From November 5 to 15, Thessaloniki welcomes the 67th Thessaloniki International Film Festival.  The programme of the 67th Thessaloniki International Film Festival brings together contemporary cinema with retrospectives celebrating influential filmmakers. New films by acclaimed directors, emerging filmmakers, award-winning productions from major international festivals, and tributes to influential figures who have left their mark on the art of cinema. Cinemas across the city will screen 258 films, while a further 58 titles will also be available online through the Festival’s digital platform.

This year’s edition features tributes to Nikos Grammatikos and Emin Alper, a special section dedicated to the desert, and Balkan Horror, an exploration of the region’s darker storytelling traditions.

The Greek programme, meanwhile, showcases 54 feature-length and short films, while the Festival’s parallel events extend beyond cinema to include television series, podcasts and new audiovisual experiences.

For yet another year, the Festival offers its longstanding support to Greek cinema and the Greek filmmakers through a series of targeted and innovative actions and initiatives.

The Festival has a long-standing commitment to supporting Greek cinema through innovative initiatives, awards and various measures that strengthen the Greek film community, encourage domestic production and promote Greek films both in Greece and abroad.

The NextGen section of the 67th TIFF

The 67th Thessaloniki International Film Festival celebrates young people’s perspectives through its NextGen section. Nine feature films and seven short films from around the world will be screened a limited number of times as part of TFF’s educational screening programme (in person and online), giving students and teachers across Greece the opportunity to enjoy original and moving cinematic experiences, meet the directors and talk with them.

Greek Films in the Spotlight

This year's Festival will present 19 Greek films making their premiere, nine of which have been selected for its international competition sections.

Three Greek productions will compete in the International Competition:

• A Whole Person Almost, directed by Efthimis Kosemund-Sanidis;
• A Day in the Life of Jo: Chapter Phaedra, directed by Jacqueline Lentzou;
• Titanic Ocean, directed by Konstantina Kotzamani.

Independent Awards Supporting Greek Cinema

The Festival will once again host several important independent awards aimed at supporting Greek filmmaking.

These include the FISCHER Audience Awards and the New Vision Award by EKKOMEΔ (the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre), worth €6,000. The latter is awarded to an emerging filmmaker making their debut with a Greek-produced film presented in the Festival's Official Premiere section.

The Location Award by EKKOMEΔ, worth €2,000, will also be presented.

The ERT First Award, worth €3,000, goes to the Greek film selected by the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI). Since 2023, the Festival has also presented the ERT Original Music Award, carrying a prize of €2,000.

In addition, the Crew United Award will be presented to the director of a Greek film participating in the 67th TIFF and selected for one of the following sections: International Competition, Meet the Neighbors+ or >>Film Forward.

The Festival's new section, Classics Revisited, will open with a screening of the restored version of Eve (1953), directed by Maria Plyta.

The initiative builds on the Festival's ongoing efforts to preserve and promote Greece's cinematic heritage.

Eve is the only film ever produced by Kominis Film. Its opening credits also mark the first time the name of Mikis Theodorakis appeared in connection with a film.

Honorary Golden Alexander and Retrospective Dedicated to Nikos Grammatikos

The 67th Thessaloniki International Film Festival will pay tribute to director and screenwriter Nikos Grammatikos with an extensive retrospective of his work and an Honorary Golden Alexander, recognizing his contribution to cinema.

Born in 1963, Grammatikos is one of the most distinctive and influential voices in Greek cinema. His films combine poetry and realism, bringing to life worlds filled with everyday moments, groups of friends, memories, disappointments, love and unfulfilled dreams.

His characters are often unconventional and vulnerable, struggling with the world around them and with themselves as they try to find their way through life's challenges.

The retrospective will follow Grammatikos's creative journey, from his early work to the present. Seven of his feature films will be screened, alongside four rare short films, giving audiences the chance to discover different aspects of his filmmaking.

The tribute will also include an open discussion with the director and several of his collaborators, including actors, screenwriters and members of his film crews. They will share their experiences and talk about the different stages of his creative process.

Golden Alexander for Stavros Xarchakos

Renowned composer, conductor and arranger Stavros Xarchakos will also receive a Golden Alexander in Thessaloniki, in recognition of his contribution to culture.

As part of the tribute, the film Rembetiko, directed by Costas Ferris, will be screened.

Christopher Papakaliatis Named Ambassador of the 67th TIFF Agora

The Agora of the 67th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, the largest film industry market in Southeastern Europe, returns this year with actor, screenwriter and director Christopher Papakaliatis as its ambassador.

In this role, Papakaliatis will help highlight the creative and professional processes shaping the future of cinema and television, while introducing filmmakers, journalists and the wider public to the Agora's important role in the audiovisual industry.

Taking place from 6 to 14 November, the Agora is supported by the European Union's Creative Europe MEDIA programme.

It offers a wide range of networking and co-production opportunities across the international film industry, with particular emphasis on Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean.

The programme will follow a hybrid format, with activities taking place both in person and online. It will offer industry professionals opportunities to exchange ideas and expertise, meet potential partners and collaborators, access funding opportunities and develop creative partnerships with professionals from around the world.

The Visual Identity of the 67th TIFF

Visual artist Sofia Rozaki has created spatial affects, the artwork that inspired the visual identity of this year's Festival.

Drawing inspiration from the cinema auditorium and the theme of the Festival's retrospective dedicated to the desert, the artist explores the relationship between space and the cinematic experience.

The work, created in 2026 using acrylics and watercolour pencils on canvas (150 × 180 cm), will be exhibited at one of the venues hosting this year's Festival.

The History of the Festival

Held every November, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival is one of the oldest and most important film festivals in the region and one of Greece's leading cultural events.

Founded in 1960 on the initiative of Pavlos Zannas, the Festival began as a national event known as the Greek Cinema Week. In 1966, it was renamed the Greek Film Festival and remained a national event until 1991.

In 1981, responsibility for the Festival was transferred from the Ministry of Industry, under whose supervision it had previously operated, to the Ministry of Culture. In 1992, the Festival took on its international character.

Discover the full programme of the 67th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, announced at the Festival's official press conference.

Source (text and photos): Thessaloniki International Film Festival

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The Academy of Athens and Greece’s public broadcaster, Greece’s Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, as part of the celebrations marking the Academy’s centenary. The agreement aims to bring scientific thought and intellectual creativity closer to the public.

The Memorandum was signed in the Ceremonial Hall of the Academy of Athens by Nikiforos Diamandouros, President of the Academy, Antonios Rengakos, Secretary-General, and Giannis Papadopoulos, President of ERT.

This partnership highlights the institution’s historical journey and contemporary activities, connecting a century of intellectual contributions with the issues and challenges of today.

The agreement provides for the co-production of documentaries, short programs and informational messages, coverage of anniversary events, and the promotion of the Academy’s work through ERT’s television and radio programs, digital platforms and social media. The Academy will contribute by involving academics and researchers, providing scientific, historical and archival material and ensuring the scientific supervision of the content.

