The cultural platform GREECE IN USA is a New York based organization that promotes Greek culture in the US and promotes international cultural cooperation. Founded in New York by the curator and adjunct professor at CUNY City University of New York Sozita Goudouna, one of America's most prominent Greek art professionals. GREECE IN USA makes an impressive launch amid a pandemic, launching, under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Culture, the group exhibition "The Right to Silence" / "The Right to Silence" on the penitentiary system, prison and incarceration regimes and the reform of criminal justice, in different geographical and political contexts. The first edition of the exhibition is currently being presented at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY, City University of New York with the participation of 43 Greek and Cypriot Artists, while the second parallel program is expected to launch in May 2021 at "Undercurrent", one of the most influential exhibition venues for American and European cultural programs like EUNIC.

What is GREECE IN USA?
GREECE IN USA is a non-profit organization of global scope, which promotes the knowledge of modern and ancient Greek culture abroad and promotes international cultural cooperation and social participation. The platform focuses on the dissemination of innovative and unique programs in the field of the arts and education, exploring the evolving diversity and richness of Greek culture, seeks to create and provoke new (original) thinking about the arts and to promote intercultural dialogue through and “new” expression platforms. The non-profit focuses on a number of cultural activities, including the development and support of creative, academic research with an emphasis on cultural policy and the extroversion of Greek culture. As well as in the production of commissions and festivals in collaboration with prominent US cultural partners, as well as the organization of conferences, seminars, workshops and cultural exchanges through 'art residencies' hosting programs.

GREECE IN USA presents Greek-American and Greek contemporary productions focusing on the visual arts, performing arts (theater), experimental cinema, cinema, new media, architecture and dance. The organization develops productions that meet the needs of the spaces (on-site-specific) and the new and intermediate media (new media & intermedia). The promotion of the international exchange of practices and knowledge in the arts, the exploration of the methods used in theatrical and curatorial practices and the points of intersection between the arts, society and the public sphere through interventions, collective actions, educational programs and publications, is in progress. of interest to the organization. The Board of Directors of GREECE IN USA consists of prominent personalities including Yiannis Kaplanis, General Manager of the Athens and Epidaurus Festival, Andreas Takis, President of MoMUS, Nektarios Antoniou, Head of Culture, St Nicholas, Rachel Katwan, Pomegranate Arts among others.

What are the goals of GREECE IN USA?
GREECE IN USA aims to collaborate and build long-term partnerships with leading institutions and individuals active in Greece and its culture and to transfer a comprehensive representation of Greece and Cyprus through the production of cultural and educational programs that encourage interdisciplinary and allow cultural participation.

The main objectives are:
- To shape and envision the image of contemporary Greece in the United States beyond existing stereotypes
- To shape and envision the image of contemporary Greece in the United States beyond existing stereotypes
- To recalibrate the assumed center of Greek national narratives to include those who have often been denied historical recognition.
- To transform the way Greek histories are told and produce projects that reflect the vast, rich complexity of Greek culture.
- To support Greek inspired cultural practices by welcoming and nurturing new ideas and influential perspectives
- To commission, produce and present contemporary Greek and Cypriot culture that grapple with many of the pressing social and political issues of our time
- To foster Greek scholarship and cultural research within the American educational system
- To develop a transatlantic network for the exchange of culture and ideas
- To strengthen the development of structures in cultural policy & leadership and foster worldwide mobility.

The woman behind GREECE IN USA
Sozita Goudouna is the inspirer, founder and artistic director of GREECE IN USA, head of the Raymond Pettibon Foundation, one of America's most prominent artists and adjunct professor at CUNY City University of New York. She is the author of "Beckett's Breath: Anti-theatricality and the Visual Arts" published by Edinburgh Critical Studies in Modernism and researcher at the Organism for Poetic Research supported by NYU and Brown University. Sozita has taught from 2015 at New York University as the inaugural Andrew W. Mellon Post-Doctoral Curatorial fellow at Performa Biennial in NYC. Her internationally exhibited projects include participations at New Museum NYC, Performa Biennial and Institute in New York, Documenta, Onassis Foundation New York, Hunterian Museum London, EMST, Benaki Museum, Byzantine Museum among others.  She served as treasurer of the board of directors of AICA Hellas International Art Critics Association and as member of the board of directors at ITI International Theatre Association, Unesco.

