2nd Ecoculture Festival 2024-Discover the programme

2023 Eleusis European Capital of Culture presents the Ecoculture Festival, one of the most significant legacy projects of its artistic programme, which will take place from 3 to 6 October in Elefsina, the wider area of the Thriasian Field, as well as in nearby cities such as the municipalities of Aspropyrgos, Corinth and Loutraki, Perachora and Agioi Theodoroi.

The festival sets the stage for changing how we perceive coexistence with the environments by embracing small habits; it explores ways of life (#life) closer to nature, through experiential activities such as picnics with music, hiking, thermal baths, and live gastronomy events. Additionally, through discussions (#dialogues), a series of themes are developed – with the participation of scientists, academics, artists, and active citizens – regarding the impact of climate crisis on different ecosystems (from stars to water, and on lifestyle, coexistence, and cultivation), but also regarding the way in which societies can respond to disasters. At the same time, scientific and artistic workshops (#workshops) are held for children and adults, along with artistic projects and events (#art), such as art installations, performances, screenings, and specially designed walks in collaboration with artists and curators from Greece and abroad. The Ecoculture Festival features many significant and interesting collaborations with art, science, and educational institutions, such as the “Save Ios” association, MedINA, Land & Water – which curates a unique programme of activities – the University of West Attica, the Hellenic Mountaineering Association of Elefsina, the Municipality of Corinth, and the Municipality of Loutraki–Perachora–Agioi Theodoroi.

The Festival primarily takes place outdoors, making the most of each location’s unique characteristics to create a programme that “communicates” with the environment and offers an immersive experience. The activities unfold in various parts of Elefsina, while new green spaces in neighbouring municipalities,  such as the Observatory in the village of Stefani in Corinth, and Pefkakia in Agioi Theodoroi, are added to the Festival’s map.

The Festival revolves around four key themes: the concept of ecoculture and how it influences and impacts life today: the sky, light pollution, and its effects on the immediate environment; water and the planet’s issues related to scarcity, and the Earth, wildfires, and the climate crisis.

Mystery 37: Voices of Elefsina, the city’s community radio, will follow the festival’s actions throughout and broadcast the vibe via its website, voicesofelefsina.eu.

Ecoculture
On Thursday, October 3rd, activities begin in Elefsina with a discussion on ecoculture and its impact on contemporary life. Eleni Panouklia, with Mystery 47 Mnemonic Garden, introduces the audience throughout the festival to the daily collection, use, and care of seeds. Using plastic and performative materials, as well as dialogical and participatory practices, a collaborative workshop environment – a nursery – is created. Additionally, the LANDSCHIP diary – a product of Mystery 99 The Ark project – is presented, documenting the journey of TimeCircus from Antwerp to Elefsina. The Elefsina youth group Cultterra curates and presents the “Edible City Nature” project, which seeks to raise environmental awareness and spread knowledge, promoting sustainability and the protection of the environment. A collective cooking event follows, organised by the group, while the Skate Park is also reactivated.

Sky
On Friday 4 October, the activities shift to the Municipal Observatory of Stefani in Korinthia. The main discussion focuses on the issues of light and noise pollution and their impact on the immediate environment. This is followed by a wine tasting and discussion with winemaker Thodoris Kontogiannis from the biodynamic winery Kontogiannis Family Farm, accompanied by live music. The audience will also visit the Observatory, where they are introduced to astrophotography and methods of observing the night sky.

On Saturday, October 5, the event moves to Pefkakia in Agioi Theodoroi for a picnic with food and blankets, followed by a tour of the Loutraki Municipal Thermal Springs. The discussion centres on the global issue of water scarcity, while children participate in herbal therapy workshops and book readings. In collaboration with the GENΙΑ17: Urban Murals initiative, a live, participatory graffiti creation takes place on one of the park’s abandoned buildings. The event concludes with a screening of the award-winning documentary Fishing for Litter by Sotiris Danezis, along with the 2023 Vovousa Festival production and MedINA’s By the River exhibtion.

Earth
On Sunday, October 6, the festival returns to Elefsina and the OASIS former campsite. Following a hike on Mount Pateras, there will be a discussion on wildfires and the climate crisis. Afterward, drawing on an extensive exploration of bread through an imagined journey across the Mediterranean, the TAVROS team in collaboration with Kostantia Manthou complete a publication filled with original stories, essays, myths, and beliefs about the most essential food in our region – and beyond. Before the official release of the publication, they invite the team of 3 137 artist-run space to Elefsina, the place that inspired much of the research process, to lead a children’s workshop centred around bread. This workshop aims to reconnect us with bread, a fundamental source of sustenance, in an effort to prompt us to revisit the roots of survival that are often overlooked.

