Our summer will be cinema! This is the program of the 9th Athens Open Air Film Festival The beloved cinephile summer date, the Athens Open Air Film Festival, co-organised with the City of Athens Cultural, Sport and Youth Organisation (OPANDA), returns for its 9th year with magical screenings from June to August.

Special parts of the city, archaeological sites, parks, squares, beaches and some of the most beautiful museums of Athens transform into open air cinemas with free entry to the public. The highly anticipated cinema celebration in and around Athens is an alternative and disarmingly beautiful way to watch films while simultaneously experiencing the city in a way you never imagined. A summer night’s outing lit up by the magic of cinema.

This year, especially, the screenings of the 9th Athens Open Air Film Festival aim to revive the grand experience of re-watching classics and other cherished films on the big screen, in extraordinary settings. For this reason this year’s programme is comprised of masterpieces of world cinema by directors such as Federico Fellini, David Lynch, Michelangelo Antonioni, Luis Buñuel, Akira Kurosawa, Jean-Pierre Melville, Mike Leigh, Stephen Frears, Alfred Hitchcock and more.

Finally, following last year’s momentous and popular first screening in an ancient theatre (having screened “Electra” by M. Cacoyannis at the Ancient Epidaurus Little Theatre) the Ancient Epidaurus Little Theatre will open its doors for a second film screening, this time for the showing of “Vertigo”, the best film of all time as stated by Sight & Sound and CINEMA magazine.

The African Embassies and Honorary Consulates accredited to the Hellenic Republic have the pleasure to invite you to the “18th African Cultural Festival” to be held from 8 - 9 June 2019 on the premises of the Galatsi Olympic Arena (137 Veikou Avenue, Galatsi).

The African countries participating in the Festival (Algeria, Angola, Burundi, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe), will give visitors a chance to acquaint themselves with the customs of each country by showcasing and promoting folklore costumes, music and dancing. Kiosks will be selling handicrafts, clothing, traditional dishes, and beverages.

Part of the funds raised from the 18th African Cultural Festival will be donated to “The smile of the child” organization, to strengthen its Panhellenic work.

Saturday, 8 June 10:00-22:00

Sunday, 9 June 10:00-19:00

Adults: €3 Children under ten: Free

Embassy of South Africa Tel.: 210 6178044 / 210 6178020 «The Smile of the Child» Tel.: 2103306140

XpatAthens is proud to be a Media Sponsor of the African Cultural Festival 

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The Athens Zero Waste Festival organized by Plastikourgeio Shop & Lab and Impact Hub Athens will run this year during two-days at the Kypseli Municipal Market.

Inspired and influenced by the zero waste philosophy proffered by Bea Johnson and the experience achieved by Plastikourgeio Shop & Lab, Athens Zero Waste Festival invites the general public to discover that the zero waste movement can be a moral, economic, effective and visionary goal. It guides us to change our way of life and everyday habits to imitate viable natural circles where all rejected materials are recovered to become resources for others.

The event aims at sensitizing participants on the importance of reducing waste at the source, promoting the exchange of ideas, the emergence of new opportunities and encouraging the transition to a more sustainable lifestyle.

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT MAINLY REPLY TO THE NEEDS OF OUR CITY ENVIRONMENT

• The reduction at source of raw materials and / or recyclables.
• The attainment of zero-waste.
• The reduction of food waste.
• Repair, repackaging or reusing used products.
• Improving behaviors (citizens, businesses, institutions, etc.)

The festival will feature product stalls, info stands and organizations that will inform visitors about their actions, workshops for adults and children, talks/debates and documentaries/videos.

We want to offer a holistic approach to the issue and show that zero waste is a movement and a way of life that concerns all of us. Adopting Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle and Rot, visitors will have the opportunity to participate in creative workshops, buy zero waste products, listen to speeches and get to know important actions in our city and country that are actively engaged in: waste disposal, material repurposing, reuse, local decentralized waste management, water pollution (8/6 is International Ocean Day), fast fashion, recycling or repairing appliances, permaculture, but also disposal and handling such as energy, water and food.

In the context of Zero Waste Production, please bring with you: reusable items such as glass / bottle, container.

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The Athens Photo Festival, true to its long-standing commitment, will celebrate for one more year photography and contemporary visual culture in Greece.

The Athens Photo Festival 2019 is inaugurated on Thursday, June 13 at the Benaki Museum/Pireos 138. This year’s Festival comprises photographic artwork, videos and installations by 132 emerging and established artists from 30 countries, encouraging artistic, social and political dialogue, as well as experimentation with related media. The Festival’s exhibition program is spread at the two floors of the Benaki Museum, as well as in 10 more venues in Athens.

Α wide range of activities –screenings, educational programs, talks, performances, social networking projects and parallel events– is at the core of this year’s programming, composing a dynamic platform that shows up contemporary photography practice and integration with the cultural community at large.

International experts and photographers are invited from all around the world, rendering the Festival an opportunity for gathering and cooperation of cultural bodies and institutions from different countries, aiming to artistic synergies and exchange.

Opening: Thursday, June 13 at 8:30 p.m. – Benaki Museum/Pireos 138
Visiting hours: Thursday & Sunday 10:00-18:00, Friday & Saturday 10:00-22:00
Entrance is free for the opening night.

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XpatAthens is proud to be a Media Sponsor Of The Athens Photo Festival

The Athens Photo Festival's main exhibition program will be on view until 28 July at the Benaki Museum.

The Festival brings together 75 emerging and established visual artists and photographers from 30 countries with the aim to reflect the diversity of photography and contemporary visual culture, and to create a dialogue between different perspectives, approaches and practices.

