relationship with their national governments and that they do not try to replace them. In this context, city diplomacy is about building links and alliances with other cities and in many cases cities share a common agenda aiming to become inclusive, healthy, fair, sustainable & resilient. What is more, local authorities are called to find solutions to real problems and, as Mayor Bakoyannis explained, cities are working bottom-up, encouraging transparency and dialogue. That is why Athens is a vibrant and dynamic city, as he said. Mayor Moreira added that Porto concentrates on civic authority like in Ancient Athens, repeating that cities are closer to the people.

Referring to immigration issues and to newcomers, Mayor Moreira said that cities are more attractive, adding that the increased demand creates pressure. What is important with city diplomacy, Mayor Moreira explained, is that it helps cities to share their concerns for integration policies and for avoiding the pressure from extreme voices, promoting social awareness and social cohesion.

When asked by the moderator Nektaria Stamouli about their future plans, Mayor Moreira explained that he will continue to work with OECD in the Organization’s “Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth Initiative”, while he will encourage the creation of contacts and synergies between universities of Porto and other universities, as foreign students comprise the biggest part of Porto’s foreign visitors. Mayor Bakoyannis said that he will continue to encourage educational and cultural exchanges between Porto and Athens, while he aims to work more on Athens branding, concluding that all these actions should be translated into real changes to citizen’s everyday life.

Moses Elisaf, Mayor of Ioannina, Greece, and Israel Gal, Mayor of Kiryat Ono, Israel, during their discussion referred to the common characteristics their cities share, such as the potential for growth and development, but most importantly, what connects the two cities is the Jewish community of Ioannina. As Mayor Elisaf explained, Ioannina was and still is the centre of the Romaniotes -the Greek-speaking Jewish community that’s the oldest Jewish community in Europe and one of the oldest Jewish communities in existence- adding that for this reason the city is visited by many Jews from Israel. He also underlined that many Jews of Romaniote origin from Ioannina live in Israel and particularly in Kiryat Ono. Mayor Gal also revealed that cooperation between the two cities was vividly proposed by citizens of Kiryat Ono that visited Ioannina and fell in love with the city.

Mayor Elisaf also referred to the rich multicultural background of Ioannina, emphasizing the remarkable variety of the religious monuments of the city from the Byzantine churches, to Ottoman mosques and Jewish synagogues. As Elisaf said, the citizens of Ioannina and Kiryat Ono responded positively to the cooperation between their cities.

Asked by the moderator Nektaria Stamouli about the role of city diplomacy regarding anti-Semitism, Mayor Gal stressed that cooperation and networking between cities can certainly help to put an end to antagonism among peoples and combating anti-Semitism. Mayor Elisaf underlined the decisive role of city diplomacy in tackling prejudices, noting that anti-Semitism is not widely observed in Greece or Ioannina, adding that city diplomacy is a strong mode of communication between nations that is even able to overcome problems created by national policies.

Both Mayors also emphasized the importance of local authorities to the daily lives of citizens as they are in direct contact with them, stressing that local societies can play a decisive role in tackling global challenges such as climate change, pandemic consequences and migration.

Watch the full video of PDTalks 2021 event here:

F. K. – I.E.

The post Highlights from PD Talks 2021: “City Diplomacy: Creating Global Networks” appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

Crescent-shaped Santorini (also known as Thera in Greek) is perhaps the most popular Greek destination and a worldwide famous island. Boasting a unique landscape, Santorini is an island immortalized by poets and painters thanks to its celebrated light, multicolored cliffs, and picture-perfect sunsets. However, Santorini is an island that has much more to offer to its visitors than the ordinary tourist attractions. As visual artist-curator of the exhibition “3e: Element - Environment – Energy”, Georgia Trouli, puts it: “Today, apart from tourism, Santorini is a place for encounters and a melting pot”.

Through their numerous dynamics, the “3e” components (namely, element - environment - energy) encompass and influence life, action and development. Through the exhibition – which will be running until September 30, 2020 at the Santorini Arts Factory– 16 contemporary artists seek out the basic elements’ encapsulating form, the environment, which brings them out, and the energy from where they emerge as one. In a reality where things evolve so fast at a personal, local and global level, each and everyone is called on to locate the energy through which one communicates, assimilates and reflects later on the environment. An exercise in awareness, the orchestration of space and the expansion of experience.