 

The Authentic Marathon Swim returns, after its historical revival, for the 2nd consecutive year, on July 2-4, 2021, at Artemision. Amateur and professional swimmers from Greece and abroad will have the opportunity to enjoy the great sports event, at Pefki, Evia of the Municipality of Istiaia – Edipsos, with absolute safety.


The Authentic Route
Further to last year’s participation of world-class names, after 2,500 years, the authentic 10km route revives once again allowing swimmers from around the world to swim over the shipwrecks of the naval battle of Artemision that took place in 480 B.C. Athletes will follow the example of Skyllias and his daughter Hydna, the very first “marathon swimmers”, according to The Father of History, Herodotus, who helped the Greek forces in the historic naval battle of Artemision against the Persian fleet. The demanding route will be held at the straits of Artemision, connecting Central Greece with Thessaly and the regional units of Evia, Magnesia and Fthiotida

Early Bird Registrations – A new 5km route is added
Participants can now register and take part in the impressive 10km, 3km, 1.5km routes, as well as in the new 5km route that will be held this year for the first time, taking advantage of the early bird prices. Offers are valid until 30/04/2021, reaching up to a 33% discount. Registration for the 800m children’s race is free. The routes of 5km, 3km, 1.5km and 800m. have Pefki beach as their starting and finishing point.

Last year’s absolutely successful adherence of the safety measures and the historical revival of the authentic marathon swimming route, set an example and composed a guide for the safe implementation of all races, again this year. The event will be held in accordance with FINA regulations and the health protocol to be established by the experienced team of ActiveMedia Group, based on the instructions of the special scientists-collaborators of the Hellenic Swimming Federation and the recommendations of the Greek General Secretariat of Sports’ Health Scientific Committee, in order to ensure the health of athletes and attendees.

All routes of The Authentic Marathon Swim have been designed by the Greek national swimming coach with distinctions in Olympic Games & world open water swimming championships, Nikos Gemelos. The event prioritizing the absolute safety of its athletes, will provide once again everyone with a safety lifeguard buoy since its use by professional and amateur athletes is mandatory. 2

The event is organized by the Municipality of Istiaia-Edipsos, while ActiveMedia Group is responsible for its sports production. The event’s official hashtag #authenticmarathonswim is again this year, the way of communicating on social media, for the use of unique images and videos from the exciting moments and memories of the participants in the Municipality of Istiaia-Edipsos.

Photo Credit: Elias Lefas 

 

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall confirmed on Friday that they will visit Athens on March 24-25 to participate in the events marking the bicentenary of the Greek War of Independence.

The visit comes at the request of the British Government and follows an invitation from Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Clarence House said in a press release.

The bicentenary event’s Independence Day celebrations will take place from the evening of March 24 and will conclude on March 25. 

Prince Charles will be awarded a 'Gold City Value Medal' in a special ceremony that will take place at the City Hall and will be awarded by the Mayor of Athens Costas Bakoyannis.

The award is in recognition of the contribution of the people of the United Kingdom to the liberation of Greece, but also to the devotion and contribution of the Prince of Wales to the protection of the environment, the protection of cultural heritage and the promotion of letters and fine arts.

The two royals will also attend a reception at the newly re-opened National Gallery of Greece on the evening of March 24 hosted by President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Syntagma Square and a traditional military parade on March 25. 

This article was originally posted on ekathimerini.com
Photo credit: Samir Hussein

On Thursday March 25, 2021, many important landmarks around the world will mark Greece’s bicentennial, commemorating 200 years since the declaration of its independence. 

In every corner of the globe where members of the Greek diaspora are present, the anniversary will be marked. Iconic landmarks in many countries will be illuminated in blue and white in honor of the Greek people and their struggle for freedom 200 years ago.

