“Kali Patrida” Greek Communities of Political Refugees in Eastern Europe

By the end of the Greek Civil War (1946-49), Greece was in a tragic state. The human loss and physical destruction incurred in this conflict was added to the suffering and damage already accumulated during World War II and the occupation. One of the most dramatic consequences of the Civil War was the odyssey of thousands of Greek men, women and children who settled in Eastern Europe and the USSR – mainly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The Hellenic Parliament Foundation for Parliamentarianism and Democracy is hosting until December 31, 2011, an exhibition titled Kali Patrida… Greek Communities of political refugees in Eastern Europe.
The exhibition draws on material (printed and audiovisual) from many sources, both from Greece and abroad in order to shed light on particular themes in the lives of political refugees: their establishment in the host countries (East Germany, Bulgaria, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and Uzbekistan); their children’s education, their communities, their efforts to preserve their distinctive cultural heritage as well as their repatriation.
“Kali patrida” meaning “Happy Homecoming,” is actually a wish political refugees shared, expressing their nostalgia for their homeland.
ERT Archive: Documentary: Second Homeland – Episode: Stepmother Homeland & Michalis Gkanas: The history of my times [VIDEO]; TVXS: Writer Alki Zei talks about the Civil War [VIDEO]
ODYSSEY Magazine about Greece and the Greek Diaspora: Features-Our Town Beloiannisz in Hungary
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

 

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Tribute to poet Odysseus Elytis

On November 2, 2011 Greece commemorates the 100th anniversary since the birth of poet laureate Odysseus Elytis. To mark the centenary of his birth, 2011 has been designated as Elytis Year by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Odysseus Elytis was born in Heraklion, Crete on November 2, 1911 and died in Athens on March 18, 1996.
A major poet in Greek language, Elytis is also one of the outstanding international figures of 20th-century poetry. Elytis’ poetry has marked, through an active presence of over forty years, a broad spectrum of subjects with a rarefied and passionate stylistic touch. The first collections of poetry (Orientations, 1939, and Sun the First, 1943) are joyous and radiant, celebrating the Greek landscape as an ideal world of sensual enjoyment and moral purity.
His experience of the war in 1940s marks a departure from the sunny atmosphere of his early youth and poetry, colouring his long poem Heroic and Elegiac Song for the Lost Second Lieutenant of Albania (1943). The attempt of Elytis to identify himself with the nation and speak for himself and also for his country reaches its peak with Axion Esti (‘Worthy It Is,’ 1959), his central and most ambitious work for which he was awarded the 1979 Nobel Prize for Literature.
His experience of the war in 1940s marks a departure from the sunny atmosphere of his early youth and poetry, colouring his long poem Heroic and Elegiac Song for the Lost Second Lieutenant of Albania (1943). The attempt of Elytis to identify himself with the nation and speak for himself and also for his country reaches its peak with Axion Esti (‘Worthy It Is,’ 1959), his central and most ambitious work for which he was awarded the 1979 Nobel Prize for Literature.

Centenary Celebrations
The Athens Concert Hall is paying tribute to Odysseus Elytis by holding a two-day (October 31 to November 1) international conference titled Odysseus Elytis: The 20th century in the poetry of Elytis. The poetry of Elytis in the 21st century, exploring new approaches in the interpretation of his work.
On November 2 and 3, there will be an event of original music by George Kouroupos under the title Odysseus Elytis’ This Small, this Great World!, with poetry and prose set to music, representing the main facets of the work of Odysseus Elytis: lyricism, a restless spirit of inquiry, courage, spirituality, sensation and true emotions.

Holocaust Memorial Day

The opening of the exhibition The Memorial: 16 Artists Propose, featuring projects that were submitted last year by 16 artists, as part of an international competition for the construction of a Holocaust Memorial of Greek Jews, took place at the Jewish Museum of Greece.
The competition was conducted by the Jewish Community of Athens and resulted in the selection of the work of artist DeAnna Maganias which was unveiled at a special event in May 2010. The museum is also organising a week-long programme of educational activities and memorial events, lasting until February 4.

The exhibition –which will remain open until August 2011- is part of events that have been planned for the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day, co-organized by the Attica region and the Jewish community of Athens for January 26 and 27. A memorial service was held on the 27th of January, at the Athens Synagogue in Thisseio, to be followed by a speech by University of Athens History Professor, Hagen Fleischer.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dimitris Droutsas issued a statement on the occasion of the Holocaust Memorial Day, in which he referred to Greece’s continuing efforts to preseve historical memory and educate younger generations. He further added that preparations are underway for a permanent Greek exhibition at the Auschwitz Museum.  