The President of the Academy of Athens, Nikiforos Diamandouros, emphasized that the centenary presents an opportunity to strengthen the institution’s engagement with society:

“For the Academy, the centenary is an opportunity not only to look back on a century of history, but also to open its doors even wider and bring its work closer to the general public.”

Describing the shared objective of the two institutions, he expressed the hope that this collaboration would “open up new avenues for knowledge, science and culture to play an even more significant role in public life.”

The Secretary-General of the Academy of Athens, Antonios Rengakos, highlighted the connection between the institution’s prestige and its responsibility towards the present and the future:

“An institution with such an important history must earn its prestige every day through the quality of its research, its independence of judgement and its involvement in the major issues of our time.”

Looking ahead to the Academy’s second century, he identified support for original research and young scientists, interdisciplinary cooperation, and the use of digital tools to facilitate access to its archives and collections as key priorities. As he noted:

“The measure of this responsibility lies in what future generations will be able to create thanks to our work.”

ERT President Giannis Papadopoulos stated that “ERT could not be absent from the celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the Academy of Athens”, emphasizing the role of public broadcasting in showcasing the Academy’s activities and its contribution to the country’s history. As he remarked, “ERT takes on the responsibility of bringing this important heritage to the wider public.”

Meanwhile, Pavlos Marinakis, Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and Government Spokesperson, who attended the ceremony, welcomed the collaboration between the Academy of Athens and ERT. He emphasized that the production of vidcasts and podcasts, to be made available on the public broadcaster’s platforms, would give everyone, particularly younger generations, the opportunity to learn about the country’s history and achievements.

In conclusion, he added:

“I therefore welcome this initiative and am also very proud, on behalf of the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, that we too are part of this historic moment.”

The flagship project of the collaboration is the series “100 Years of the Academy of Athens: Reflections on the Present and the Future”, featuring 36 original stories by Academy members. Since October 14, the series has been available as a vidcast on ERTFLIX and as a podcast series on ERTεcho.

In their interviews with ERT journalist Antonis Tzavaras, the academics discuss their scientific and creative journeys and address issues that directly concern today's citizens: from the role of Ancient Greek in education to the ethical boundaries of medicine, from understanding the universe to the challenges of the climate crisis.

Through these personal accounts, audiences discover the people behind the research, the ideas and the work that can enrich public debate.

The following members of the Academy of Athens take part in the series “100 Years of the Academy of Athens: Reflections on the Present and the Future”:Nikiforos Diamandouros, Antonios Rengakos, Stamatios Krimigis, Antonia Trichopoulou, Michael Cosmopoulos, Prokopios Pavlopoulos, Andreas Tzakis, Ioli Kalavrezou, Christos S. Zerefos, Ares J. Rozakis, George Kollias, Alecos Levidis, Manolis I. Korres, Doros Theodorou, Christophoros Charalambakis, Christos Papadimitriou, Michael Stathopoulos, Athanasios Fokas, Efstathios- Fotis (Stathis) Livathinos, Dimitrios Skarvelis, Paschalis Kitromilides, Constantinos Vayenas, Apostolos S. Georgiadis, Alexander Nehamas, Theodoros Papanghelis, Pavlos Sourlas, Dimitris Thanos, Kostas Buraselis, Charalambos Roussos, Emmanouil Floratos, Konstantinos Synolakis, Giorgos Chrousos, Vasilis Rapanos, Michael Tiverios, Andreas Karamanos e Panayotis N. Soucacos.

As the Academy of Athens celebrates its centenary and ERT marks 60 years of television broadcasting, the two institutions are joining forces to bring knowledge and intellectual creativity to a wider audience, both in Greece and across the Greek diaspora.

Source: ert.gr, academyofathens.gr

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From Meteora and Theopetra to Aspropotamos, Pyli and Paleokarya, a comprehensive development strategy seeks to forge links between geology, nature, culture, gastronomy and local entrepreneurship. The area extends far beyond Meteora. Covering 2,410 km², it encompasses the geographical boundaries of the Municipalities of Meteora and Pyli and is home to a remarkable mosaic of geological, natural and cultural treasures.

The Meteora–Pyli UNESCO Global Geopark features 21 remarkable geological formations, six caves, seven religious monuments and 32 trails. Its territory also contains important historical and archaeological sites, rich flora and fauna, elements of intangible cultural heritage, and a distinctive local gastronomic identity.

Meteora is already inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, giving the region international recognition on which local stakeholders now intend to build a broader, more integrated tourism and economic offering. The main challenge is to transform this exceptional heritage into a genuine driver of economic development, moving beyond simple promotion to establish tangible connections with the real economy, businesses, producers and local communities.

This was precisely the objective of the meeting entitled “Developing Geotourism and Local Partnerships,” held on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, in Kalambaka on the occasion of World Tourism Day. The event was organized by the Meteora–Pyli Geopark in collaboration with the Municipalities of Meteora and Pyli.

21 Geological Formations, from Meteora to Aspropotamos

At the heart of the Geopark are 21 geological formations recognized by UNESCO as part of the world's geological heritage. The list includes Meteora, the Adrachti rock formation, the geological formations of Gavros, the Athamania Gorge, the Tzourtzia waterfalls, known as the “Demon’s Mill” (Μαντάνι του Δαίμονα in Greek), the Aspropotamos springs and the alpine Lake Verliga, the Gropa Gorge, and the Koziakas tectonic overthrust.

The list also includes the twin waterfalls of Paleokarya, Bei Cave, the Portaikos Valley and its folds, the Malakasiotis Valley, the tafoni and geological formations of Agios Dimitrios, the Voliotis sinkhole, the ophiolites of Panagia, the Katara site, the “Trypio Lithari” rock arch, the oceanic sediments of Malakasi, Theopetra Cave and the spectacular tafoni formations of Kalambaka.

Together, these sites form a genuine open-air geological museum, where diverse landscapes and fascinating geological histories create a continuous journey across the region.

From Geology to Culture and Gastronomy

The concept of a geopark extends far beyond the protection and promotion of geological formations. In keeping with the philosophy of UNESCO Global Geoparks, geological heritage is closely connected with the natural environment, history, archaeology, culture, education and sustainable development.

In the case of the Meteora–Pyli Geopark, these different dimensions coexist across a territory with a population of 32,126, six caves, seven religious monuments and 32 trails.

Visitors who come to discover Meteora can therefore be encouraged to explore much more than this iconic landmark: visit Theopetra, discover geological sites, follow hiking trails, explore villages, learn about the region's history and culture, sample local products and enjoy authentic gastronomic experiences.

The aim is to create a network of complementary experiences linking all these assets, offering visitors a more comprehensive discovery of the region while contributing to its sustainable development.

The Main Challenge: Boosting the Local Economy

During the meeting in Kalambaka, discussions focused precisely on this dimension: how to turn the Geopark into a genuine driver of growth for the people and businesses that sustain the region on a daily basis.

