INTRO
25 years after the first successful organization of the Biennale of young creators from Europe and the Mediterranean, this international event returns to Thessaloniki. This year, the Biennale is characterized by a new format, not just a single event, but a journey through the Mediterranean area, with the participation of 2 main cities – Thessaloniki and Rome, and other small-scale local events. At the end of this journey, more than 400 artists between 18-30 years old, from Europe and the Mediterranean will have participated in the activities, presented in the framework of the common theme: “SYMBIOSIS?”.
The theme has been defined by a pool of experts and curators from Thessaloniki, where the sectors Visual Arts, Applied Arts (Architecture, Design, Fashion), Urban Acts and Gastronomy will be hosted. The organizing institutions in Thessaloniki –the General Secretariat for Youth, the Municipality of Thessaloniki – Department of Culture, the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art and the Aristotle University– are collaborating with other local institutions and independent curators, in order to activate all the creative forces of the city towards the creation of a memorable event.
The XV Biennale de la Mediterranee will thus take over the whole city, as it will unfold in a variety of public and alternative spaces around the city, beyond the standard museum-type presentation. Along with the physical areas that will be occupied on land AND sea (Port area, Seacoast and Aristotelous Square, New Town Hall and the White Tower area, Valaoritou area, Aristotle University campus), local students will also work towards the taking over of the city’s media (TV, radio and web productions).
Finally, the Biennale aims at providing young artists the possibility of networking with established art professionals from around the world.
XV Biennale de la Mediterranee: “SYMBIOSIS” in action.
ORGANIZERS
General Secretariat for Youth
The General Secretariat for Youth was set up in 1982 as a governmental institution with the primary task of shaping, monitoring and coordinating the government policy for youth and its connection with society and social entities. Since the beginning, the General Secretariat for Youth aimed at a youth policy with a fresh attitude and context with a view to keep up with young people’s interests and demands. Youth must respond to the challenges of the future and we all have to contribute to this demanding task. The General Secretariat for Youth attempts a new quality leap, as nowadays, a different “way of speaking” is no longer sufficient. What we need is a combination of systematic efforts, adequacy of programs and first and foremost, action. The General Secretariat for Youth develops a set of activities and programs aiming at the core of youth policies, emphasizing on the sectors of Participation, Information, Leisure, Entrepreneurship, Enovation and Social Inclusion, having as fundamental political principal the inter-generational solidarity. The General Secretariat for Youth puts emphasis on the cooperation with civil society, especially with youth associations and local authorities that take actions in the field of youth and children, in order to alleviate and resolve existing problems.
www.neagenia.gr
Municipality of Thessaloniki / Department for Culture, Education and Tourism
The Department for Culture, Education and Tourism of the City of Thessaloniki is the official body for planning, organizing and supporting of all the cultural activities of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, as well as all the most important cultural activities that take place in the city. Cultural bodies and Institutions such as the Dimitria Festival, the Municipal Gallery, an extended network of public Libraries, the Municipal Symphonic Orchestra, work among others under the auspices of the Department of Culture Education and Tourism.
http://www.thessaloniki.gr/portal/page/portal/DimosThessalonikis
http://dimitria.thessaloniki.gr/
Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art
The Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art and the Macedonian Centre of Contemporary Art, Architecture and Industrial Design are a citizens’ initiative, unique in the history of the Greek contemporary arts field. The Museum is supported by its Friends and cooperates with several of the country’s educational, cultural and financial institutions. Thanks to this unique history, owed to personal relations that have evolved through voluntary action, the Museum is supported by the State, through funding for special projects and operating costs. Since the Museum was founded, its Collection, now including more than 1800 works –paintings, sculptures, video art works, assemblages, installations, engravings and photographs by Greek and international artists, is constantly enriched through new donations by artists and significant collectors, such as Alexandros Iolas, Franz Geierhaas, Magda Kotzia, Alexandros Xydis and Dimitris Meimaroglou. Among others, the Collection includes works by artists such as A. Akrithakis, A. Apergis, K. Varotsos, G. Zogolopoulos, O. Zouni, V. Kaniaris, K. Tsoklis, N. Kessanlis, G. Moralis, D. Mytaras, Pavlos, D. Oppenheim, Niki de St. Phalle, Τakis, V. Velickovic, A. Warhol, as well as by sculptor Alex Mylonas, who donated to the Museum her collection and the Museum Alex Mylona, which she established in Athens. Among the most significant exhibitions that have taken place in the Museum are the solo presentations of works by Warhol, Skolimowski, Beckamnn, Abbas Kiarostami, Perdikidis, Antonakos, Tornatore, Dean Tavoularis, Defraoui, Bouteas, Moralis and most recently Damien Hirst; also, the group exhibition Europe Exists, curated by Harald Szeeman and Rosa Martinez. The Museum’s specially designed educational programs are a significant contribution to initiating children into the world of contemporary art. In the Museum’s specially equipped spaces, take place workshops for children aged 3,5-13 years old, through which children get acquainted with art, its practices and techniques, as well as with artists whose work is presented in the Museum’s temporary shows. In addition to this, programs for school groups with emphasis on interactivity take place, as well as guided tours for special groups and adults. The Museum’s Library numbers 3.000 titles (books on art history, catalogues of solo and group shows) and its Amphitheater is fully equipped for events such as talks, seminars, conferences, theater performances, music events, matinees etc. The Museum’s recently refurbished Shop, sells art works, decorative and utilitarian contemporary design objects, jewelry, and of course the Museum’s publications and other publications dedicated to art.
