Photos of the Acropolis Wanted for Online Scrapbook Initiative

The Acropolis in Athens. Photo Source: ysma.gr

Celebrating 45 years since the beginning of restoration works on the Acropolis hill in Athens, the Committee for the Conservation of the Acropolis Monuments (ESMA), is in search of photographs that depict in a direct or indirect way the interventions that have taken place on the Acropolis monuments over these years.

ESMA is an interdisciplinary committee of the Greek Culture Ministry responsible for managing all contemporary interventions for the conservation and restoration of the Acropolis monuments.

The committee has announced an open call under the title, “The Acropolis: Focusing on the restoration”, for the public (visitors, photographers) whose work depicts the changes that the monuments have undergone as a result of preservation and restoration efforts.

Its aim is to include select photos in a digital album that will be accessible to all.

During the last 45 years, ESMA has completed the restoration of the Erechtheion, the Propylaea and the temple of Athena Nike. Furthermore, large-scale works have been carried out on the Parthenon.

Today, interventions focus on the pediment of the west side of the Parthenon, the walls of the Parthenon cella, and on the Acropolis circuit walls.

“The call aims to photographically depict the ‘daily life’ of the Acropolis monuments in the last 45 years and select images that will compose a mosaic reflecting the visitors’ photographic gaze towards the monuments and the ‘imprinted’ interventions in them,” ESMA said.

The photos should be sent to esma45years@gmail.com until October 20.

Each submitted photograph should be accompanied by a short text (up to 70 words) explaining why the photographer took the specific shot.

Those interested can find more information on the terms and conditions in English here.