Tourism professionals and entrepreneurs shared their experiences, market needs, development prospects and the challenges facing their sector.

The objective is clearly defined: connect a geological site to a hiking route, the route to a village, the village to a local producer, the regional product to a gastronomic experience, and bring all these elements together in a coherent and comprehensive tourism offering.

The Geopark can thus play a unifying role, bringing tourism, culture, local production and entrepreneurship together under a common identity.

Nikos Pitsioulis, the Geopark's special adviser, highlighted the importance of partnerships in moving beyond the simple promotion of natural and geological assets towards the creation of integrated tourism experiences.

Meanwhile, Grigoris Papacharalampous, Director General of the development organisation THESSALOMA and representative of the Geopark's management, presented the available tools and opportunities for establishing tangible links between businesses, local products and visitors.

The Region of Thessaly and the Financial Dimension

Funding also plays an important role in this initiative. According to the information presented, the Region of Thessaly has secured €12 million under the Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) scheme for the Meteora–Pyli Geopark, providing a substantial financial foundation for implementing projects and initiatives across the territory.

This funding supports the efforts of the two municipalities and provides an additional, crucial element: the opportunity to translate cooperation into concrete interventions and strategic projects.

At the same time, cooperation between the Municipalities of Meteora and Pyli and the Region of Thessaly is particularly important. The Geopark's development cannot be the responsibility of a single organisation; it must form part of a collective territorial development strategy involving all relevant stakeholders.

“The Geopark Can Become a Shared Framework for Development”

In an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA), Lefteris Avramopoulos, Mayor of the Municipality of Meteora, emphasised the importance of connecting the region's assets and strengthening cooperation between the two municipalities and the Region of Thessaly.

“The major challenge is to connect all the region's assets so that visitors to Meteora also have reasons to discover the geological sites, villages, museums, routes, local producers and regional gastronomy.

“The Meteora–Pyli Geopark can serve as a unifying framework, bringing together the natural environment, geological heritage, culture, the local economy and tourism.

“In this major undertaking, we benefit from significant support from the Region of Thessaly. The Regional Governor, Dimitris Kouretas, has secured €12 million for the Integrated Territorial Investment of the Meteora–Pyli Geopark, giving considerable momentum to the joint efforts of the two municipalities.

“This funding provides a solid foundation on which we can design and implement initiatives to raise awareness of the Geopark and strengthen its links with the local economy and entrepreneurship.

“At the same time, we maintain an excellent working relationship with the Municipality of Pyli and its mayor, Kostas Maravas. Our two municipalities share a common vision of how this tremendous opportunity should be harnessed.

“We are working in a coordinated manner with the Region of Thessaly to ensure that the Geopark becomes a genuine engine of development for the entire area.”

From International Recognition to Local Value Creation

As highlighted during the meeting, the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network comprised 213 geoparks across 48 countries in 2024. Their mission extends beyond protecting geological formations. It also encompasses education, environmental conservation, sustainable development and, above all, strengthening the links between geological heritage and local communities.

This is precisely the major challenge facing the Meteora–Pyli Geopark.

The aim is not to make it merely another international recognition label, but to establish a shared platform that connects Meteora with the villages, geological sites with trails, nature with culture, local production with gastronomy, and visitors with the people who live in the region.

With €12 million in funding, cooperation between the two municipalities and the Region of Thessaly, and the active participation of tourism professionals and local businesses, the next step is to transform the immense natural and cultural wealth of this 2,410 km² territory into tourism experiences, visits, stays, partnerships and tangible economic benefits for the region.

Source (Text): Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA)

Source (Photos): Meteora–Pyli Geopark Facebook page.

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The “Georgios N. Papanikolaou” Museum was officially inaugurated in Kymi, Evia, on Friday, September 11, by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Constantine An. Tassoulas, honoring the life, work, and enduring scientific legacy of the distinguished Greek physician and researcher Georgios N. Papanikolaou (1883–1962).

The museum has been established by the Municipality of Kymi-Aliveri, which undertook the restoration of the historic Papanikolaou family home, together with the collection and curation of the exhibition material. The museum brings together rare archival material, personal belongings, and historical documents illuminating Papanikolaou’s life and international scientific career. A dedicated microscopy room provides visitors with an interactive and educational introduction to the world of microscopy and scientific research.

Speaking at the inauguration, President Tassoulas recalled Papanikolaou’s return to Kymi in 1957, after 44 years away from his birthplace. “In the autumn of 1957, by then internationally acclaimed, Georgios Papanikolaou returned to this place after forty-four years away. He returned to his homeland, to the place where he was born and shaped. To the ‘warm family home’, as he himself called it”.

“Today, in this very same house, the doors of the first museum in the world dedicated exclusively to his memory and work are opening,” President Tassoulas noted, the global significance of Papanikolaou’s scientific contribution, particularly the diagnostic method that bears his name.

“Few people in history can claim to have given millions of their fellow human beings the most precious gift of all: life. Papanikolaou did so,” President Tassoulas stated. “The method that bears his name, the Pap test, revolutionized the early detection of cancer. It saved and continues to save the lives of countless women in every corner of the world.” He also remarked that the significance of Papanikolaou’s discovery lay not in its complexity, but in “the insight of a mind that never ceased to explore.”

President Tassoulas congratulated the Municipality of Kymi-Aliveri, the Georgios N. Papanikolaou Institute and all those involved in realizing the vision for the museum. “Their efforts are an example of what a local community can achieve when it believes in and embraces its history,” he stated, concluding that “this place will inspire visitors from around the world through the example of a man who devoted his life to science and to humanity.”

The Georgios N. Papanikolaou Museum Opens Its Doors to the Public

Following its official inauguration, the Georgios N. Papanikolaou Museum, is now welcoming visitors, opening the doors of the scientist’s historic family home to the public for the first time as a permanent museum dedicated to his life, pioneering work, and enduring legacy.

The museum celebrates the remarkable contribution of Georgios N. Papanikolaou, the Greek-born scientist whose pioneering research transformed preventive medicine worldwide. His development of the Pap test revolutionized the early detection of cervical cancer and became one of the most significant advances in modern public health, contributing to the prevention of disease and saving countless lives across the world.

Housed in Papanikolaou’s historic family residence, the museum combines the character and authenticity of a place deeply connected to his early life with a contemporary, technologically advanced and fully accessible visitor experience. Through its exhibits and digital technologies, it brings his scientific journey, achievements and legacy to new generations, while highlighting the broader human significance of his work.

The opening of the Georgios N. Papanikolaou Museum marks an important new chapter for Kymi and Evia, placing the region on the international map of destinations where science, history, culture and human achievement intersect.

More than a tribute to an exceptional scientist, the museum offers a space in which Papanikolaou’s legacy can continue to inspire future generations celebrating the enduring values of scientific excellence, research, innovation and service to humanity.