The show presents artworks by: Sotirios Antoniadis, Yiannis Kaminis, Alexandros Karozas, Stella Koza, Elli Lampadaridou, Christina Michalopoulou, Marilena Bitzani, Maria Nenadi, Titina Rodogianni, Costas Spyropoulos, Maria Stamati, Bessi Syrou, Yiannis Stebilis, Georgia Trouli, Stella Haviaropoulou and Kirsikka Soustiel, many of whom are participating artists of the Restart Cultural Tourism Platform, an innovative institution running under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Tourism and the National Tourism Organization. The organization’s aim is to promote Greek artists abroad, by showcasing their work to the international audience that visits the country. It also offers tailor-made production of cultural events to tourism industry businesses that wish to develop their intellectual identity, rise up their cultural awareness and differentiate from their competitors through Art.

Special mention should also be made to the space where the exhibition is being hosted, that is the Santorini Arts Factory which is housed at the Tomato Industrial Museum "D. Nomikos" in Vlychada. The Museum offers visitors a journey back to the industrial past of the island, by guiding them through the cultivation, processing and production of one of the most famous and traditional products of Santorini, the cherry-sized tomato that has been cultivated on the island since the end of the 19th century. Moreover, the Arts Factory was given a full facelift in 2014 in order to serve the island’s cultural life, by hosting exhibitions and concerts, offering residencies to international artists, and providing educational activities and art lessons for children.

More info: visit the Restart Cultural Tourism Platform official website and FB page

Visit also: The Tomato Industrial Museum "D. Nomikos" website

E.S.

The post Art meets Tourism in Santorini appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

Would you ever expect from a small mountain village to serve as a reference point for visual artists and musicians? As a place of expression and inspiration where, apart from the paved alleys and the lush forest, one can also come across works of art and classic melodies at 900m altitude? In Vamvakou, at the heart of Mount Parnon, anything is possible!

Located in the Peloponnese peninsula, just a few hours’ drive from Athens, Vamvakou went from having hundreds of residents a few decades ago to just a few permanent residents in recent years. Seeing the opportunity to write a new chapter in its storied history, a group of five friends with roots in Vamvakou began to shape a plan for bringing new life to the village. Thus, in August 2018, they founded a Social Cooperative Enterprise called Vamvakou Revival, an ambitious project which is part of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Laconia Initiative.

The founders’ vision for the sustainable development of the village had as its primary objective the return of a greater number of permanent residents to the community, by creating good jobs and comfortable modern living conditions. A fundamental element of the plan was the improvement, maintenance, and optimal use of the buildings and infrastructure of the village. Business activities taking place would combine the authentic history and tradition of their setting with innovative practices.

The first phase of the project involved welcoming visitors to enjoy the recreational opportunities offered by the natural wealth of the Parnon Mountains. In the second phase, which is now in progress, the aim is to develop new activities related to innovation, agritourism, and the agri-food sector, with the emphasis always being on creativity.

Within this framework, special mention should be made of the artistic interventions in the village. Visual artists Iason Megoulas (aka Cacao Rocks), Alexandros Simopoulos and Pavlos Tsakonas – all three  Fellows of Artworks first SNF Artist Fellowship Program - visited Vamvakou in July, so as to study its history and create murals on an old warehouse and other forgotten and indifferent walls, thus introducing landmarks and posing questions regarding the aesthetics and use of public space. 

More specifically, the playground of the village is the first stop in Vamvakou’s visual interventions tour: Iason Megoulas was inspired by the motto “Power in Union” that was adopted by the Committee of Vamvakites Plenipotentiaries. This is the title of the masterpiece that dominates the playground of the village: a modern depiction of the equality handshake to remind us of the principles and values of the past.

On the way to the Clock of the village, the “hawk” emerges – an artwork created by Pavlos Tsakonas who was inspired by Gerakaris, a stream on the east side of the village; with its symbolism, it conveys messages of victory, hope and spiritual uplifting. On the way to the school of the village, among the trees, an old warehouse has been transformed into an artwork titled “Another roadside attraction” by Alexandros Simopoulos who was inspired by Vamvakou’s nature; it depicts on a larger scale three wildflowers “dancing” on the stones acting as some kind of monument dedicated to the archetype of the trickster.

Among other notable artistic events are the activities scheduled by the members of Oros Ensemble music group that was established in the village a few months ago; Konstantinos Zigkeridis, Dimitris Karagiannakidis, Apostolis Koutsogiannis, Eirini Krikoni, Giorgos Madikas, and Antonis Tsahtanis live and work in the village this summer so as to carry out various music events while taking into consideration all the necessary safety measures to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus, Vamvakou is filled with the sounds of the violin, clarinet, and cello and offers visitors a unique music experience. For instance, on Saturday, August 22, 2020, the audience can enjoy a solo cello concert by Dimitris Karagiannakidis, while on Saturday, August 29, 2020, another cultural event is scheduled to take place, under the title “The poets’ music”.