Greece Bicentennial in the United States

Lighting up their most iconic landmark buildings and bridges in the blue of the Greek flag for one night, American cities from East to West will honor the nation of Greece as well as the many millions of Greek-Americans who are part of the fabric of the country.

San Francisco City Hall will be illuminated with the colors of the Greek flag on March 25.

The initiative belongs to the United Hellenic American Societies (UHAS) representing Greek Americans in California and the efforts of Taso Zografos, President of the United Hellenic American Societies of Northern California (UHAS).



The City of Los Angeles will mark the celebration of the Greek bicentennial of its War of Independence on March 25 by illuminating the iconic pylons outside its international airport, LAX.

The New South Wales government agreed that the iconic Sydney Opera House will be bedecked in the Greek flag for March 25, the Bicentennial of the War of Independence.

In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution of 1821, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) is presenting a series of events, titled Faces of the Hero, which was created and is implemented through an exclusive grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).

The heroic example set by the fighters of the Greek Revolution provides the impetus for an examination of the concepts of “hero” and “heroism” throughout time, through the prism of the performing and visual arts, dance, readings, lectures, exhibitions, and educational programs for adults and children. The connecting link permeating all the programs is the question, “How has the heroic ideal been reflected through art?”

The selection of the multifaceted thematic programming is a reflection of the mission that drives the SNFCC overall: to be an open public space that offers cultural experiences, entertainment, and education for all. The anniversary programming is centered around activating the SNFCC’s premises and developing synergies with its affiliate organizations, the National Library of Greece (NLG) and the Greek National Opera (GNO), while also focusing on investing in the organization’s artistic outreach.

In Ancient Greece, public life was at its most vibrant in the agorá! It was a public space that played a significant role in every aspect of social life - it also served as a marketplace where merchants kept stalls or shops to sell their products. It is this idea that inspired us to create our own Agorá in the form of an open digital space on our trusted platform where the international community can gather, navigate, and discover local products by local Greek businesses, designers, food producers, artists, authors, and independent creators.

 

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Although this new section of our website comes to life during a vital time to support local business and local economy, for us at XpatAthens AMKE, our Agorá is an added piece of our whole platform that further empowers our mission of contributing to the local community while living global experiences. Learn more about our Agorá below.

Our Agorá was created with the intention of connecting the international community with local Greek products. Always in alignment with our mission and nonprofit causes, we strive to bridge our readers with the local community in order to enhance their experience of living in Greece, while simultaneously supporting local businesses.

Just like it was in Ancient Greece, our Agorá is a marketplace where our community of global citizens can gather and explore local Greek products of quality, value and authenticity. 

Everyone. Our Agorá is a space dedicated to supporting local businesses and local producers by sharing their products and telling their stories; while giving Greece’s international community the chance to discover local products and support local businesses. In other words, this unique space on XpatAthens benefits both our readers and local Greek businesses. 

Listing your products in our digital marketplace means that you’ll be seen by our unique community of readers who follow us both locally and internationally. Our Agorá is about connecting people with local Greek products and we do this with the intention of sharing and connecting our readers with local businesses.

Note, products are never purchased directly from XpatAthens, they are simply showcased (shared) in our Agorá. Those interested in making a purchase are directed via a hyperlink to the producers website directly. Additionally, XpatAthens does not receive commissions or donations for products discovered on our platform.

In alignment with the rest of our uploading fees, the charge for uploading products to our platform is as follows:

 

1 Product Post: €10 +vat (€12,40)
1 Year of Product Posts (limited to 5 monthly): €75 +vat (€93)
1 Year of Product Posts for Nonprofits & Charities: No Charge

XpatAthens does not receive commissions or donations for products that are discovered in our Agorá. As outlined above, we charge a small amount for uploading products to our platform. Products are never purchased directly from XpatAthens, they are simply showcased (shared) in our Agorá. Those interested in purchasing a product are directed via a hyperlink to the producer's website directly.