Georgios N. Papanikolaou: A Life Dedicated to Medical Science

Georgios N. Papanikolaou was born in Kymi, Evia, in 1883 and died in Miami, Florida, in 1962. From an early age, he demonstrated an exceptional intellectual curiosity and a strong inclination toward scientific research. After completing his secondary education, he enrolled in the Medical School of the University of Athens in 1898 and received his medical degree in 1904, at the age of 21. Recognizing his son’s abilities and deep interest in scientific inquiry, his father used his savings to send him to Germany in 1907 to pursue further studies.

Papanikolaou soon chose to pursue biology, a discipline more closely aligned with his scientific interests. He initially studied in Jena, where he attended lectures by the renowned biologist Ernst Haeckel, whose work he had admired since his student years. In 1908, he continued his studies in Freiburg before moving to Munich, where he received a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1910.

After returning to Greece that same year, Papanikolaou found that circumstances were unfavorable to his scientific ambitions. Shortly after marrying Andromache Mavrogeni, he decided to leave the country once again. His scientific career then took him to the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, where, in 1911, he participated in a research expedition aboard L’Hirondelle, the oceanographic vessel associated with Prince Albert I of Monaco.

His time abroad was interrupted by the Balkan Wars, in which he participated in 1912. Following the war, Papanikolaou and his wife moved to the United States. The couple initially faced considerable financial difficulties and, for a time, worked in a department store. His circumstances changed when he was appointed an assistant in the pathology department of New York Hospital, following the intervention of the prominent geneticist T. H. Morgan of Columbia University.

Papanikolaou’s scientific abilities and dedication to research soon became evident. In 1914, he joined Cornell University Medical College, where he would remain for nearly half a century, until 1961. He progressed through the academic ranks while devoting himself primarily to scientific research.

The 1920s marked one of the most productive and demanding periods of his scientific career. During this decade, Papanikolaou conducted pioneering clinical and laboratory research into the diagnostic value of examining vaginal cells under the microscope. His investigations ultimately led to the development of a cytological method that became internationally known as the “Pap smear” or “Pap test.”

The technique transformed cervical cancer screening by making it possible to detect cellular abnormalities at an early stage, before they progressed to invasive disease. In doing so, Papanikolaou helped establish cytology as an important tool in preventive medicine and contributed to a fundamental change in the early detection and management of cervical cancer.

After nearly half a century at Cornell University Medical College, Papanikolaou left New York at the age of 78 and moved to Miami. There, he undertook the task of organizing and directing a newly established cancer institute. He died in 1962, before the institute was officially inaugurated. Following his death, his friend and oncologist Charles Cameron oversaw its opening.

Papanikolaou’s scientific legacy includes 158 published articles and five books, reflecting a lifetime devoted to medical research and the advancement of human health. His work not only transformed the field of diagnostic cytology but also had a lasting impact on preventive medicine and cancer screening worldwide.

Today, his birthplace in Kymi stands as a permanent tribute to his legacy, preserving the story of a Greek scientist whose work transcended national boundaries and left an enduring mark on medicine and public health around the world.

Cover photo source:  visit kimi aliveri.gr

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO organized an event entitled “The Promotion and Implementation of UNESCO Flagship Programs in Greece: National Achievements and Significant Synergies”, as part of the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF).

The event was addressed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yiannis Loverdos, and the newly appointed President of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO, Dora Vyzovitou.

Mr Loverdos highlighted a number of recent achievements of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO, most notably the proclamation of 9 February as World Greek Language Day, the inscription of Mount Olympus on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the inclusion of Nisyros in the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.

Mr Loverdos praised the work of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO and congratulated the outgoing President, Aikaterini Tzitzikosta, in recognition of her longstanding contribution. He also congratulated the newly appointed President, Dora Vyzovitou, and wished her every success in her new role.

The Deputy Minister further announced that the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO will host the next Meeting of the UNESCO National Commissions of Europe and North America, which will take place in Crete in May 2027. He noted that this constitutes another significant achievement, demonstrating the Commission’s ongoing efforts, while also providing an excellent opportunity for Greece to further contribute to international cooperation in the promotion of culture.

The Rector of Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences and Member of the Board of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO, Professor Christina Koulouri, spoke about the enduring legacy of the Greek language and the major national achievement of the international organization’s establishment of World Greek Language Day.

Subsequently, Dr Charalambos Fasoulas, President of the Psiloritis UNESCO Global Geopark, presented the UNESCO Global Geoparks program. He highlighted Greece’s leading role in the program, with 10 UNESCO Global Geopark designations, supported by the expertise and assistance of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO.

For his part, Professor Dimitris Vergados, Head of the UNESCO Chair “Creative Cities in Motion: Urban Sustainable Mobility and the Utilization of Cultural Resources” at the University of Piraeus, presented the Chair’s most recent initiative: the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Municipality of Didymoteicho in support of the city’s candidacy for the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

The event concluded with a presentation by Ms Vera Dilari, National Coordinator for UNESCO Associated Schools at the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, on the UNESCO Associated Schools Network, which currently comprises 150 schools in Greece.

The event was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritis; the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Charis Theoharis, the Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, Maira Myrogianni and numerous other guests.

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A multidimensional cultural journey bringing together visual art, poetry and the scientific observation of the Universe will take place from September 16 to October 4, 2026, at the National Library of Greece (NLG), located at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC). The group exhibition “Synastry”, conceived and initiated by Lefteris Moysiadis and curated by Kostas Prapoglou, extends beyond a single exhibition venue, unfolding across four different locations in Athens and creating a unique “star map” of the city.

At the heart of the project lies the human desire to understand the Universe and our place within it. “Synastry” draws on the astrological term not as a means of prediction, but as a system for exploring relationships, affinities and unexpected correspondences between human beings and the celestial sphere, as well as between art, poetry, science and collective memory.

From a Walk on the Hill of the Nymphs

The idea was born during the pandemic, following a walk by Lefteris Moysiadis on the Hill of the Nymphs, below the National Observatory of Athens. As he observed the symbols of the constellations engraved on the Observatory’s dome, he conceived the idea of inviting visual artists to interpret the constellations and planets through painting and sculpture. Over time, the initial idea organically expanded through encounters with people and institutions who recognized in it a shared field of dialogue. The participation of curator Kostas Prapoglou, who took on the curatorship of the exhibition, proved decisive. As he explains, “Synastry” operates on multiple levels: on the one hand, it explores human relationships, and on the other, humanity’s relationship with the unknown. Visitors move among works of art and poetry while also encountering rare books and manuscripts, in a multidimensional experience that brings together visual art, language, scientific knowledge and memory.

Twenty Visual Artists, Thirteen Poets and the Collections of the National Library of Greece

In the atrium on the 4th floor of the National Library of Greece, beneath the glass ceiling that allows natural light and the changing sky to become part of the experience, 20 visual artists present works inspired by planets, constellations and cosmic narratives. The works bring together mythology, scientific observation, the celestial sphere, and personal and collective memory. Woven into this visual journey are the voices of 13 contemporary Greek poets, whose poems were written especially for the project and function as “constellations of language.” Where the image gives form, the verse adds rhythm and an inner resonance.