The Vamvakou Revival team hopes that their birthplace can serve as a model for similar projects across the country and internationally:

“The departure from our roots is one of the reasons for the economic, social, and value crisis that Greece is experiencing. We forgot where we started, we overlooked our starting point and left villages in their fate […] The purpose is to make Vamvakou an imitation example, a model for the rest of our country.”

The saying goes that it takes a village to raise a child/young person. But sometimes it takes young people to raise a village, and this is exactly what’s happening in the Laconian village of Vamvakou.

More info: visit Vamvakou Revival official website

[Intro pic: Vamvakou Revival | Another roadside attraction (Tricksters), acrylics and spray-paint on wall (6x6 meters) 2020, by Alexandros Simopoulos]

E.S.   

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Can a country reverse its negative image? What methods can Public Diplomacy (PD) use to enhance a country’s image? How can positive momentum be used to sway public opinion? Has the public image of Greece changed over the past few months? The internationally renowned Professors Nicholas J. Cull (University of Southern California) and Stathis Kalyvas (University of Oxford), will be asked to address these -and many more- questions during the first online “Greek PD Talks” titled “Turning the Tide: How to reverse a negative image - The case of Greece”, on Thursday, June 18th, 2020 at 19:30 (Αthens local time).

The initiative

The “Greek PD Talks” is a forum inaugurated this year by the Secretariat General for Public Diplomacy of the Greek Foreign Ministry, providing a platform for a vibrant exchange of views and best practices on Public Diplomacy affairs.

The first round of the PD Talks discussion focuses on how to better manage and promote the country’s national image, a priority of the Secretariat General for Public Diplomacy, which gains an additional interest in the post-pandemic era, taking into account the positive momentum reflected in international reports on Greece.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Diaspora Greeks, Konstantinos Vlasis and Secretary-General for Public Diplomacy, Religious and Consular Affairs, Constantinos Alexandris will give welcome speeches, while Renee Maltezou, Reuters political and general news correspondent, will moderate the discussion.

The Speakers

Nicholas J. Cull is Professor of Public Diplomacy and Founding Director of the Master’s Program in Public Diplomacy at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication, as well as a USC Center on Public Diplomacy (CPD) Faculty Fellow. An acknowledged pioneer in Public Diplomacy, his research, and teaching focus on the role of public engagement in foreign policy. He is a prolific writer and his most recent book is “Public Diplomacy: Foundations for Global Engagement in the Digital Age” (Polity, 2019). He has lectured widely around the world, frequently as a guest of diplomatic academies or foreign ministries and public diplomacy agencies.  

In a recent interview to Greek News Agenda, Professor Cull spoke, among others, on Greece and the need for the country to listen and understand its strengths, as well as its vulnerabilities in international opinion having though the unique advantage of people’s pre-existing emotional connection to its ancient world.

“The first thing that every initiative in PD must begin with is listening. Greece needs to listen to understand its strengths and its vulnerabilities in international opinion. We know that reputations change quickly so the government may be frustrated to find that many international ideas are out of date. This can work in your favor when outside perception is slow to pick up on failings which seem obvious to residents. The US and UK both are seen rather more favorably overseas than many at-home would expect. One of the unique advantages of Greece is the pre-existing emotional connection which people have to its places: the site of Olympus or Thermopylae. It seems as astonishing to see these on road signs as it would be to see signs for places in Lord of the Rings or Star Wars. Yet Greece has often done little to take advantage of the link between the inner-mental place and the real-world location on Greek territory. (…) Greece has done more for the Gods we’ve outgrown than the mortal concepts we are still working with, and I wonder if there is a way to invite the world to share in the memorialization and further perpetuation of those ideas”.

Stathis N. Kalyvas is the Gladstone Professor of Government in the Department of Politics and International Relations and a Fellow of All Souls College, at the University of Oxford. Until 2018 he was Arnold Wolfers Professor of Political Science at Yale University, where he also directed the Program on Order, Conflict, and Violence and co-directed the Hellenic Studies Program. As an active participant in Greek public discourse, Professor Kalyvas has published, amongst other works, "Modern Greece: What Everyone Needs To Know" (2015), combining economic and political-science findings on the economic crisis with a discussion of Greece's history.

In an interview to Greek News Agenda, in 2016, Professor Kalyvas spoke, among others, on how the economic crisis informs Greek identity/ies, and how Greeks can reconstruct their self-perception in a positive perspective.