www.mmca.org.gr
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is the largest university in Greece with more than 81.500 students. The University Campus covers some 23 hectares close to the centre of Thessaloniki. It comprises 7 Faculties organized into 33 Schools, 5 faculties with only 1 school each, as well as 4 independent Schools.
www.auth.gr
BJCEM
The International Association for the Biennial of Young Artists from Europe and the Mediterranean (BJCEM) was founded in 2001 in Sarajevo, during the 10th edition of the homonymous event. It’s a non profit association of 73 members from 22 countries, that works for the development of the intercultural dialogue in the Euro-Mediterranean area. The Bjcem organizes events, encourages exchanges, promotes meetings and supports the creation of new projects and artworks. The first edition of the Biennial was hosted in Barcelona, 1985. The following editions of the Biennial of the Young Artists took place in Thessalonica (1986), Barcelona (1987), Bologna (1988), Marseille (1990), Valencia (1992), Lisbon (1994), Turin (1997), Rome (1999), Sarajevo (2001), Athens (2003), Naples (2005), Bari (2008), Skopje (2009). During the 26 years of its history the Biennial has been considered as the main window over the creation in the Mediterranean, presenting the works of artists from 18 to 30 years, from different fields: architecture, comic, cinema, video, industrial and digital creations, photography, writing, gastronomy, music, theatre, dance, etc. with almost 7000 artists participating and over 700.000 visitors.
www.bjcem.org
25 years after the first successful organization of the Biennale of young creators from Europe and the Mediterranean, this international event returns to Thessaloniki. This year, the Biennale is characterized by a new format, not just a single event, but a journey through the Mediterranean area, with the participation of 2 main cities – Thessaloniki and Rome, and other small-scale local events. At the end of this journey, more than 400 artists between 18-30 years old, from Europe and the Mediterranean will have participated in the activities, presented in the framework of the common theme: “SYMBIOSIS?”.
The theme has been defined by a pool of experts and curators from Thessaloniki, where the sectors Visual Arts, Applied Arts (Architecture, Design, Fashion), Urban Acts and Gastronomy will be hosted. The organizing institutions in Thessaloniki –the General Secretariat for Youth, the Municipality of Thessaloniki – Department of Culture, the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art and the Aristotle University– are collaborating with other local institutions and independent curators, in order to activate all the creative forces of the city towards the creation of a memorable event.
The XV Biennale de la Mediterranee will thus take over the whole city, as it will unfold in a variety of public and alternative spaces around the city, beyond the standard museum-type presentation. Along with the physical areas that will be occupied on land AND sea (Port area, Seacoast and Aristotelous Square, New Town Hall and the White Tower area, Valaoritou area, Aristotle University campus), local students will also work towards the taking over of the city’s media (TV, radio and web productions).
Finally, the Biennale aims at providing young artists the possibility of networking with established art professionals from around the world.
XV Biennale de la Mediterranee: “SYMBIOSIS” in action.