At the same time, the project Isolated Tracks by visual artist Zafos Xagoraris takes place, featuring a sound-based walking action with children, along with a series of on-site workshops in collaboration with the 7th Elementary School of Elefsina. The project is part of the broader Mystery 130 Eleusis Walks, curated by Daphne Vitali, which explores walking as an artistic methodology and serves as a form of physical engagement with the urban landscape, aiming at the reappropriation of land and spaces.

Mystery 67 Amoli – Hydrous Encounters of Growers in Stubborn Trees
Emilia Bouriti & Artistic Platform Syn+Ergasia
Anastasia Kallergi Farm, Aspropyrgos
Meeting of pistachio farmers from Western Attica in Aspropyrgos

An action centred on pistachio cultivation in Western Attica and the challenges posed by climate change and the region’s diverse identities, organised by Emilia Bouriti and the artistic platform Syn+Ergasia in collaboration with the Laboratory of Soft Energy Applications and Environmental Protection of the University of West Attica. The event comprises a walking tour, participatory action, artistic installation, Arvanite songs, a lecture on proper water management and energy communities. Moreover, it brings together producers from Aspropyrgos, Elefsina, and Megara to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and establish a network.

DETAILED PROGRAM

THURSDAY 03/10/2024
Ecoculture
Main Location: ELEFSINA, ARKOPOLIS

17:00 – 21:00
#ART
Eleni Panouklia
MYSTERY 47 MNEMONIC GARDEN
PRIVATE SPACE: 51 Pangalou St., Elefsina
In Mystery 47 Mnemonic Garden, Eleni Panouklia introduces the audience to the care and activation of seeds left over from fruit consumption within a laboratory environment-nursery for mnemonic traces, crafted through the use of plastic materials and participatory practices. The project aims to foster experiential reflection on environmental and social sustainability, as well as justice, by co-creating a communal space of collective memory.

18:00 – 19:30
#DIALOGUES
ECOCULTURE: A DEFINITION
What is Ecoculture, and who does it concern? At the start of the festival, we attempt to define Ecoculture through an open discussion about different expressions of sustainability in our daily lives, our lifestyle, and culture.
Participants:
Georgia Voudouri, Director of Cultural Development, 2023 Eleusis | TimeCircus Collective | Sofia Aivalioti, One Health 4 Cities network | Dr. Stylianos Karatzas, University of Patras, HeritACT Research Project | Spyros Karnezis – Physicist & Skater

18:00 – 23:00
#LIFE
VOICES OF ELEFSINA
The community radio station “Voices of Elefsina” follows the festival and broadcasts live from ARKOPOLIS.

19:30 – 20:00
#ART
LANDSCHIP
Book Presentation
A rare road diary that records the entire procession of the Belgian collective from Antwerp to Elefsina, through the eyes of Bram Soli. A months-long project that captures the manifesto and the living experience of a very unique artistic group, on a remarkable journey through Europe, leading to their landmark arrival in Elefsina in February 2023 during the Opening Ceremony of 2023 Eleusis.

20:00 – 21:30
#ART
Cultterra
EDIBLE CITY NATURE
An innovative collective project aimed at highlighting the relationship between urban life and nature, with a focus on edible urban flora. By fostering environmental awareness, the project seeks to encourage citizens to rethink their relationship with the natural environment and recognise its significance in their diet and daily lives.

21:00 – 23:00
#LIFE
SKATE ΑLL YOU CAN
ARKOPOLIS

FRIDAY 04/10/2024
Sky
Main Location: STEFANI OBSERVATORY (Corinth)
Other Location: ELEFSINA

17:00 – 19:00
#ARTWORKS/ART
Folklore and Historical Museum of Stefani
The Folklore and Historical Museum of Stefani opens its doors to the festival visitors.

17:00 – 21:00
#ART
Eleni Panouklia
MYSTERY 47: MNEMONIC GARDEN
PRIVATE SPACE, 51 Pangalou St., Elefsina

17:00 – 21:00
#ART
Astrophotography
Astrophotography Exhibition by the Astronomy Group of the Corinth Municipal Library

18:00 – 19:30
#WORKSHOPS
Children at Play, Eleni Varasa
BOOK READING
For children aged 3-10

18:00 – 19:30
#DIALOGUES
LIGHT POLLUTION & NOISE POLLUTION
A discussion and a screening on the issues of light pollution and noise pollution, and their impact on the immediate environment, the ecosystem, and ultimately our lives.
Participants:
Lampros Doulos – Physicist, PhD |Andreas Papalambrou – Astrophysicist | Anna Sbokou – Aslight

Noise pollution
Konstantinos Dadiotis,
Physicist, PhD in Acoustics
Dimitris Papadopoulos
General Director D. Papadopoulos LP-Acoustics
Consultancy Company-ACC LP

19:30 – 20:00
#WORKSHOPS
Guided Tour of the Observatory

20:00 – 21:00
#LIFE
CULTIVATING WITH THE MOON
Biodynamic farming in Corinthia
Wine tasting with winemaker Thodoris Kontogiannis from the biodynamic winery Kontogiannis Family Farm, followed by a discussion on the challenges faced by producers in the context of the current climate crisis, and the strategies they adopt to mitigate them.