 

 

Even though we, Greeks are few in numbers and it's mostly our ancient past that makes our country famous around the world, there have been many significant Greeks to leave their mark in the world since the creation of the modern Greek state.

Numerous Greeks have excelled in science and arts, won Nobel Prizes and Academy Awards, resolved problems, and saved thousands of lives with their scientific discoveries.

Here is a concise timeline of famous Greek people and events since 1811.

1811: In 1811, Pavlos Prosalentis who is considered the first professional sculptor in modern Greece, established a private art school; the first modern art school in Greece.

1823: Dionysios Solomos wirtes the Greek national anthem. Officially titled 'Ymnos is tin Eleftherian' in Greek and the 'Hymn to Liberty' in English, the Greek anthem, is a reminder not only of how far Greece has come since the defeat of the Ottoman Empire but also of the journey that led to freedom.

1832: Elizabeth Moutzan-Martinegou dies. Moutzan-Martinegou has been called the first female writer in modern Greece. She wrote poetry, more than 15 plays, and translated works of classical literature; her most famous work is her autobiography.

1863: Famous Egyptiot Greek poet Konstantinos P. Kavafis is born in Alexandria, Egypt in 1863. His most famous works are 'Waiting For the Barbarians' and 'Ithaca' and while almost all of his work was in Greek, he remained unrecognized in Greece, until after the publication of the first anthology of his work in 1935.

1887: Kallirhoe Parren launches the feminist movement in Greece with the founding of a newspaper, 'Ephemeris ton Kyrion' (Ladies' Journal), in 1887. The newspaper was run entirely by women and was an 8-page weekly publication until 1908 when it changed to a bi-monthly that ran until early 1916.

1938: After completing her secondary education, Melina Merkouri enrolled at National Theatre's Drama School. Merkouri became known to international audiences with the film 'Never on Sunday' for which, she earned the Best Actress Award at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival.

1953: On January 18, 1953, Eleni Skouras is elected as the first female member of the Greek Parliament. Eleni Skouras was born in Volos but moved to Thessaloniki in 1915 where she earned a law degree in 1950.

1954: In 1954 Greek physician George Papanikolaou published the 'Atlas of Exfoliative Cytology' the foundation of modern cytopathology. Papanikolaou is famous for inventing the Pap smear or Pap test, which is used worldwide for the detection and prevention of cervical cancer.

1977: On November 8, 1977, Greek archaeologist Manolis Andronikos discovered a tomb at Vergina which he identified as that of Philip II of Macedon.

1979: Odysseas Elytis was a Greek poet, essayist, and translator, and a major representative of romantic modernism in Greece and the world. In 1979, Elytis was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

1988: In 1998 Theo Angelopoulos' film 'Eternity and a Day' won the Palme d'Or at the 51st Cannes Film Festival. Angelopoulos was one of the most influential and important filmmakers in the world.

2016: In 2016, Greek photojournalist Yiannis Behrakis along with his team from Thomson Reuters, won the esteemed prize in 2016 for Breaking News Photography for the coverage of the European refugee crisis.

To discover the full reel of notable people and events, please visit: greece2021.gr

An abundance of commemorating events such as museum exhibitions, theater productions, and historical re-enactments was planned in Greece to honor the bicentennial of the Greek War of Independence.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, mezzo-soprano Artemis Bogri and her fellow vocalists performed the Greek National Opera’s new production of “Despo” in a theater empty of spectators. Despo, the title character in Pavlos Carrer’s 1875 opera chooses death over captivity by detonating ammunition stored in a fortress as Ottoman forces close in.

“Artists prepare two or three months for a production and then take that work to an audience,” she said. “Now, we have to generate that energy with no one there. That’s not easy.”

The bicentennial events intended to illustrate Greece’s modern accomplishments have been postponed, scaled back, or moved online due to the pandemic and school parades were canceled on account of the surge in Covid-19 infections.

Like the National Opera, other cultural foundations have formed small work teams to salvage their celebration plans despite the acute financial pressure they are facing due to the ongoing lockdown measures in Greece.


To read this article in full, please visit: ekathimerini.com