In the context of their new project, Oh Europa, two dynamic performance artists from Bristol, U.K., who work together under the name Action Hero, are travelling over 30,000km across Europe in a motorhome, recording songs of love, heartbreak, loss and desire, sung by the people they meet.

After stopping in the U.K., Germany, France, Belgium and Hungary, they will arrive at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. From 22 to 26/08, they invite us to go into their motorhome and sing a love song; it can be any type of love song – modern or traditional, about falling in love or falling out of love, break-ups or make-ups. All voices are welcome! You can sing solo, or with friends; bring the lyrics along, or find them on your mobile.

In this ever-evolving archive, Action Hero creatively fuse installation and performance, while creating a love-song saga, in an audio broadcast from the literal edges of the continent – a hopeful, reparative act, and an attempt to build connections. Detached from political sound bites, diplomacy, or art-speak, the messages instead speak in song about who we are and how we feel, straight from the heart.

Their archive, constantly enriched with love songs in all European languages, will broadcast 24/7 by beacons placed by the artists throughout the continent, on its literal edges, as well as on borders, hinterlands and divides, both political and historical, natural and geographical, imagined and real. If you want to listen to the broadcast, you can navigate to the beacon nearest you, including the one at SNFCC of course, using the Oh Europa app, a free download for IoS and Android.

Oh Europa invites us to re-imagine the terrains of Europe - psychic, emotional, political and physical, offering an opportunity to re-orientate and re-imagine our relationships with each other and with the space we share.

Gemma Paintin and James Stenhouse share an interdisciplinary performance practice together under the name Action Hero. Since 2005, they have created performances spanning theatre, live art, installation, multi media and site-specific practice, which have toured to nearly 30 countries across 5 continents.

Their ongoing interests lie in the iconography of popular culture and its use; both as a weapon and as a shared cultural memory. Action Hero’s work is always experimenting with form, and as a result their work expands across multiple creative practices. Although they work primarily with live performance, they regularly work with processes and mediums with which they are unfamiliar, adopting a radical DIY approach which often sees them navigating solo through new technical and creative territories.

Discover the traditional side of Greece by watching folk dances from every corner of the country. Or take a swing at learning a dance step or two yourself.

Located in a dreamy location on Philopappou Hill, with a view of the Parthenon, the Dora Stratou Greek Dance Theatre is open all summer long. If a dance class isn’t your thing, check out the costumes from each corner of the country or browse the theatre’s collection of books, photographs and films.


When: 23 May – 23 September 2018. Wednesday - Friday 21:30, Saturday- Sunday at 20:30. Monday, Tuesday (and 4-8, 28-29 July και 8-19 August) closed.

The ultimate event for book lovers. Greek and international publishers, authors, editors, and artists will present their work in lectures, talks, performances, and book signings. Taking place across three venues, Radio Athènes, The Goethe Institute, and The Benaki Museum, the topics covered range from fashion to psychoanalysis, architecture to literature.

Days & Hours: Wednesdays 14.00-20.00, Saturdays 13.00-17.00

The National Archaeological Museum in collaboration with the Italian Archaeological School at Athens organize the temporary exhibition "Hadrian and Athens. Conversing with an Ideal World" in the Gallery 31a of the Sculpture Collection. The exhibition marks the 1900 years since the beginning of Adrian's Principate in AD 117, an anniversary that was celebrated in manifold ways by major European museums and cultural institutions.

The Athenian Kosmetai gallery in the permanent exhibition of the Sculpture Collection was selected as the ideal setting for the development of the museological concept. Portraits of the Emperor Hadrian are on display centrally in an imaginary philosophical dialogue about Greek culture with emblematic figures of intellectuals such as Metrodorus, Antonius Polemon and Herodes Atticus. Portraits of Plato and Aristoteles, standing as symbols of Greek philosophical thought, observe the imagined conservation, along with the Kosmetai at the back of the hall, i.e. the officials who were responsible for the intellectual and physical education of the ephebes in the Athenian gymnasia of the imperial period. Through this enriched exhibition narrative, the guardians of the traditional education (paideia) of ancient Athens are approached with new interpretative media that highlight the deep spiritual affinity between Hellenic and Roman culture.

The world of the Athenian Gymnasia is also enlivened by a series of representative exhibits and the splendid bust of Antinous, the emperor's beloved companion, who was deified after his premature death and venerated in the Gymnasia as a model of youthful beauty and vigour.

Opening Hours: Monday 13:00-20:00, Tuesday-Sunday 09:00-16:00

35 Countries - 3,000,000 Spectators!

The classic work, famous all over the world, Zorba by Mikis Theodorakis and Lorca Massine, is presented at the Panathenaic Stadium for a single magnificent performance on Sunday 16 September.

The literary hero of the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis is animated by the dancers of the Sofia Opera Ballet, the Orchestra of the National Opera and the Mixed Chorus, at the Kallimarmaro Stadium, in the music direction of Nikos Haliasas.

Watch the trailer HERE!

The visitors centre of the National Observatory of Athens will be conducting evening tours in English on dates throughout August and September offering the public the opportunity to peer through the 8 metre dome of the Doridis telescope, to enjoy the Athenian sky from the Hill of the Nymphs, opposite the Acropolis.

Tours will be conducted in English in August and September starting at 9:00pm at a cost of 5 euros per person on the following dates:

August 1, 3, 4, 11, 24, 25, 29, and 31.

September every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Originally posted on WhyAthens.com

A special evening dedicated to Leonard Cohen at the Megaron Garden.

On the day when Leonard Cohen would have celebrated his 84th birthday, three young performing artists interpret songs sealed by his characteristic deep voice, accompanied by three talented musicians.

Join Nalyssa Green, Sugahspank! and Lou is as they take us on a voyage to Leonard Cohen’s enchanting universe.

