top of page
INTEGRATION OF CULTURE
Elefsina has always been a city of culture, hosting one of Greece's largest theatre festivals since 1975. The festival of Aeschylia has utilised the existing fabric of the city to showcase how art can bring an abandoned city back to life.
​
Through winning the City of Culture status for 2021, Elefsina aims to build upon its cultural history and project the city forward.
​
What would a city be like if art and culture were at the heart of both its social and economic development?
Eleusis: The Living Museum is a programme and the main legacy of the City of Culture looking into how the city can become the base for cultural expression. The programme is composed as a puzzle, with the participation of artists, citizens, organisations, businesses from Eleusis and Europe. To achieve this, the programme is divided into 4 phases, providing the framework for early implementation and integration of culture within the communities.
a
The main concepts of the programme are established through meetings with artists in Greece and Europe, organisations and inhabitants of Eleusis. Around 70 meetings took place during this period. At the same time, a network of affiliated artists was established in February 2015. The network helps the team elaborate the pillars of the programme, offers advice and assists with networking, etc.
Phase
(July 2014-May 2015)
Phase
(March 2015-December 2019)
Set up of the Creative Citizens’ Network and the Ideas Workshops, through which residents and local entities can formulate ideas for the artistic programme and start to organise events. Seven Ideas Workshops are currently in operation, and have already implemented two projects, with more under way.
b
c
The period between January and March 2016 saw the publication of an open call for submission of proposals for the artistic programme in Greece and abroad. At the same time, an artistic direction workshop was taught for residents who wish to contribute to the curation of the artistic programme. From April to July 2016, the artistic team will process the proposals, working with the public to get their input.
Phase
(December 2015-July 2016)
Phase
(July 2016-December 2019)
30% of the programme will be left open, so that new and interesting ideas arising during its course can be added, either from the Ideas Workshops or from individual proposals. This final phase looks at progressing connections between artists and residents to create installations.
d
key cultural events
Inspired by the figure of Persephone, the transition and alternation of the seasons, the programme includes five key events that link the natural flow of time to the evolution of Europe and the European Union. Along the horizontal axis, the programme - runs as a singular play evolving throughout the year, inclusive of residents, artists and the city.
​
Opening Ceremony
(Jan 2021)
Connection of European Development Days, European Day of Music & Start of Summer
(June 2021)
Closing Ceremony
(Dec 2021)
Connection of Europe Day & Arrival of Spring
(May 2021)
Connection of European Heritage Days, End of Summer
(September 2021)
Lower Eleusis
neighbourhood
The EU working classes theme events, that deal with the challenge of labour, are situated in Lower Eleusis, which encompasses the coastal zone, the port and many of the area’s early industries, as well as contemporary warehouses and entities such as the Workers Union.
​
​
THE EU WORKING CLASSES
This Theme imagines the workforces of the Future, the competitiveness and growth as a result of arts
being linked to fields such as industry, science, technology and social innovation.
​
​
PROPOSED PROJECTS
THE FUTURE STARTS HERE
Prototyping YOURope
Future Neighbourhood
Go Live!
Sound Factory
CULTURE MY PROFESSION
/ CULTURE MY HOBBY
City Art Lab
Moving Europe
The Neighbourhood of EUphoria
Geographies of Transformation
ART INDUSTRY
​
fARTory
Alter Fabrication
Ideation Lab
Re-De Industrialize
1. Lower Eleusis
2. Symiaka
Symiaka neigbourhood
The Symiaka neighbourhood, which is located around the archaeological site hill and the quarries, is the area that has experienced the greatest environmental problems in the past, due to its proximity to industrial units such as the Titan cement factory. the events of the "EUnvironment" Theme are organised in the neighbourhoods of Symiaka, Magoula and Pontiaka.
​
​
EUNVIRONMENT
The Theme ‘EUnvironment’ focuses on the challenge to redefine man’s connection to the natural environment as a prerequisite for sustainable development. It consists of the Flagship Project and three Programmes, through which we approach three distinct territories of the
broader environmental issue.
​
​
PROPOSED PROJECTS
​
DEMETER –
MOTHER EARTH
Agriculture
Usual Bread
Eleusis Food Map
The journey of Euphorides, the seed from Eleusis to Europe
PERSEPHONE
Vertical Gardens
Share the Light
Neighbourhood Cultural Councils
ECOCULTURE
Ecoculture Festival
Green Incubator
Pontiaka neighbourhood
The Pontiaka neighbourhood is an area with large expanses of open land, some of which are cultivated. Events from the "Demeter - Mother Earth" Programme, linked to food, take place in Pontiaka. The Pontiaka neighbourhood covers basic themes of nature and the spatial configuration of the Agora.
​
​
EUNVIRONMENT
The Theme ‘EUnvironment’ focuses on the challenge to redefine man’s connection to the natural environment as a prerequisite for sustainable development. It consists of the Flagship Project and three Programmes, through which we approach three distinct territories of the
broader environmental issue.
​
​
PROPOSED PROJECTS
​
DEMETER –
MOTHER EARTH
Agriculture
Usual Bread
Eleusis Food Map
The journey of Euphorides, the seed from Eleusis to Europe
PERSEPHONE
Vertical Gardens
Share the Light
Neighbourhood Cultural Councils
ECOCULTURE
Ecoculture Festival
Green Incubator
3. Pontiaka
Synikismos neighbourhood
The Synikismos neighbourhood, which is associated with refugees and therefore with social issues, and corresponds to the area of Upper Eleusis, is used for the "EUrbanization" Theme events, i.e. the social challenges of transition.
​
​
EURBANIZATION
The "EUrbanization" Theme consists of performances, exhibitions and installations, taking place in venues at the refugee neighbourhood of Synikismos, transforming it into an Agora.
​
​
PROPOSED PROJECTS
​
EUROPE
OF CITIZENS
Βalkan Agora
Aeschylus
Αgora rEUnited
Hotel Europa
EUROPE, DAUGHTER
OF PHOENIX
Distant Relatives
Emergency Architectures
RefuGe
Mare Nostrum
ConServing
History and stories
MYSTERIES
City Mysteries
The Human Condition
Europe of Festivals
4. Synikismos
REFERENCES
Eleusis City of Culture 2021 Bid Book
​
http://www.cityindexlab.com/elefsina_city_map/Elefsina_City_Map.html
​
bottom of page