The youth team of Elefsina, with the support and training of 2023 Eleusis, after completing the months-long training programme Duct Tapes and Dreams for emerging creative collectives, has been awarded the Philippe Grombeer Award and is now a member of the Trans Europe Halles network. Cultterra was selected to participate with the guidance of Eleftherios Kechagioglou, director of the organization Le Plus Petit Cirque du Monde.
This network supports local communities in their efforts to reclaim abandoned spaces and transform them into vibrant centers of arts and culture, comprising over 350 cultural organizations, with Cultterra’s members being among the youngest in the entire network!
Argatia 98 International Meeting
The Argatia 98 International Meeting, held this year in Epanomi, Thessaloniki from 10 to 13 October, hosted Cultterra for the presentation of the Philippe Grombeer Award, which the organization won through the Duct Tape and Dreams program. The award grants Cultterra full membership in the Trans Europe Halles network, along with a cash prize of €5,000, which was received by Dimitra Chatzipanagiotou, Katerina Christoudi, and Danae Christoudi.
The meeting brought together professionals, organizations, institutions, political representatives, thinkers, researchers, activists, and artists from the cultural and social sectors, as well as individuals involved in arts and culture management. The network’s goal was to develop a platform that promotes communities, environmental awareness, and artistic freedom.
The choice of location for the event reflected the aim of holding it in a small area close to nature. Embracing the entire village of Epanomi, social events, such as traditional celebrations by local associations, offered participants the opportunity to connect with the local community, share stories and experiences, and explore the local economy and rural development.
ARKOPOLIS – A Meeting and Inclusion Space
Cultterra won the award through the successful activation of ARKOPOLIS Park. ARKOPOLIS is a recreational park that was activated as part of the 2023 Eleusis European Capital of Culture programme, and it is one of the ten spaces that were redesigned. The park functions as a space of inclusion and meeting for all individuals, offering a zone of freedom of expression and acceptance.
The park’s uniqueness, the collective activation of public space, and the community-driven actions it fosters, along with the challenges expected in the future, were key factors that encouraged the network to include Cultterra as one of its members.