The exhibition is complemented by rare manuscripts and books on cosmography, astronomy and astrology from the National Library of Greece’s Special Collections. The juxtaposition of contemporary works with historical materials creates a dialogue between different eras: the observation of the sky by scientists of the past meets the contemporary artistic gaze, highlighting the timeless human need to interpret the Universe.

“Synastry” in the City

The project extends beyond the National Library of Greece to three additional landmark venues in Athens.

National Observatory of Athens – Hill of the Nymphs

Before the official opening of the exhibition, the National Observatory of Athens, Greece’s first research institution, will host a special event at its main facilities on the Hill of the Nymphs in Thissio. The public and members of the artistic community will have the opportunity to engage directly with the scientific observation of the sky through a guided tour and observations of the night sky, planets and constellations using the Observatory’s historic telescopes.

Eugenides Foundation Planetarium

At the Eugenides Foundation Planetarium, visitors will be able to take part in “Live Space Tours,” which make use of an advanced space-flight simulation system. The dates of the tours will be announced soon. The programme brings scientific knowledge together with the experience of a virtual journey through space, extending the central idea of “Synastry” from the exhibition space into the Universe itself.

Stoa Arsaki

The journey culminates on Saturday, September 26, under the full moon, at the new Stoa Arsaki. In the atrium of the Stoa, the poets participating in “Synastry” will read the poems they wrote especially for the project. Poetry will meet the night sky, followed immediately by a musical event dedicated to the Full Moon.

“The Universe Restores Measure”

For Lefteris Moysiadis, “Synastry” is also an opportunity to reconsider humanity’s place in the world. Modern technology often creates the illusion that everything can be measured, predicted and controlled. The Universe, by contrast, “restores a sense of proportion.” The awareness that we are small in relation to the Universe, he notes, is not a humiliation but an act of self-awareness. Awe in the face of infinity frees us from the belief that we are at the center of everything and can ultimately make us “more sensitive, more humble and more human.”

The event is organized in collaboration with the National Library of Greece, the National Observatory of Athens and the Eugenides Foundation, and is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family, the General Secretariat for Communication and Information, the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Municipality of Kallithea. The communication sponsor is Tsakalou P.R. Agency.

Accessibility for All: Particular emphasis has been placed on ensuring equal access for people with visual impairments. The exhibition includes tactile representations of artworks, audio descriptions, specially designed labels and informational materials, enabling visitors with visual impairments to experience and engage with the artworks, poetry and books presented in the exhibition.

Information

Venue: 4th-floor atrium of the National Library of Greece, SNFCC, 364 Syngrou Avenue, Kallithea

Dates: September 16 – October 4, 2026

Opening hours: Monday – Sunday, 09:30–20:00

Admission: Free

Sources and Photos:

-amna.gr

-athensvoice.gr

The post “Synastry”: When Art, Poetry and Astronomy Meet at the National Library appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

The inscription of “The Greater Olympus Area” on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a Mixed Property was unanimously approved during the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. The Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Environment and Energy expressed their joy, pride, and great satisfaction. The decision was adopted during the Committee's 48th session, held in Busan, South Korea, from 19 July. (cover photo: Stefani Summit, Mount Olympus, https://www.culture.gov.gr/)  

The inclusion of the mythical mountain on the World Heritage List is one of the highest international distinctions in the field of cultural and natural heritage conservation. It recognizes the Outstanding Universal Value of Olympus, placing it among the world's most iconic heritage sites that merit special protection and stewardship for the benefit of humanity.

Climbing road to Olympus from the west side (photo: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1719/gallery/ )

View of the Enipeas Gorge

Approximately 50,000 visitors climb Mount Olympus each year. For local authorities and stakeholders, its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List represents both an opportunity and a challenge, as it is expected to strengthen protection against the growing pressures of tourism development and climate change. Under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, properties inscribed on the World Heritage List benefit from an internationally recognized framework for protection and conservation.

The "abode of the immortals," as Homer described it, was designated Greece's first national park in 1938 in recognition of its unique natural landscape. In 1981, UNESCO designated Olympus as a Biosphere Reserve, and in 2021 it was declared a National Park by presidential decree.

"The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has unanimously decided, during its meeting in South Korea, to inscribe Mount Olympus on the prestigious World Heritage List, confirming its status as one of the world's most significant sites of cultural and natural heritage," said President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Tasoulas in a statement.

"From today, the mythical Mount Olympus becomes a mountain belonging to all humanity—one that must be protected forever. UNESCO's unanimous decision to inscribe it on the World Heritage List is a landmark national achievement," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a social media post.

Calling it a historic decision taken in Busan, South Korea, Giorgos Koumoutsakos, Greece's Permanent Representative to UNESCO and head of the Greek delegation, also welcomed the inscription in a post on social media. "The unanimous global recognition of Mount Olympus as a cultural and natural property of Outstanding Universal Value is a historic achievement. The hard work, coordination, and close cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Environment and Energy, and the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency made this landmark decision possible," said Giorgos Koumoutsakos, among other remarks.

Daphne oleoides (photo: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1719/gallery/ )

At the same time, Olympus is home to a rich and diverse ecosystem, rare species of flora and fauna, and important archaeological and historical monuments that reflect the region's long cultural heritage. It is also one of Greece's premier tourist destinations and one of the country's most recognizable symbols, embodying the enduring legacy of Greek mythology and inspiring people around the world.

Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stated: "The inscription of Mount Olympus on the UNESCO World Heritage List confirms Greece's enduring commitment to the protection, promotion, and sustainable management of its cultural and natural heritage, in accordance with the principles of the World Heritage Convention. At the same time, it enhances the international profile of a place that has long been a timeless symbol of Greek civilization, nature, and our shared world heritage, underscoring the international community's collective responsibility to safeguard it for the benefit of present and future generations. This inscription uniquely encapsulates the inseparable bond between our cultural and natural heritage. Through the Homeric epics and the works of ancient Greek literature, Mount Olympus carried Greek mythology and Greek culture to every corner of the world. It remains the eternal home of the Olympian Gods and a landscape of extraordinary richness and dramatic beauty, inspiring awe and reverence while continuing to stimulate thought, the arts, the sciences, and cultural creativity across the globe. In Homer's epics, Olympus is described as polyptychos ('many-peaked'), makros ('towering' or 'lofty'), niphoeis ('snow-clad'), and polydeiras ('deeply ravined'). These Homeric epithets became the starting point of an enduring tradition of inspiration. The image of Olympus, shaped by Homer's poetic genius nearly three millennia ago, remains unchanged to this day, inspiring the same sense of admiration and reverence in modern visitors."

Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou stated: "Greece's natural environment is a living and inseparable part of our identity, history, and culture. Its protection and enhancement lie at the heart of our government's policy. Mount Olympus, designated Greece's first National Park in 1938, is a sanctuary for rare birds of prey and is home to 28% of the country's plant taxa—more than 1,900 species, including 27 that are endemic to Olympus and found nowhere else in the world—as well as significant wildlife populations. From Mount Olympus—a global symbol linking the ancient myth of Greece's highest mountain as the abode of the gods with our country's environmental future—to the Untrodden Mountains initiative and the new National Marine Parks announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and now being implemented, we are demonstrating in practice that the protection of nature and biodiversity remains a steadfast national priority. Through the establishment and strengthening of the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA), we have laid the foundations for a modern, integrated system for managing Greece's protected areas. Thanks to the close cooperation between the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Ministry of Culture, and NECCA, a comprehensive nomination dossier was prepared for Mount Olympus' inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, successfully bringing to fruition an effort that began in 2014."

Mount Olympus (photo: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1719/gallery/ )

The successful completion of Mount Olympus' nomination for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a Mixed Property is the result of close and fruitful cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Environment and Energy in safeguarding and promoting Greece's cultural and natural heritage. The nomination dossier was prepared by the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA), supervised by the Ministry of Environment and Energy, in cooperation with the Directorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of the Ministry of Culture, drawing on the expertise of both institutions in the fields of natural and cultural heritage. The successful outcome of the nomination highlights the value of cross-sectoral cooperation. Combined with the contribution of the competent authorities and their specialized expertise, the scientific community, local government, relevant stakeholders, and other interested parties, this cooperation led to the preparation of a highly complex dossier that successfully met the rigorous requirements of the World Heritage Convention.

This inscription is of particular significance, as Mount Olympus has been inscribed on the List as a Mixed Property, one of the most demanding categories under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Inclusion in this category requires comprehensive documentation demonstrating both the site's cultural and natural values. Mixed Properties represent a relatively small proportion of all inscriptions on the World Heritage List. Mount Olympus was also the only mixed-property nomination submitted for consideration during the current session of the Committee. Together with the previously inscribed sites of Meteora and Mount Athos, Greece now has three Mixed Properties on the World Heritage List. With a total of 21 World Heritage inscriptions, this achievement is of particular importance for the country, further strengthening Greece's international presence within the framework of the Convention.

Balkan chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) on Mount Olympus (photo: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1719/gallery/ )

Waterfall at the Enipeas Gorge (left), Ramonda (Jankaea) heldreichii at the Enipeas Gorge (right)

At the same time, this inscription recognizes the exceptional natural value of Mount Olympus as a site of outstanding importance for biodiversity. Rising to an altitude of 2,918 metres, and owing to its proximity to the Aegean coast, its extensive altitudinal range, rugged terrain, topographical isolation, and historical role as a glacial refuge, Olympus supports 1,983 taxa, representing more than 25% of Greece's flora. This remarkable botanical richness, combined with the exceptionally high concentration of narrowly endemic species—species found nowhere else in the world but on Olympus—endows the mountain with global significance, making it a true "ark of biodiversity." At the same time, Olympus hosts a rich fauna, including numerous species of birds and mammals, as well as the brown bear and the largest Greek subpopulation of the wild goat, along with reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.

Sanctuary of Isis at the Archaeological Park of Dion. Dion stands in the northern foothills of Mount Olympus, and exercises complete control over the narrow defile leading from Macedonia to Thessaly

Mount Olympus, Greece's highest mountain and a timeless symbol of Greek civilization and world cultural heritage, as the mythical home of the Twelve Olympian Gods, occupies a central place in the worldview of the ancient Greeks. Its influence, conveyed through the Homeric epics, Hesiod's Theogony, and later literary traditions, extended far beyond the boundaries of the ancient world. Today, Olympus continues to inspire literature, the arts, philosophy, the sciences, and contemporary global cultural expression. The archaeological site of Dion (photo above), located at the foot of the mountain, represents the most significant material expression of the worship of the Olympian Gods, organically complementing this exceptional cultural and natural landscape.

Read also:

Olympus: The mountain of the gods

The post The Greater Olympus Area inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

The Digital Management of the Archive of the Hellenic Institute for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies of Venice has recently been completed and is already operating through the digital infrastructure of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, making it accessible to a global audience. It offers free access to an invaluable treasury of materials—including registers, documents, heirlooms, icons, works of art, miniatures, manuscripts, and early printed books—and sheds light on the historical trajectory of the Greek diaspora from the 15^th to the 20^th century.

As was emphasized during the events held following the completion of the project, the Archive of the Greek Community, and later the Archive of the Hellenic Institute of Venice, constitutes one of the most valuable cultural assets to have been digitized in recent years. The archival holdings date from 1498 to 1954 and document the history of the Greek Brotherhood in the city of the lagoons, as well as that of the broader Greek population under Venetian rule. These records, however, are far more than the documentation of routine administrative procedures—they are living history. (Cover photo: Deputy Minister of Education K. Vlasis and the contributors of the digitization program in Venice)

The reconstruction of the church of St George began in 1536, on land purchased a few years earlier by the Greeks of Venice and was completed in 1577. The work was supervised by the architects Sante Lombardo and Zuanantonio Chiona, while the well-known architect Andrea Palladio was the consultant for the construction of the women’s balcony. The church was decorated with icons brought by refugees from Constantinople, such as the Grand Duchess Anna Paleologina Notara, but also from other regions, with works by important painters such as Michael Damaskinos, Emmanuel Tzanes Bounialis, Thomas Bathas and others. The illustration of the dome was entrusted to John the Cyprian, who worked under the supervision of the remarkable Venetian painter Jacopo Tintoretto. (Photo: https://www.ertnews.gr/)

Thirteen years after the Fall of Constantinople (1453), the great wave of exodus from the Byzantine capital—a migration that would permanently alter the course of European history—carried thousands of scholars, philosophers, and theologians to the Italian peninsula. They brought with them precious ancient Greek manuscripts in what may be regarded as the first great "brain drain" to the West. They were followed by heirs of the Byzantine Empire, architects and mosaic artists, painters, craftsmen, aristocrats, members of the imperial court, descendants of noble families, former soldiers, and many others. Venice became their principal destination, owing both to its extensive maritime trade network and to the presence of an already established Greek confraternity. This community would soon develop into one of the most important strongholds of the Greek diaspora and the foremost center of Hellenism in Italy before the Greek War of Independence of 1821.

The formal establishment of the first Greek Community in Venice in 1498, at a time when approximately 5,000 Greeks lived in the city, and the construction of the Orthodox Church of St. George a few decades later, mark what historians describe as a milestone in the history of Hellenism. It was the first organized Greek community, founded some 333 years before the establishment of the modern Greek state.

For five centuries, the Greeks of Venice have maintained a continuous presence, preserving—as the Greek Deputy Minister of Education, Konstantinos Vlasis, aptly remarked in a public address—"the language, the faith, the educational tradition, and the identity of Hellenism." From the late fifteenth century onward, they played an active role in every major period of the nation's history. Following the end of the Second World War, the movable and immovable property of the Greek Community, together with its few remaining descendants, was transferred to the Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies in Venice. Today, the Institute stands as the historical continuation of that Community, preserving its legacy across both time and place.