21:00 – 22:00
#ART
SPYROS MANESIS TRIO
The trio led by jazz pianist and composer Spyros Manesis, known for its modern jazz aesthetic and characterised by a dynamic interplay between melody, lyricism, and adventurous rhythmic arrangements, will perform pieces from throughout their career, along with new, unreleased compositions.

SATURDAY 05/10/2024
Water
Main Location: Pefkakia (Agioi Theodoroi)
Other Locations: Elefsina, Thermal Springs (Loutraki)

11:00
#LIFESTYLE
Visit to the Loutraki Municipal Thermal Spring
* Participation by reservation

11:00 – 15:00
#ART
Eleni Panouklia
MYSTERY 47 MNEMONIC GARDEN
PRIVATE SPACE, 51 Pagkalou St., Elefsina

12:00 – 18:00
#ART
GRAFFITI WORKSHOP
In collaboration with the GENIA17: Urban Murals initiative, a live, evolving, participatory action of graffiti creation takes places in the park, aiming to raise public awareness of sustainability goals through artistic creation in public spaces.

15:00 – 21:00
#LIFE
Picnic at Pefkakia
We bring our food and our blankets and go for a PICNIC, enjoying family time until the evening. We incorporate sustainable practices into our daily lives, while discovering hidden urban oases in our local areas.

15:00 – 18:00
#WORKSHOPS
Children at Play, Eleni Varasa
CREATIVE ACTIVITIES and FACE PAINTING
Workshop for children aged 3-10

17:00 – 21:00
#LIFE
DJ SET

19:00 – 19:30
#ART
SCREENING
Fishing for Litter
Sotiris Danezis, 2023, 26΄
“If we fish now from the Dardanelles to Piraeus, we’ll catch two fish, ten barrels, one hundred bottles, and one thousand pieces of trash!” Dimitris, from Kavala, removed 2.5 tons of waste from the sea last year with his trawler. He is one of 40 fishermen collaborating with the Athanasios C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation.

18:00 – 19:30
#WORKSHOPS
Children at Play, Eleni Varasa
BOOK READING
For children aged 3-10

SUNDAY 06/10/2024
Earth
Main Location: OASIS FORMER CAMPSITE, Elefsina
Other Location: Aspropyrgos

10:30 – 13:00
#LIFESTYLE
Hiking on Mount Pateras
Together with Elefsina Mountaineering Αssociation, we visit the forest areas that were burned in recent years and observe first-hand how the mountain has changed.
* Participation by reservation

11:00 – 12:30
#ART
Zafos Xagoraris
ISOLATED TRACKS
A sound-based walking action with children, along with a series of on-site workshops, conducted in collaboration with the 7th Elementary School of Elefsina. This event is part of the new in-situ actions of the curatorial project Eleusis Walks, curated by Daphne Vitali, which focuses on walking as an artistic methodology and expression, presenting participatory actions and wandering practices by visual artists in Elefsina. These actions serve as a form of physical engagement with the urban landscape, aiming to interpret and re-appropriate spaces and areas.

11:00 – 15:00
#ART
Eleni Panouklia
MYSTERY 47 MNEMONIC GARDEN
PRIVATE SPACE, 51 Pagkalou St., Elefsina
Workshops on creating enclosed, micro-scale gardens (terrariums)
* The workshops are one hour long (11:00-12:00, 12:00-13:00, 13:00-14:00, 14:00-15:00).
* Participation by reservation

13:30 – 15:00
#DISCUSSIONS
WILDFIRES AND THE CLIMATE CRISIS
Following the hiking on Mount Pateras, we will gather at the Oasis to discuss the destruction of forests by wildfires, the importance of strategic planning for combating large wildfires, and the contribution of volunteer fire-prevention and firefighting teams.

Participants:
Petros Filippas, Special Municipal Councillor for Civil Protection, Municipality of Elefsina Representative of the Fire Service of Thriassian Plain
Sokratis Vasiliou, Head of Volunteer Forest Firefighting Teams
Vangelis Ioakimidis, Screening and presentation of the international photography award “Prix Pictet”, on the theme of Fire, featuring works by the 18 short-listed photographers
Danae Stratou, Christoforos Marinos

Screening and discussion inspired by Danae Stratou’s artistic project “Burning Issues”, curated by Christoforos Marinos

15:00 – 21:00
#LIFESTYLE
Picnic at the OASIS
We bring our food and our blankets and go for a PICNIC, enjoying family time until the evening. We incorporate sustainable practices into our daily lives, while discovering hidden urban oases in our local areas.