Exploring multiple cultural, artistic, social and political positions, the Festival features a wide variety of works, ranging from fine art to documentary, photo-based installations, and multimedia works.

At the core of the Festival, is an extensive and multi-layered program of events and initiatives, including learning and public programs, talent development initiatives, social practice, and community outreach.

For the Athens Photo Festival detailed program click HERE!

Visiting hours: Thursday & Sunday 10:00-18:00, Friday & Saturday 10:00-22:00 

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Athens Gardens Festival is bringing chamber music into the Athenian gardens.

The festival was born in the gardens of Athens and has been taking place since 2013 in the National Gardens of the city!

This year’s version is a contest between small music ensembles, performed inside the National Garden and on the gardens of the Center of Arts in Eleftherias Park. During the 14th, 15th and 16th of June, the participating music ensembles are going to be presented in the National Garden (morning) and the Center of Arts (evening) Melodies from the worldwide anthology of the classical, romantic, impressionistic, modern and neoclassical music are going to be played.

Athens Gardens Festival 2019 is co-hosted by the Athens Art Network and the Organization of Culture, Sports and Youth of the municipality of Athens.

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Opening: Saturday, 15 June, 20.00
Duration: 15 – 29 June, 2019. Opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday 18.00 - 21.00

FokiaNou Art Space is pleased to present “State of Water”, a two-person show featuring photography by Lynne Buchanan and video and installation by Alegia Papageorgiou, two artists who share a concern for the current dire state of the environment. Originally hailing from Florida, Lynne Buchanan’s beautiful photographs document the effects of climate change in Iceland, Patagonia, Bangladesh and Antarctica, as well as across the United States, juxtaposing details from opposite ends of the earth. Alegia Papageorgiou’s installation, “the repairing earth project”, presents small scale clay landscapes similar to the earth's surfaces, that change constantly as water is introduced, depicting man’s relationship to the natural environment. Her video/installation, “La Poubelle" is a creature constructed from garbage, a wandering female figure in a setting of raging waves on inhospitable rocks. The exhibition is curated by Mary Cox and Panagiotis Voulgaris.

Award winning photographer Lynne Buchanan has had several solo exhibitions in Florida and has participated in numerous group shows around the United States. George F. Thompson Publishing recently published her book Florida’s Changing Waters: A Beautiful World in Peril. Lynne holds a Bachelors Degree and a Masters Degree in Art History, as well as a Masters in English with a concentration in creative writing and a Masters of Business Administration. She understands the issues facing our waterways from multiple perspectives and communicates them through her photographs and writing. She has mentored and studied with many notable photographers including Sam Abell, Clyde Butcher, Dewitt Jones and Jill Enfield, among others. http://www.lynnebuchanan.com/

Alegia Papageorgiou is a visual artist and scenographer based in Athens but also working in the Netherlands, the U.K., and other European countries. She earned a BA in Interior Design from Vakalo College of Arts & Design, Athens, University of Derby UK and an MA in Scenography from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London. She is currently enrolled in a second Master’s program at The Royal Academy of Arts, Royal Conservatory, The Hague. Alegia’s work in scenography includes video, photography, lighting, video projection mapping, audio editing, electronics hacking, scenic art, sculpture and other forms of technical support. Among other projects, she was involved in the world premiere of Edward Bond’s "Dea", The Secombre Theater, Sutton UK; the National Theater of Greece; Athens Biennale; Festival of Athens and Epidaurus, Comedie de Reims gallery, London, Sonic Acts festival, Amsterdam, and has participated in art exhibitions in Greece and abroad.

FokiaNou Art Space is an artist-run project space in the intimacy of a small apartment in an old building in the center of Athens that encourages collaborative creative efforts between Greek and foreign artists, thereby promoting and supporting the local art community. The space hosts exhibitions, workshops and projects under the direction of two artists, Mary Cox and PanagiotisVoulgaris. www.fokianou247.gr
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As part of the series of art exhibitions "Divine Dialogues", the Museum of Cycladic Art organizes this year, from 20 June to 20 October, a major exhibition titled "Picasso and Antiquity. Line and clay". It is a rare exhibition about Picasso and his inspiration from antiquity in conversation with ancient works of art, curated by Professor N. C. Stampolidis and Olivier Berggruen.

The greatest of twentieth-century modern artists is famous for his spectacular paintings but less for his drawings, engravings, and pottery. The combination of these media closely recalls antiquity and has produced works inspired by the Creto-Mycenaean and Greek worlds and the Mediterranean civilizations in general.

In the exhibition “Picasso and Antiquity. Line and clay” rare works by Picasso, depicting marine creatures, animals, human figures, mythological scenes, and scenes inspired by ancient tragedy and comedy, converse with ancient artefacts in another unique “Divine Dialogue” at the Museum of Cycladic Art.

A whole world is revealed in the Museum of Cycladic Art, a world carried by the artist inside him, a world of antiquities discovered not necessarily in the ancient lands of the Mediterranean but in European museums, in books, and in conversations with Christian Zervos and Jean Cocteau.

Photo Credit: Succession Picasso 2019

The 9th International Forum on Mineral Resources is the most important annual event on Mining and Raw Materials in Greece.

The event will address all important issues of the Mining Sector and will focus on the significant contribution of the Mineral Resources to the development of the Greek economy.

- What it takes to have the Mining Sector of Greece one of the driving forces of the Greek Economy

- The strategic Economic Importance of a Strong Raw Materials Industry Innovation in Mining and the 4th Industrial Revolution

- A Social Contract for Mining

- Climate Change and Sustainability

It is absolutely necessary to complete your registration by Thursday, June 20, 2019 in order to have access to the event, due to limited available seats.

For further information, please click HERE!