The Molyvos International Music Festival (MIMF) was held for the first time in August 2015 in Molyvos, Lesbos attracting leading young and renowned performers of international acclaim. Today, it is considered one of the most important institutions of classical music in Greece and a popular music destination worldwide.
MIMF contributes to regional development, supporting and redefining the tourism offer of Lesbos. In addition, the Festival runs year-long educational programmes in schools, familiarizing young people with classical music and sparking a deeper interest in the field.
The Contemporary Art Museum of Crete is based in the heart of the old historic town, under the Venetian wall and the Archaeological Museum. The Municipality of Rethymnon bought it in 1970s, and in 1992 it became a Gallery. In 1995 Rethymnon was included in the National Cultural Network of Towns which led to the establishment of the Centre for Contemporary Art orienting the Gallery’s activities to contemporary art.
A new space that supplemented the old “L. Kanakakis” Municipal Gallery and the Centre of Contemporary Art, prompted in the creation of the new Contemporary Art Museum that acquired Crete. The old Venetian building that constituted in the beginning of the 20th century one from the first industrial spaces of the island, with the factory of soap that it entertained up to decade ’70, today constitutes a modern museum high specification space, roughly 1000 sq.m.
It has a permanent collection of approximately 700 works of contemporary Greek artists, which covers a wide range of the contemporary Greek art world from 1950 to date. The works of L. Kanakakis (approx. 50) were donated to the Gallery. Τhe collection includes adequate samples of art of the second half of the 20th century, from abstraction and geometry to neo-expressionism, new representation arts, minimalism, object in space, sculpture and combined sculpture and painting, installations in space and settings, conceptual art, photography, computer processed works of art.
The Contemporary Art Museum of Crete has developed significant activities in the field of periodic exhibitions at local, national and international levels in co-operation with numerous institutions at home and abroad. All events are organised together with other concurrent events (lectures, training programs, speeches, seminars, etc.). The activities of the CCA – «L.Kanakakis» Municipal Gallery are completed with the publication of catalogues and other printed training or information material. At the same time, throughout the duration of exhibitions there are organised tours for children, young people and adults on a daily basis.
In 1996 Rethymnon was included in the second programme of the Ministry of Culture for the purpose of establishing Visual Arts Workshops. An interesting building in the old town, was selected for that purpose. In this framework, there are classes on pottery (adults – children), painting (adults – children), History of Art (building of “L.Kanakakis” Municipal Gallery – adults).
Martha Graham and Greek Myth is a project combining classical philology and live dance to explore Martha Graham’s use of Ancient Greek mythology and the portrayal of Ancient Greek heroes in her work. The project highlights the relevance of Greek myth today and aims to make the study of both ancient myth and modern dance accessible to the broad public. It underscores the immense influence of the Ancient Greeks on American culture and the arts, and underlines the contribution of Martha Graham in revolutionizing the art of dance. The project comes to life through Nina Papathanasopoulou’s collaboration with renowned Graham technique and repertory instructor, Penny Diamantopoulou.
Nina Papathanasopoulou is a Professor of Classical Studies specializing in Greek drama, mythology, and its reception. She joined the Classics faculty at College Year in Athens in January 2020, where she teaches Ancient Greek mythology, religion, and literature courses and runs field trips all over Greece for US students who are studying abroad.
For the past eleven years, the island of Sifnos has been hosting a classical music festival with international recognition. MuSifanto has become a gathering point for classical music enthusiasts on the island. The festival contributes to the cultural landscape of Sifnos and serves as an inspiration for the children and young people attending the “Fragkiski Psacharopoulou Karori” Music Workshop. Residents and visitors of the island have the opportunity to experience notable works of musical literature, performed by renowned musicians from Greece and abroad, all set in the island’s unique natural environment.
The festival is organized by the “Friends of the Greek Island and the Sea” Association, co-organized by the Municipality of Sifnos and the South Aegean Region, and supported by the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Marianti Simou Cultural Center, and the the Association of Professionals, Merchants, and Caterers of Sifnos.
Back in 1990, Santorini welcomed a visionary sculptor, installation artist and observer of theworld, Yorgos Kypris, who laid the foundation for MATI in Fira—a gallery that transcendsmere art by intertwining his story with the island. Perched on the cliffside, the spacecommands stunning views of the caldera, islets, and the majestic volcano, inspiring Yorgosto name it “MATI,” the Greek word for “eye,” symbolizing its role as a culturalobservatory.
Over decades, Santorini became Yorgos’s muse and “second home,” each moment reflectingthe profound heritage of the Aegean. MATI Fira’s showroom emerged and remainsgrounded as a creative sanctuary, showcasing sculptures, installations, prints, and bespokedesigner jewelry in one of Santorini’s prime locations.
MATI evolved beyond an art space; it became an agent for the island’s spirit—encompassingits people, landscapes, nature, and cultural dynamics. An observatory of the human psycheand the juxtaposition of their constant and evolving natures, as experienced not only onSantorini but also further than its shores. Moving from bursting Fira, MATI extended itsreach to Mesaria, a tranquil village where time seemed to pause amid ancient buildings half-buried in volcanic rocks.
Recently opened, MATI Mesaria, has transformed a 1900s canava—a traditional winery—into a contemporary art hub nestled among historic buildings and serene gardens, incompliance with the country’s archaeological regulations. It now hosts dynamic exhibitions,artist residencies, and curated tours, offering a haven from tourist crowds. Here, visitorsimmerse themselves in Santorini’s authenticity through exclusive art tours that aim to bridgethe gap between the past, present, and future , accelerating societal transformation throughart and culture.