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

Tourism campaign “You in Greece”

Greek tourism is about to be given an image boost – through the launch of the latest advertising campaign “You in Greece.”
The campaign aims to promote the country as an attractive tourist destination, but also provide the media with useful statistics on tourism, while shedding light on little known information regarding this year’s tourism prospects.
Visit Greece at: www.visitgreece.gr

This Summer, We Travel to Greece
Another goal is to appeal to the Greek Diaspora to visit and promote Greece abroad.

A two-month campaign has been launched under the motto “This Summer We Travel to Greece” by the bilingual Greek-American newspaper “Greek News” addressed to the Diaspora Greeks, and philhellenes.

2010 Reasons to Visit Greece

The exhibition titled “2010 reasons to visit Greece” is taking place once again at London’s Harrods department store. The Secretary – General of the World Tourism Organisation, Taleb Rifai, called Greece “one of the most important destinations in the world and a point of reference for us all.”

So Far Yet So Close

Boundaries in the Chinese market seem to be lifted one by one as increasingly more Chinese explore Greece every year.

Last year, 48 million Chinese travelled abroad but only one million visited Europe.
Chinese tour operators expect this number to increase in the future, stressing that Greece should consider capitalizing on educational tourism.
Visit Greece: “Kalimera” (Good morning)
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

El Greco`s masterpiece in Thessaloniki

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) “The Coronation of the Virgin,” one of the masterpieces painted by Doménicos Theotokópoulos, widely known as El Greco, is currently exhibited at the Teloglion Foundation of Art in Thessaloniki. 
The oil painting on canvas (57 x 79.3 cm), dates back to 1603-1605, the creative period of the artist. El Greco painted this masterpiece for the chapel of the Hospital de la Caridad near Todelo.
The painting was acquired by the Alexandros S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation in 2008 and is temporarily housed in the National Gallery until the completion of the “Onassis Cultural Centre, Athens.”
“The Coronation of the Virgin” will be on display at Teloglion Foundation until May, 2010.

Cacoyannis Foundation: A new Cultural Centre

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias and Cyprus President Demetris Christofias officially inaugurated on March 9, the “Michael Cacoyannis Foundation,” housed in an Athens downtown building.
The Foundation’s building is designed to serve as a cultural centre for performing arts and is meant to preserve Cacoyannis oeuvre for future generation.
The official inauguration is to be followed by a series of events, including a costume and photography exhibition from Cacoyannis’s work for the cinema, opera and theatre.
Cypriot-born Michael Cacoyannis is the director of world acclaimed films, among which Stella, Electra, Zorba the Greek and The Trojan Women. 
Athens News (5.3.2010) Cacoyannis’ cultural centre

Melina Mercouri: A tribute to the “last Greek Goddess”

Sixteen years have passed since Melina Mercouri, one of the great women of Greece, died on March 6, 1994. On the 16^th anniversary of her death, as well as of International Women’s Day (March 8), the Eugenides Foundation is hosting an exhibition-tribute to the late, multifaceted actress and politician, emphasizing her relationship to education and culture. 
Internationally acclaimed actress, singer and politician, Melina was characterized by many as the epitome of womanhood, as well as the “last Greek Goddess.”
An ardent supporter of the repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum, Melina, as minister of Culture, openly claimed them and devoted herself to this goal.
The exhibition titled “Melina-Education-Culture” will run from March 9 to April 8. 
Melina Mercouri Foundation: www.melinamercourifoundation.org.gr
Greek News Agenda: Melina Mercouri: “Culture is Greece’s heavy industry”

Tsarouchis`exhibition at the Benaki Museum

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  EXHIBITION: A Tsarouchis Retrospective @ Benaki Museum
A major exhibition focusing on the work of Yannis Tsarouchis is being staged at the Benaki Museum, until March 14, to celebrate the centenary of the artist’s birth.
This is the first retrospective of Yannis Tsarouchis works in Athens aiming to showcase representative works from all the periods of the artist’s output.