The Institute’s Digital Repository now presents to the world hundreds of its rare printed books, most of them in Greek (148), Italian (123), Latin (105), and French (81). As reported to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (APE-MPE), the program coordinator, Professor of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ch. Arabatzis, stated that a total of 140,000 documented records are now accessible in high resolution and with thorough documentation to every student, specialized researcher, and interested citizen. This includes approximately 1,000,000 digital images, 10,000 items of images and ecclesiastical artifacts, 1,000 rare printed books, and 47 valuable Byzantine manuscripts. An important aspect of the program was the development of applications with a clear educational orientation. ‘Students and university learners no longer study copies or editions—they work essentially with the original sources themselves, in their physical form and chronological sequence.’ He added that the completion of the project represents an important step in linking Greek cultural institutions with corresponding European programs that are gradually being integrated into Europeana.”

"The Digital Management of the Venetian Archive is a project of exceptional scholarly and national importance," Professor Stratos Stylianidis, former Vice Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA). "It brings to light," he added, "through the use of advanced digital technologies, an invaluable archival heritage of Hellenism. It constitutes a unique testament to the historical memory, intellectual continuity, and cultural presence of the Greeks within the European world." According to Professor Stylianidis, a faculty member of the Faculty of Engineering at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Vice President of the International Scientific Committee for Heritage Documentation (CIPA – Heritage Documentation), the digital management, documentation, and dissemination of the archive "are far more than a technological intervention. They represent an act of safeguarding our collective memory and an investment in future research, education, and the dissemination of cultural heritage."

The Alexander Romance by Michael Damaskinos, Theodoros Poulakis, and the Cretan School: Portrait of Alexander the Great standing, dressed in the costume and crown of a Byzantine emperor (left); Alexander the Great dining with Darius (upper right); Alexander the Great conversing with the Gymnosophists (lower right)

Occupying a place of distinction in the new digital portal—as in the cultural heritage of the Greek Community as a whole—is the Alexander Romance, the celebrated and uniquely illustrated fourteenth-century Byzantine manuscript by Michael Damaskinos, Theodoros Poulakis, and the Cretan School (Codex 5, Narrative of Alexander, Pseudo-Callisthenes). The manuscript contains 250 remarkable miniatures embellished with gold leaf, depicting—and imaginatively narrating—the life and legendary exploits of Alexander the Great. Comprising 193 parchment folios bound into twenty-three quires (measuring approximately 32 × 24 cm), the codex recounts the principal events of Alexander's life. He is portrayed not merely as the ancient Macedonian king but as a Byzantine emperor and protector, embodying the cultural legacy of Hellenism while leading campaigns beyond the boundaries of his empire as both a military leader and a just ruler. The Alexander Romance is a work of imaginative literature that achieved worldwide renown and has been translated into eleven languages. The manuscript's extraordinary illustrations vividly portray Alexander's birth and upbringing, his military campaigns, battles, sieges, encounters with foreign rulers, and his death. It is also presented on the digital platform through an interactive application. The Institute also preserves a further forty-seven manuscript books, forty of them in Greek, all of which have now been digitized in their entirety.

Noah’s Ark, second half of the 17th century, work by Theodoros Poulakis (https://istitutoellenico.org/museum/)

At the top of the digitized and documented images and artifacts are the works of Michael Damaskinos, the distinguished Cretan painter of the 16^th century, who managed to ideally combine the strict Byzantine tradition (maniera greca) with the innovations of the Italian Renaissance and the Venetian School (maniera latina) during the period he lived in Venice. The digital archive also presents the entire collection of Orthodox art inherited by the Institute from the Greek Community. This includes masterpieces of Byzantine iconography, such as the icons brought from Constantinople in the 15^th century by Anna Palaiologina Notaras, as well as dozens of works by well-known painters: Georgios Klontzas, Emmanuel Lambardos, Victor (painter), Franghias Kavertzas, Theodoros Poulakis, Ioannis Moskos, and Emmanuel Tzanes and Konstantinos Tzanes, among others. This collection allows every visitor to follow the evolution of Cretan painting from the 15^th to the 17^th century and to be taken on a journey from Byzantium to Crete and Corfu during those centuries. Also available on the same website are impressive icons by unknown artists, such as The Descent into Hades (late 14^th  century, unknown Constantinopolitan painter), The Dormition of the Virgin (second half of the 15th century, unknown painter from a Cretan workshop), and The Ascension (second half of the 15^th century, unknown painter from Candia).

(Source: https://www.amna.gr/)

Read also:

“Alpha Beta: Learning Greek in the West: Byzantium – Italy – Europe”

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«Ὡς χαρίεν ἔστ’ ἄνθρωπος, ἂν ἄνθρωπος ᾖ» - How beautiful—mature—a person is when they are truly humane

94 archaeological sites, monuments, and museums - 12 regions - 190 events – 95 productions featuring music, theatre, visual arts/performance (1 July to 31 August 2026)

The Ministry of Culture’s initiative “All of Greece, One Culture” returns for a seventh consecutive year in the summer of 2026 to present its richest and most diverse programme to date. An inextricable part of Greece’s cultural map and a vibrant meeting point where cultural heritage and modern creativity intersect, the initiative has been substantially enhanced this year, with the number of productions increasing, more than 900 artists featured in the programme, and greater participation from local communities. For two months, from the 1st of July to the 31st of August 2026, emblematic archaeological sites, monuments, and museums across Greece will come to life through original works of the performing arts, offering audiences a unique cultural experience. The Ministry of Culture provides free admission to all events in the “All of Greece, One Culture” 2026 programme.

Launched in 2020 during the pandemic, the Ministry of Culture’s “All of Greece, One Culture” programme has become one of Greece’s leading cultural institutions. Every July and August, it presents high-quality events at archaeological sites, monuments, and museums, creatively connecting contemporary art with cultural heritage. The programme also supports cultural professionals and local communities, attracting enthusiastic audiences from Greece and abroad. The initiative has its own website (www.allofgreeceoneculture.gr ), which is compatible with all mobile devices. Through the platform, users can be informed about the full programme of events and about each production separately, as well as make the necessary bookings for all the events. At the same time, this website offers an interactive map showing all performances by region, and in the “Sites & History” section, one can find presentations of all the archaeological sites that have hosted the events from 2020 to the present day.

All of Greece, One Culture 2026 - Locations & history: 94 archaeological sites, monuments, and museums - 12 regions. With the unique privilege of presenting its events at archaeological sites, monuments, and museums across Greece, the programme has been enhanced this year with 19 new venues, further expanding the initiative’s map. Through the inclusion of new archaeological sites, monuments, and museums, the programme strengthens its presence across the country, bringing to light locations of special historical and cultural significance as venues for modern artistic creativity and cultural dialogue.

