Which is the role of culture in the territory’s development? How does culture enhance the attractiveness and identity of the territory? How does culture contribute to the city’s shine and development? How does culture, through its creative perspective, invent new forms of development, creating links between economic, urban, touristic, educational and social approaches?
Aiming at opening a discussion around the above questions, Eleusis 2021 participated in the new programme “Plateaux Media” under the theme “The culture as attraction factor of the living environment and an engine of economic value”, organized by the French Institute of Athens, gathering around this issue creative artists, entrepreneurs, researchers, cultural actors that are contributing to the city’s change or they make use of them to share their experiences and their projects.
Kelly Diapouli participated in this interactive discussion along with Charis Mpisko (architect and coordinator of Syn Athina platform of the Municipality of Athens), Yvan Detraz (architect and director of the collective Bruit de Frigo) and Simon Laisney (managing director of the organisation Plateau Urbain).
Just a few hours before launching the new interactive “Plateaux Media” at the French Institute of Athens, the event’s keynote speakers Yvan Detraz and Simon Laisney visited Eleusis. Kelly Diapouli, Yorgos Alexandrou and Peggy Tsolakaki introduced the city to them through a walking tour in Sinikismos, Pontiaka, the sea front, Kronos Factory, the Old Oil Mill Factory, Symiaka, explaining to them our programme’s concept.
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The walking tour in Eleusis triggered discussions about Eleusis 2021 cultural programme and the activity of Yvan Detraz and Simon Laisney in Bordeaux and in Paris respectively.
In particular, we discussed with Yvan Detraz about the activity of the multidisciplinary collective Bruit du frigo which focuses on the development of artistic and participatory approaches that aim to stimulate, support and create works made by local government or civil society and experiment with new functions of the public space.
While on the other hand, Simon Laisney shared with us information about Plateau Urbain (https://www.plateau-urbain.com/) activity which through a social and non-profit perspective Plateau Urbain combats the lack of spaces and acts as a catalyst of entrepreneurial and institutional artistic creation, using empty spaces, creating job opportunities, activating the area and reviving the cultural and social city’s aspect.
After the visit in Eleusis and the discussion under the theme “The culture as attraction factor of the living environment and an engine of economic value”, the French Institute of Athens organised a workshop especially for Eleusis 2021 curators and their French guests, during which the development of different forms of possible collaborations was discussed.