“The crisis is not a uniform process and it has affected public perceptions in Greece in a variable manner throughout the past years. I have the feeling that after a period of denial, there is at present a process of reconciliation with the hard economic reality, which is a precondition for making the necessary changes. Of course, whether these will take place is a completely different story.  If Greece succeeds, however, this will likely shape the self-perspective of Greeks in a more positive direction, stressing the (presently feeble) ability to self-correct in the face of adversity”.

To register for the first Greek PD Talks: click here

The Greek MFA's Sec-Gen for Public Diplomacy launches the first Greek #PDTalks webinar 

See also: “Public Diplomacy in Practice”: Inaugural seminar of the Secretariat General for Public Diplomacy; Sec-Gen for Public Diplomacy, Religious and Consular Affairs Constantinos Alexandris on building the new image of Greece; The practice of Greek Public Diplomacy and its contribution to the country’s image abroad

E.S.

The post Join the first “Greek Public Diplomacy talks” webinar: the new initiative of the Sec Gen for Public Diplomacy appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

The City of Athens recently launched a pilot initiative to preserve the street trees of the city, taken into consideration that the Municipality plants 600 new trees every year but, according to estimates, 10-40 percent of the newly planted trees dry up during the summer days due to high temperatures. In an effort to preserve the Greek capital’s green spaces, the Adopt-A-Tree project encourages residents to search for a street tree near an address (their home, business, school and so on) and commit to keeping it healthy by watering it, thanks to a special app developed by Novoville, a tech startup whose mission is to transform public services and improve tomorrow`s government policies by making them citizen-centric. One tree can be adopted by up to three individuals. Through Novoville, citizens receive a notification on their cell phones every time their trees need to be watered.

Following the same logic, the City of Athens is now launching a new program to get private businesses, organizations and individuals involved in a drive to improve the quality of life in the downtown area. “Adopt Your City” is a call for participants to take on the maintenance cost of a street, sidewalk, park, public square, playground or even a single bench, in cooperation with the municipal authority. Unveiling the program at an event hosted last week by the British Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis said said it represents a “new model of public policy”, adding that:

“It’s very important for all Athenians to be part of the change that they themselves envision for the city, to become part of that change. What we want to highlight is a new collaborative spirit that will bring together citizens, businesses, the public and the private sectors”.

The new program will operate within the framework of Athens Partnership, a nonprofit organization that aims to facilitate high-impact partnerships between municipal government and the private sector, addressing vital issues, including poverty alleviation, health, education, and community development. Established in late 2015, the Athens Partnership has become an international model of good practices in addressing the challenges of Greece’s complex capital. Mobilizing and facilitating cross-sector collaboration is at the core of the organization’s work, based on the belief that no significant urban challenge can be solved solely by government or a private entity. By leveraging both public and private resources, Athens Partnership works to pilot programs, evaluate their effectiveness, and help scale successful efforts. Once a project is designed and funding is secured, it oversees project management in close collaboration with municipal agencies as well as community partners, such as service providers and educational institutions. So far, it has engaged over 300 public and private partners to advance initiatives and collective goals, while its model and projects are now resonating outside of Athens — to cities throughout Greece and beyond.

Athens Partbership programs include Open Schools – recently honored by the Council of Europe as a model of good practice for personal and group development for all ages; Designed for Better Learning – focused on innovation in education; the Athens Coordination Center for Migrant and Refugee Issues – a large network of 11 cities; SynAthina – an award-winning platform which brings together citizens’ groups; the Kypseli Municipal Health Clinic – a model clinic with a holistic approach; I Serve – a social services network; Social Integration – providing help for vulnerable groups; I Care – a single database for better provision of social services; the Commercial Triangle project – transforming a neighborhood in the city center; Athens Culture Net – bringing together major cultural foundations and institutions in Athens; Athens Tourism Partnership – in cooperation with Aegean Airlines and Athens International Airport; and Digital Athens – designed to turn Athens into a smarter city, with the participation of major technology and communication companies.

“These programs are sparking change in municipal government, bringing together cross-sector partners in meaningful ways, and garnering international acclaim. Together, we can continue to create systemic change, impact lives, and strengthen Greece” says Athens Partnership’s Executive Director, Alexandros Kambouroglou.

More info: Athens Partnership: 2018 Annual Report

Read also via Greek News Agenda: Interview with Athens deputy Mayor for Civil Society, Amalia Zepou: "Athens is a city in transition that has a distinctly human dimension". 

E.S.

