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2023 Eleusis European Capital of Culture aims to maintain a constant creative dialogue with the local community, particularly with the city’s young people. Cultural institutions shape their programmes and actions in response to societal needs in order to provide additional cultural value and contribute to the cultural development of the local community.
LaborArtory, a series of online workshops centered on the cultural and creative industries, was included in the “2023 Eleusis” programme and became another channel of communication with young people with a keen interest in the arts. Participants and coordinators “made an appointment” at LaborArtory every Saturday in January and February 2022.
The workshop was coordinated by MENTOR, a cultural production and management company based in Eleusis and with significant cultural activities. Specialized cultural professionals were invited to speak with workshop participants, guide them, and advise them by passing on their knowledge, experience, and creative disposition. Mr Yannis Koukmas, Director of Audience Development and Participation for the “2023 Eleusis” team, worked closely with the team to coordinate the programme.
The programme was enhanced by the presence of guest speakers, individuals who produce significant work in the field of culture, whether in the private or public sector. Prominent personalities and executives from the 2023 Eleusis European Capital of Culture, such as the President of the Board of Directors, Ms Despina Geroulanou , the Artistic Director, Mr Michael Marmarinos, the Director of Cultural Training, Ms Angeliki Lampiri, and Ms Georgia Voudouri, Director of Cultural Industries, enthusiastically welcomed the initiative and encouraged young people to actively participate.
The workshops were also honoured by the presence of professionals from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports. In particular, Ms Monica-Niki Tsiliberdi, from the Directorate for the Development of Contemporary Creation, Ms Irini Komninou, Head of the European Union Department and Head of the Creative Europe Office and Ms Angeliki Peleki, Head of the Sponsorship Department shared extremely useful information with the participants and provided them with useful practical advice regarding their future projects.
A special role in the course of the workshops was played by the presence of people who are actively involved in the creative side of things; Antonis Rellos, director, Marina Satti, musician and performer, Anastasia Tsopelaki, architect, Nikos Mavrakis, producer of cultural events and Vassilis Tsouparopoulos, Graphic designer, Illustrator, renewed the discussions and gave the participants inspiration and something of the creative momentum that characterizes the artistic temperament.
The MENTOR team not only prepared and presented a wealth of material for the meetings and workshops on cultural management, communication, marketing, fundraising, and every aspect of planning and implementing a cultural project, but also provided and will continue to provide support and guidance to the participants. After all, relationships built on solid foundations do not end with the completion of a project.
Participants in the programme were given the opportunity to express their concerns and worries, as well as their ideas for Eleusis’ cultural future. The creativity and appetite for the new and different, which are often associated with youth, resulted in extremely interesting and pertinent discussions. After all, the moderators and guests treated each reflection in the same way: as an opportunity for a new debate on culture, creativity, the arts, and the future of the city through them.
“2023 Eleusis” invests in the city’s young people and their creative power; it is they who will determine their future and, with them, the future of Eleusis. Participants in the LaborArtory workshops developed -under the guidance of experienced professionals and through collaborative processes – their own proposal for a cultural project, which we hope to see take shape in Eleusis soon.