”Έρως: από τη Θεογονία του Ησιόδου στην ύστερη Αρχαιότητα”- Μουσείο Κυκλαδικής Τέχνης

”Έρως: από τη Θεογονία του Ησιόδου στην ύστερη Αρχαιότητα” Μια μεγάλη αρχαιολογική έκθεση αφιερωμένη στον Έρωτα και τις διάφορες εκφάνσεις που πήρε κατά την αρχαιότητα – από τις πρώτες αναφορές του στα κείμενα του Ησίοδου έως τους ρωμαϊκούς χρόνους παρουσιάζεται στο Μουσείο Κυκλαδικής Τέχνης.
Η έκθεση περιλαμβάνει 270 εκθέματα από 45 αρχαιολογικά Μουσεία της Ελλάδας, της Κύπρου, της Ιταλίας και της Γαλλίας. Δίνουν  ραντεβού στο Μουσείο Κυκλαδικής Τέχνης σε μια τολμηρή και αποκαλυπτική έκθεση που έχει ως θέμα της τον χρυσόφτερο θεό και ακαταμάχητο δαίμονα με τον οποίο ασχολείται η ανθρωπότητα από τη γέννησή της ως τις μέρες μας: τον έρωτα.
Τα 270 γλυπτά, ανάγλυφα, αγγεία, ειδώλια, λυχνάρια, κοσμήματα- ορισμένα με υπογραφές διάσημων γλυπτών και αγγειογράφων της αρχαιότητας – που προέρχονται από 46 αρχαιολογικά μουσεία της Ελλάδας, της Κύπρου, της Ιταλίας και της Γαλλίας (μεταξύ άλλων και του Λούβρου) θα αποκαλύψουν τις αμέτρητες όψεις του από τον 6ο αι. π.Χ. έως τον 4ο αι. μ.Χ. μέσα από εννέα ενότητες (επιμέλεια: καθηγητής Νίκος Σταμπολίδης και Γιώργος Τασούλας).
Η έκθεση ”Έρως: από τη Θεογονία του Ησιόδου στην ύστερη Αρχαιότητα” στο Μουσείο Κυκλαδικής Τέχνης θα διαρκέσει ως τον Απρίλιο.
(Πηγή: Γενική Γραμματεία Επικοινωνίας-Γενική Γραμματεία Ενημέρωσης / Δελτίο Πολιτιστικών Θεμάτων)

El Greco Paintings on display in New York

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) The Onassis Cultural Centre in New York presents an extraordinary group of 15th and 16th century paintings, including early works by El Greco.
Under the title “The Origins of El Greco” the exhibition features 46 exceptional works from public and private collections in Greece, Europe, the United States and Canada, many of which have travelled to the U.S. for the first time.
Tracing the cross-currents of Byzantine and Renaissance influences in the workshops of 15th and 16th century Crete the show is the first to focus on the evolution of the multifaceted relationship of Cretan painters with Western art during this rich period.
The exhibition will run until February 27, 2010 and will be officially inaugurated on December 8, by Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos and the Archbishop of Crete, Irineos.

Greek Cultural Agenda

EXHIBITIONS

“Squares of Europe, Squares for Europe”

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) The exhibition “Squares of Europe, Squares for Europe,” is the outcome of a research project “The square, European cultural heritage” that was carried out by a series of universities and research centres in collaboration with cities that have famous squares and was coordinated by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.The exhibition opened on November 5 at the Benaki Museum and will last until December 6.

“Athens: City & Cinema”

The Benaki Museum is hosting as photography exhibition by Tassos Vrettos, titled “Athens: City & Cinema,” featuring the movie houses of Athens. The exhibition opened on November 5 and will last through to December 15.

CONFERENCE

“City& Cinema: Projection spaces, City Spaces”

An international conference on “City and Cinema: Projection spaces, City Spaces,” will open its doors from November 12 until November14 at the Benaki Museum.

The conference is organised by the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris 3, the Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme and the Department of Media and Culture of the Panteion University of Athens.The purpose of the conference is to investigate the multifaceted relationship of cinema and the city:the city as a film location, cinema as a social practice, the movie house as a gathering spot and a meeting place; the cinema as a city experience and expression of urban life.

MUSIC

Yann Tiersen, the talented musician who became widely known for his music for the film “Amelie Poulain” is coming to Greece for three concerts in Athens, Patras and Thessaloniki, on November 14, 15, and 16, respectively.

Photography Exhibition “Face to Faces” at Thessaloniki

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)    A photography exhibition titled “Face to Faces” is on display at the Photography Museum of Thessaloniki, as part of the parallel programme of the 2nd Thessaloniki Biennale of Contemporary Art. The exhibition includes 100 works by 12 Greek and 14 foreign artists on the theme of “(Self) Portrait.”  The exhibition – which is co-organised by the State Museum of Contemporary Art, the Thessaloniki Museum of Photography, Culturesfrance, the General Consulate of France in Thessaloniki, and the French Institute of Thessaloniki- runs until

An Exhibition “Made of Electrum”

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   The Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki hosts an exhibition titled “The magic of electrum: Charms and Jewelry from Magna Grecia and Macedonia.”   Numerous masterpieces made of electrum dating back to the Mycenaean and Roman Era as well as other objects made of metals and bones coming from the Basilicata tombs in southern Italy and other burial-grounds in Macedonia will be on display in this exhibition, which will run until February 15, 2010.  The exhibition is organized by the Archaeological Museums of Thessaloniki and Potenza in collaboration with the Italian Education Institute of Thessaloniki.