The programme’s seventh run centers on a thematic focus inspired by the famous line from Menander’s play O Dyskolos (The Difficult), “How beautiful—mature—a person is when they are truly humane.” Creators and artistic groups have been invited to measure themselves against the enduring question of humanity and the need to return to humanity as a measure of artistic creativity in modern times, and to create original works of performing arts, as well as hybrid forms of artistic expression in dialogue with the specific thematic field. At a time when humanism and meta-humanism, live spectacles, and the digital condition coexist and confront one another, the return to humanity as a measure of artistic creativity is a necessary gesture. The context of “All of Greece, One Culture,” grounded in a dialogue between modern culture and the cultural repository of emblematic archaeological sites, is the ideal framework for creating works that explore the broad scope of wonder opened by Menander’s quote.

The programme includes 95 new productions featuring music (23), theatre (34), performances/events for young audiences (13), dance (14), visual arts/performance (8), and music theatre (3). The productions will be showcased in two performances each at 94 archaeological sites, monuments, and museums across 12 regions of Greece, excluding Attica, highlighting each place’s uniqueness and enhancing cultural decentralization. A total of 190 events will be held at various venues, including ancient theatres, Roman Odeons, Byzantine monuments, museums, castles, mosques, mansions, and sacred monasteries.

The events featured in 2026’s programme were selected by a special evaluation committee of the Ministry of Culture, following an open call issued via the Ministry’s online portal: drasis.culture.gr. In line with the initiative’s philosophy, these events are directed towards innovative and hybrid forms born of the dialectical pairing of multiple art forms in each event. The productions were developed from original proposals submitted by artistic groups. The evaluation committee, in collaboration with the pertinent authorities of the Ministry of Culture, selected the archaeological sites to showcase the productions across 12 regions of Greece.

This year’s TV spot for the “All of Greece, One Culture” programme draws inspiration from human nature. Filming took place at the National Archaeological Museum and features two students from the GNO Professional Dance School, Georgia Dimou and Georgios Tsiggos. The video was created using 3D animation techniques. Among the museum’s precious exhibits, human figures depicted on ancient statues come to the fore. In the spot, as the statues crack, the human figures within them come to life, move, experience emotions, and create. The campaign’s main concept highlights the connection from ancient times to the present, with humanity serving as the common thread linking all cultures and the driving force of creation throughout the centuries.

Events On Demand: The “All of Greece, One Culture” 2026 platform also offers audiences 30 selected filmed productions from 2024 and 2025, available on demand and free of charge

Booking for events is open through the programme’s official website:

www.allofgreeceoneculture.gr

The post All of Greece, One Culture 2026 appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

The International Training Center for the Safety of Journalists and Media Professionals (ICSJ) organized a two-day joint training program at the facilities of the School of Advanced Training and Professional Development (Continuing Education) of the Hellenic Police in Northern Greece in Veria, creating a shared training environment for media professionals and security personnel.

The initiative, supported by the OSCE and conducted under the scientific supervision of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, brought together representatives of the security services and media professionals, focusing on the exchange of best practices and a practical approach to crisis management. Its objective was to develop common practices and strengthen cooperation in the field during the coverage of crises and high-risk incidents. The training concluded with participants gaining practical tools and collaborative strategies for covering high-risk events safely and effectively.

(Photo: https://www.facebook.com/dkirmikiroglou )

Secretary General for Communication and Information, Dimitris Kirmikiroglou, addressing the trainees, noted, among others, that the joint training of journalists and security personnel brings together two professional communities that are often required to operate under conditions of tension, such as demonstrations and social mobilizations. Through this process, both sides gain a better understanding of each other's roles and needs.

He stressed that the ICSJ has successfully translated ideas and proposals into practical initiatives with tangible results, while highlighting the role of training and systematic cooperation in fostering a culture of mutual respect and a deeper understanding of each other's roles. The Secretary General further emphasized that the State consistently supports initiatives that strengthen the safety of journalists and promote institutional dialogue among all stakeholders, noting that safeguarding freedom of information is a fundamental prerequisite for the proper functioning of democracy.

Professor Nikos Panayiotou of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Director of the Peace Journalism Laboratory and Head of the ICSJ, stressed that this training forms part of a series of initiatives implemented since the establishment of the ICSJ. As he explained, these initiatives not only enhance the country's international profile but, more importantly, bring to the forefront of public discussion the issues facing journalists, particularly those related to their safety while carrying out their professional duties and fulfilling their vital role.

He noted that the initiative, implemented with the support of the OSCE, seeks to address a range of critical issues arising in the practice of journalism during crisis situations, with particular emphasis on relations and interactions with security forces. According to Professor Panayiotou, this issue has proven to be of major importance, as significant challenges have emerged over time that require meaningful responses and practical solutions. "Our goal is to provide solutions in the field, not theoretical approaches detached from reality," he said, while also expressing his satisfaction with the work carried out by the ICSJ. "We address the real challenges journalists face in their work and strive to tackle them through practical interventions and initiatives," he concluded.

Christos Frangonikolopoulos, Dean of the School of Economics and Political Sciences at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, referred to the importance of the training implemented by the International Center for the Safety of Journalists. As he noted, at a time when freedom of expression—and journalists' freedom in particular—faces significant challenges, initiatives that promote understanding and cooperation among all stakeholders are essential. The attacks and pressures faced by journalists, whether through social media or while covering events in conflict zones and other critical situations, make such initiatives all the more necessary, he emphasized.

He described the seminar as particularly important, as it helps inform the security services—and especially the Hellenic Police—about the framework within which journalists operate, their rights and responsibilities, and the unique conditions they face in carrying out their profession. At the same time, he stressed that free and independent journalism is a fundamental prerequisite for pluralism and diversity of voices in a democratic society. He added that state support and the cultivation of relationships based on mutual understanding between journalists and public institutions contribute to strengthening the journalistic profession.

The training concluded with the presentation of certificates of participation to all attendees by the Commandant of the School, Sofia Gaitanidou, and the Training Coordinator, Dr. Ilias Nikezis, Executive Director of the International Center.

(Source: “Veria: The International Center for the Safety of Journalists and Media Professionals Focuses on Crisis Coverage and Field Incident Management”,  https://www.amna.gr/ )

The International Training Center for the Safety of Journalists and Media Professionals (ICSJ)has an educational and research focus. Regarding the educational focus, ICSJ utilizes the material and tools of the academic community and provides specialized training to journalists and media professionals. Regarding the research focus, the Center implements extended research on topics related to the safety of journalists and media professionals, both in war zones and in crisis, as well as threats against them, connected with everyday work, such as physical, legal, economic, freedom of expression and cyber security issues. In parallel, ICSJ aims to develop support tools, as well as a supportive network for journalists and media professionals that operate in war zones and crises. ICSJ acts under the scientific responsibility of the Peace Journalism Laboratory, Department of Journalism and Media, of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Read also:

Greece announced a three-year roadmap for the National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists

Greece Strengthens Global Efforts to Protect Journalists and End Impunity

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