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Elected with an overwhelming majority in October 2015, Greek economist and trade unionist Georges Dassis is the 31st president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) for the 2015-2018 period. President Dassis programme focuses on the "need to alleviate extreme poverty and invest in youth employment, infrastructure projects, research and innovation, something that needs to be done on a massive scale… Europe must improve life for all citizens in the north, south, east and west: this is what we mean by harmonizing progress".

President Dassis spoke to Greek News Agenda on the role of the European Social Model for managing migrant and refugee flows and on the importance of civil society in times of crisis.

How important is social protection for the European Social Model but also for managing refugee and migrant flows?

First of all we need to separate the issue of immigrants from that of refugees, even if they have many common characteristics. There are tens of millions of people around the world who would like to migrate to EU countries to find a better life. Unfortunately, the EU can incorporate only a limited number of immigrants, which is why the EESC proposes a single European policy on legal immigration.

As far as refugees are concerned, we have a legal and moral obligation to welcome them and integrate them into our societies. This can be done if there is a distribution of refugees in the different regions and countries depending on their capabilities. Our legal obligation results from the Geneva Convention of 1951, ratified by all EU countries. Our moral obligation stems from the culture that we want to have and to be proud of.

Social protection is a cornerstone of the European social model. The values ​​of democracy, solidarity, social justice, prosperity, individual rights and freedom that underpin the European social model promote social cohesion. Thus, an effective management of migration and refugee flows should be guided by these values. I have repeatedly stressed that there are rational solutions, ideas and proposals to manage the refugee crisis. At the same time, however, some ethnocentric approaches do not respect these fundamental values and principles. I am saddened because populist actions like border closures, deny even the minimal show of solidarity to our fellow people, stoke Euroscepticism and in long term, undermine the European project.

I must also add that the Committee has an extensive experience in immigration issues and has timely held 11 exploratory missions to EU member-states and to Turkey, in order to identify needs, problems and best practices for addressing the refugee crisis. The summary report of missions, stressing the Committee's concerns about the need to safeguard the Schengen agreement and freedom of movement as important achievements for the EU citizens, has been delivered to the EU High Representative and Vice President of the European Commission Ms. Mogherini and European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Mr. Avramopoulos.

How can civil society face up to the challenges of the economic crisis and the erosion of social rights in the EU?

The EESC, as the representative body of organized civil society, was created in 1957, precisely in order to enhance the social face of the then European Community and the importance it attached to social dialogue. Throughout all these years we have helped address critical socio-economic problems. You will recall that it was a Committee group, meaning representatives of trade unions, employers and other organizations that elaborated the Charter of Fundamental Social Rights, now part of the law in all 28 EU countries. Our program for the period 2015-2018, entitled "For a united, democratic, inclusive Euroupe of peace and prosperity, close to its citizen" aims at contributing to creating conditions that will allow to European citizens to embrace again the European project. Instead, of considering the Union a 'given', we are drawing attention to the serious economic and social crisis that permeates Europe, has dramatically undermined people’s confidence. On these issues we have issued opinions with very strong majorities addressed to the European institutions: the opinions of the European minimum income, the tax on financial transactions and the issuance of European bonds.

I am also pleased because the the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker responded to our call for a social Europe, launching this year the establishment of a European Pillar of Social Rights,, in consultation with the EESC. We are already implementing finding missions to all member-states to asses, with the social partners, the situation of social rights across the EU, towards an important Opinion to be delivered the European Commission as the basis for the recovery of social rights in the EU."

President Dassis interview for 'To Vima': "No further deregulation of the jobs market is needed in Greece"

Earler this month (16.10) in an interview with Greek newspaper “To Vima” President Dassis also discussed his programme for the EESC in connection to the Investment Plan for Europe, a European Commission plan that aims to mobilize at least €315 billion in private and public investment over three years in order to boost competitiveness and support long-term economic growth in the EU: “The programme I submitted as a president supports the Investment Plan, requesting a further addition of a special investment plan for growth and jobs, as well as the adoption of specific economic convergence measures such as a mechanism for joint debt issuance of debt and a temporary fund for Eurobonds”.

As far as Greece is concerned, the president of the EESC states in “To Vima” that the country is trapped in a vicious circle of austerity, recession and unemployment and that “without growth, it is impossible to achieve competitiveness and to exit the crisis.” He stresses that he has severely criticized the abolishment by law, in 2012, of the General National Collective Labour Agreement, an act that he characterizes as unheard of in all of the history of the EU. He states that the ECB’s analysis of wages in Greece demonstrates that there is significant flexibilzation of the labour market, especially in terms of massive layoffs, and that no further deregulation is needed. What Greece needs now, is “to fight unemployment and restart the economy, while taking care of the needs of socially sensitive groups.”

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