Thessaloniki Book Fair

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)     Thessaloniki, a European city at the crossroads of the Balkans and the Mediterranean, has been home to an international book fair since 2004.  Five years on, the fair has become a regular fixture for the book trade and booklovers.  The 6th edition of the Thessaloniki Book Fair takes place in May 28 to 31 at Helexpo exhibition centre. It offers visitors an opportunity to get acquainted with the latest releases of publishers from around the world.  History is the theme of the 2009 exhibition. Visitors will be able to look at an entire panorama of books related to history.  German publishing will be in the fair’s spotlight as this year, Germany is the guest of honour. 

“Upside Down” AFI at the Benaki Museum

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   An exhibition by the group AFI at the Benaki Museum showcases creations inspired by objects from the museum’s permanent collections, under the title Upside Down. Their works can stand on their own as exemplary artistic entities, as they project their aesthetic integrity publicly and provocatively. The show runs through to June 7, in the form of ad hoc displays throughout the exhibition areas of the permanent collection. Athens Plus: AFI’s contemporary art objects on display at the Benaki  (8.5.2009, p. 27)

Lucas Samaras represent Greece at Venice Biennale

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   The Ministry of Culture has announced that Lucas Samaras will officially represent Greece at the Venice Biennale’s 53rd International Art Exhibition, which will run from June 7 until November 22, 2009. General coordinator of the Greek participation at this avant-garde cultural event will be Matthew Higgs.  Samaras is one of the world’s most talented and innovative contemporary artists. Born in Kastoria, he emigrated to the United States in 1948. Sculptor, painter, performance artist, he is also widely acclaimed for his pioneering work in photography. Samaras’ works can be found in numerous private and public collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Tate Modern in London, the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo and many others prestigious art galleries and museums.

Greece through the Lens of Jacques Lacarrière

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   100 photos of the great French Hellenist, Jacques Lacarrière (1925-2005) will be showcased at a photo exhibition at the Benaki Museum from December 4 to January 4, 2009.  Writer and traveller Lacarrière was one of the most astute observers of Greece. Always accompanied by his ‘Leica’ camera, he travelled to Greece often (1947-66), collecting material for several of his travel books. The exhibition runs within the “Photo Festival of Athens 2008.” Benaki Museum: Jacques Lacarrière- “Greece through his lens“

Greece / Thessaloniki: International Tourism Exhibition

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Thessaloniki is about to host the 24^th Philoxenia Tourism Exhibition (October 30-November 2), organised by Helexpo. This year’s event is expected to host 820 exhibitors (seventeen more than in 2007), 120 of which are coming from abroad. The organisers maintain that the event aspires to address trends and prospects in the global tourist market amidst the global economic crisis. Kathimerini daily: Thessaloniki tourism fair getting ready; Secretariat General of Information: About Brand Greece- Tourism/ Hotel & Resort Infrastructure & Conference/ City- break Tourism  

Thessaloniki: New exhibition at the White Tower, the Monument-Symbol

(GRECEHEBDO)  A new permanent exhibition at the White Tower dedicated to the city of Thessaloniki and housed in the monument-symbol of the city, opened its doors to the public on September 9th, 2008. The exhibition, organized by the Museum of Byzantine Culture, presents aspects of the history of Thessaloniki through time, thus providing the visitors with a better insight of the city, its monuments and museums. http://www.mbp.gr/html/en/pirgos.htm   The goal of the exhibition is not to turn the city into a museum, but to introduce it to its visitors and its citizens, creating a new and essential relationship between the people and the city. Through the presentation of features that characterize Thessaloniki through time, such as the city’s urban character, the exhibition focuses on important moments and aspects of the city’s life. The thematic displays of the ground floor, as well as of the six storeys of the White Tower, refer to the geographical position of Thessaloniki at the crossroad of sea and land trading roads, the transformations of its urban development, the important moments of its history -as presented through its monuments-, the city’s spiritual and cultural life, as well as its inhabitants and culinary world. As a result, the visitors shall have the chance to experience an intriguing trip in time from the day of the founding of Thessaloniki to its recent past, accompanied with the sounds, the special atmosphere, the spirit and the tastes of the city.

Thessaloniki International Trade Fair

The 73^nd Thessaloniki International Trade Fair will take place at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre, HELEXPO, on September 6-14. The event is the largest trade fair in Southeast Europe, featuring exhibitors from 32 countries.