AEGEANALE: Mediterranean Inspiration, Global Participation
AEGEANALE is an international annual platform of contemporary art, culture and tourism taking place throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. Launching in the summer of 2013, Aegeanale fosters cross-border cultural collaborations and invites creative minds to a summer of discovery and inspiration on the majestic Aegean Sea.
Aegeanale invites international curators to select contemporary artists from around the world to participate in a residency program in some of the Aegean’s most spectacular sites. Using local resources, and drawing inspiration from the Aegean environment and traditions, each artist will create a distinct site-specific work of art in a prominent public space. Once completed, works will remain permanently on location, leaving a lasting legacy for the community—in time, transforming the Aegean into a pioneering open park of art. Specialized tourism packages will allow the artistic community to tour several sites, interacting with artists and taking part in community-inspired openings.
Aegeanale is a project of LOCOMOTIVA, a non-profit organization based in Athens that specializes in the planning, development and implementation of art projects. Working closely with art institutions, galleries and museums Locomotiva has amassed an impressive track record of producing high-profile cultural events. The Aegenale is managed by a team of diverse, inspired and talented professionals, who are dedicated to the platform’s creative mission and inspirational significance. The platform is supported by an advisory board comprised of distinguished members of the international and regional culture and art communities, including Mrs. Beral Madra (Curator and Art Manager, TR), Mr. and Mrs. Can and Sevda Elgiz (Collectors and Owners of Proj4L, TR), Mr. Paolo Colombo (Art Advisor, Istanbul Modern, IT), Marieke Van Hal (Founder, Biennial Foundation, NL), Alkis Courcoulas (Journalist, GR), Heracles Moskof (Special Advisor, Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, GR), and Harry Tzimitras (Ass. Professor, Bilgi University, GR).
“For thousands of years, the Aegean has been contemporary,” says Aegeanale’s Founder and General Manager, Nikos Ververidis. “We are tapping into the region’s vast cultural wealth in a completely new way, sharing our heritage with the rest of the world while creating new artistic-themed tourism opportunities for participating communities.”
Aegeanale 2013 will take place from May 15th – June 15th, on six Greek islands: Paros, Naxos, Lesvos, Chios, Mykonos and Rhodes. Following the end of the residency period on June 15th, 2013, an opening event will be held every two days to unveil and celebrate each site’s unique installation. These events will take place in conjunction with the local communities and feature special guests from the worlds of culture, business, media and politics, leading to a festival of Aegean culture.