15:00 – 18:00
#WORKSHOPS
Children at Play, Eleni Varasa
CREATIVE ACTIVITIES and FACE PAINTING
Workshop for children aged 3-10

15:30 – 17:00
#WORKSHOPS
Children’s Workshop
HERBAL MEDICINE, for children of all ages
Study of local flora and its properties
Workshop Coordinator: Constantina Litsa
* Participation by reservation

15:30 – 17:30 
#DIALOGUES
WATER
A discussion on the challenges the planet faces regarding water scarcity and groundwater pollution, as well as the strategies being implemented to mitigate the consequences, with an emphasis on prevention.
Participants:
Michael Fischer / “Save Ios” association – the Med-RESET project for the construction of micro-dams in Ios
Emilia Kondyli Laboratory of Soft Energy Applications, University of West Attica
Vangelis Ioakimidis Screening and presentation of the international photography award “Prix Pictet”, focusing on the theme of Water, featuring works by the 12 short-listed photographers.
Camilo Nollas, Natasa Bletsiou, Representative of the NGO MedINA

A discussion and screening inspired by the commission and production of the artistic project titled “By the River”, a production of the 2023 Vovousa Festival and MedΙΝΑ, focusing on the Vjosa River.

16:00 – 19:00
#WORKSHOPS
Tree – Paper – Book
Adult Workshop
How the destruction of a book through art, sculptural constructions, and images creates the “upside tree”?
Workshop Coordinator: Christina Mitrentse
*Participation by reservation

16:00 – 18:30
#ART
Emilia Bouriti & Artistic Platform Syn+Ergasia
Mystery 67 AMOLI
Anastasia Kallergi Farm, ASPROPYRGOS

Hydrous Encounters of Growers in Stubborn Trees
Meeting of pistachio farmers from Western Attica in Aspropyrgos
An action centred on pistachio cultivation in Western Attica and the challenges posed by climate change and the region’s diverse identities, organised by Emilia Bouriti and the artistic platform Syn+Ergasia in collaboration with the Laboratory of Soft Energy Applications and Environmental Protection of the University of West Attica. The event comprises a walking tour, participatory action, artistic installation, Arvanite songs, a lecture on proper water management and energy communities. Moreover, it brings together producers from Aspropyrgos, Elefsina, and Megara to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and establish a network.

16:00 – 17:00 and 17:30 – 18:30
#WORKSHOPS
Tandoor – Boulangerie – Bakery
A workshop with 3 137
What do children eat in bakeries around the world?
What is bread called in other languages? How is it made? When do they eat it, and what do they pair it with?
We invite children to become bakers at Elefsina’s first children’s bakery!
Imagination, taste-buds, and a sense of adventure are required!
In the workshop, children will be divided into teams to create various bread recipes inspired by places near and far around the world.
We’ll dress up, travel across the map, and cook with passion!

Ages: 8-11
Groups of 10-15 children
*Participation by reservation

17:00 – 21:00
#LIFESTYLE
VOICES OF ELEFSINA
The community radio station “Voices of Elefsina” follows the festival and broadcasts live from the OASIS.

18:00 – 19:30
#WORKSHOPS
Children at Play, Eleni Varasa
BOOK READING
For children aged 3-10

20:00
#ART
Kostas Danis
CHALLENGING EVERESTING
2021, 52΄
A real-time documentary about the personal goal of a Greek cyclist, filmed over 18 hours in Greece. On Wednesday, June 3, 2020 – the World Bicycle Day – Takis Xouris took part in a unique international cycling challenge called Everesting 10K. The goal of Everesting is for the rider to ascend a total elevation of 10,000 metres on a specific climb, matching the height of Mount Everest, plus an additional 1,200 meters.

Ecoculture Festival, a Legacy Project
Ecoculture Festival, a model institution for environmental awareness, is passed down by 2023 Eleusis European Capital of Culture, having completed its year as the titleholder, both in the city itself and in the surrounding area, which shares common characteristics with Elefsina. The Ecoculture Festival was initially designed with the area’s unique features in mind, particularly its history of environmental degradation due to the excessive concentration of industrial activity. It focuses on ecoculture, exploring how climate change, environmental pollution, and alignment with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals impact daily life.

This creates an opportunity to expand the discussion to include aspects of eco-culture related to the primary sector and the effects of climate change on peri-urban environments, both at the land and aquifer level. The ultimate goal is to establish the festival’s locations as international meeting points for redefining our relationship with the environment and promoting sustainable development on a broader scale.
The Ecoculture Festival is implemented as part of Greece’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0”, with funding from the European Union – NextGenerationEU.