A magical night devoted to Leonard Cohen to be a memorable highlight of the Megaron’s marvelous summer line-up of outdoor performances in their Concert Hall Gardens.

The energetic Sugahspank trio will showcase the great poet and musician who, throughout his full life, was both a teacher and a student, and who touched many across the world with his meaningful music.

To celebrate the two-year anniversary from the day it opened its doors to the public, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) invites photographers of all skill levels to participate in a group photography exhibition that will showcase moments of SNFCC life through their lenses.

The images may have been captured at an earlier date. They can focus on architecture, or a moment in time – any time of the year, any SNFCC area. Creative interpretations of this topic are encouraged!

This call for entries is free to enter for all photographers around the world over the age of 18. You may submit your entry at SNFCC.org/fence until 2 September 2018. Once the call for entries has come to a close, a jury of highly-regarded photography curators, academics and representatives of the organizers will review all images submitted for consideration The images selected by the Jury will be presented as a large-scale outdoor photography exhibition at the SNFCC. The exhibit will span a length of 400 meters, installed along the perimeter of the SNFCC.

The exhibition will be designed and produced by the New York based organization United Photo Industries in its signature "FENCE" exhibition style, and will be open for all visitors to explore and enjoy, thanks to an exclusive grant by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

For more information, please visit: SNFCC

“Navarino Challenge” continues its impressive course with more distinctions. The top sports tourism event was honored this time with the gold award as the best tourism event in Greece at the Event Awards 2018.

The event, which will take place for the 6th consecutive year, in Messinia and Costa Navarino , 12-14 October 2018, enriches its program with new activities for kids. This year’s event includes “beachathlon”, namely track and field races for children at The Dunes Beach under the supervision of the Olympic and European Champion in 400m. with

hurdles, Periklis Iakovakis.

Periklis Iakovakis said for the particular activity: “Classic sports have three general categories of racing: running, jumps and throws. This year at Navarino Challenge we will become acquainted with some of these races in a slightly different way. We will not conduct them at a stadium, nor at any other sports venue, but on the beautiful beach of Costa Navarino! Taking advantage of the unique facilities of this area we thought about creating a track and field event on the beach. That’s how we decided to create Beachathlon. On the sand, children will have the opportunity to test their strengths in various track and field sports that will be adapted to this environment. Our goal is to make this acquaintance with the classic sports activities even more entertaining and original and to give the opportunity to children of all ages to discover their abilities at Navarino Challenge Beachathlon! We are looking forward to seeing you all there”.

Fysiotek Sports Lab will assist the award-winning sports tourism event “Navarino Challenge” with one more innovative activity. Fysiotek Sports Lab, as a pioneer in the field of rehabilitation and preventive medicine in sports, will cover the sports medical needs throughout the event and will support its activities, with a state-of-the-art recovery station in the established running races.

“Navarino Challenge” participants will have the opportunity during their stay at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino to enjoy special discounts from the sponsors and partners of the event.Check out all the available offers HERE!

Registration continues and can be completed by clicking HERE!

The pre-sale is available also via www.viva.gr , by phone at 11876, as well as at the pre- sale points of the Viva network. 

Registrations end on August 31 st , 2018.

Navarino Challenge participants who will book their accommodation package at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino and choose to take part in at least one of the main activities (running, swimming, SUP) will also be able to enjoy the organization’s full program of activities free of charge, including:Tae kwon do, climbing, cycling, pilates, basketball, golf, kick boxing, baby swimming, aqua aerobics, kids’ athletics, beach volley, tennis cross training, crossfit, beach yoga, boxing, beachathlon and demonstration race with optimist boats.

More information about the accommodation packages may be found HERE!

Samsung is the official technology partner of the event for a 2 nd consecutive year. For another year Vikos SA as an official sponsor will spread the message of sporting energy with the natural mineral water “Vikos”, offering the necessary hydration and revitalization to all participants. The natural mineral water “Vikos” offers the necessary balance, well-being and energy that the athletes need during their exercise in order to be able to continue their efforts.

Ford Motor Hellas promotes sports and “fair play” and supports the efforts of the fight against childhood obesity while promoting healthy diet by participating for another year in the support team of “Navarino Challenge”. For the fifth consecutive year, athletes and organizers will move with the safety and efficient engines of the cars of Ford Motor Hellas,

the official sponsor of “Navarino Challenge”.

Official supporters are Poseidonia, BIC®, BIC® Sport, Avance and the Municipality of Pylos-Nestor.

The 6th Navarino Challenge is co-organized by Costa Navarino , The Westin Resort Costa Navarino and Active Media Group and with the support of the Municipalities of Pylos-Nestor and Trifilia. Navarino Challenge will take place with the approval of the Hellenic Swimming Federation, under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization.

Official Technology Partner: Samsung
Official Sponsors: Natural Mineral Water “Vikos”, Ford Motor Hellas
Official Supporters: Poseidonia, BIC®, BIC® Sport, Avance Rent A Car, Municipality of Pylos-Nestor
Partners: Navarino Outdoors, Swim Academy, Surf Salad, Triantafyllidis Beach Arena, FitnessArt, Vizantinos target sport club, Red Swim Academy
Strategic Partner: National Geographic
Assisted by: Lifeguard Patrol, Navarino Racquet Academy, Pylos Association of Enterprises for Tourism Development, Maritime Athletic Pylos Association “Nestor”, Explore Messinia, Navarino Golf Academy, Target Security, The Diner, Hellenic Recovery Recycling Corporation, Athens Easy Transfers, Anazoe Spa, Fysiotek Sports Lab
Hashtags: #navarinochallenge #costanavarino #eatwell #runwell #livewell

Photo credit: Mike Tsolis