ORGANIZERS
General Secretariat for Youth
The General Secretariat for Youth was set up in 1982 as a governmental institution with the primary task of shaping, monitoring and coordinating the government policy for youth and its connection with society and social entities. Since the beginning, the General Secretariat for Youth aimed at a youth policy with a fresh attitude and context with a view to keep up with young people’s interests and demands. Youth must respond to the challenges of the future and we all have to contribute to this demanding task. The General Secretariat for Youth attempts a new quality leap, as nowadays, a different “way of speaking” is no longer sufficient. What we need is a combination of systematic efforts, adequacy of programs and first and foremost, action. The General Secretariat for Youth develops a set of activities and programs aiming at the core of youth policies, emphasizing on the sectors of Participation, Information, Leisure, Entrepreneurship, Enovation and Social Inclusion, having as fundamental political principal the inter-generational solidarity. The General Secretariat for Youth puts emphasis on the cooperation with civil society, especially with youth associations and local authorities that take actions in the field of youth and children, in order to alleviate and resolve existing problems.
www.neagenia.gr
Municipality of Thessaloniki / Department for Culture, Education and Tourism
The Department for Culture, Education and Tourism of the City of Thessaloniki is the official body for planning, organizing and supporting of all the cultural activities of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, as well as all the most important cultural activities that take place in the city. Cultural bodies and Institutions such as the Dimitria Festival, the Municipal Gallery, an extended network of public Libraries, the Municipal Symphonic Orchestra, work among others under the auspices of the Department of Culture Education and Tourism.
http://www.thessaloniki.gr/portal/page/portal/DimosThessalonikis
http://dimitria.thessaloniki.gr/
Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art
The Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art and the Macedonian Centre of Contemporary Art, Architecture and Industrial Design are a citizens’ initiative, unique in the history of the Greek contemporary arts field. The Museum is supported by its Friends and cooperates with several of the country’s educational, cultural and financial institutions. Thanks to this unique history, owed to personal relations that have evolved through voluntary action, the Museum is supported by the State, through funding for special projects and operating costs. Since the Museum was founded, its Collection, now including more than 1800 works –paintings, sculptures, video art works, assemblages, installations, engravings and photographs by Greek and international artists, is constantly enriched through new donations by artists and significant collectors, such as Alexandros Iolas, Franz Geierhaas, Magda Kotzia, Alexandros Xydis and Dimitris Meimaroglou. Among others, the Collection includes works by artists such as A. Akrithakis, A. Apergis, K. Varotsos, G. Zogolopoulos, O. Zouni, V. Kaniaris, K. Tsoklis, N. Kessanlis, G. Moralis, D. Mytaras, Pavlos, D. Oppenheim, Niki de St. Phalle, Τakis, V. Velickovic, A. Warhol, as well as by sculptor Alex Mylonas, who donated to the Museum her collection and the Museum Alex Mylona, which she established in Athens. Among the most significant exhibitions that have taken place in the Museum are the solo presentations of works by Warhol, Skolimowski, Beckamnn, Abbas Kiarostami, Perdikidis, Antonakos, Tornatore, Dean Tavoularis, Defraoui, Bouteas, Moralis and most recently Damien Hirst; also, the group exhibition Europe Exists, curated by Harald Szeeman and Rosa Martinez. The Museum’s specially designed educational programs are a significant contribution to initiating children into the world of contemporary art. In the Museum’s specially equipped spaces, take place workshops for children aged 3,5-13 years old, through which children get acquainted with art, its practices and techniques, as well as with artists whose work is presented in the Museum’s temporary shows. In addition to this, programs for school groups with emphasis on interactivity take place, as well as guided tours for special groups and adults. The Museum’s Library numbers 3.000 titles (books on art history, catalogues of solo and group shows) and its Amphitheater is fully equipped for events such as talks, seminars, conferences, theater performances, music events, matinees etc. The Museum’s recently refurbished Shop, sells art works, decorative and utilitarian contemporary design objects, jewelry, and of course the Museum’s publications and other publications dedicated to art.
www.mmca.org.gr
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is the largest university in Greece with more than 81.500 students. The University Campus covers some 23 hectares close to the centre of Thessaloniki. It comprises 7 Faculties organized into 33 Schools, 5 faculties with only 1 school each, as well as 4 independent Schools.
www.auth.gr
BJCEM
The International Association for the Biennial of Young Artists from Europe and the Mediterranean (BJCEM) was founded in 2001 in Sarajevo, during the 10th edition of the homonymous event. It’s a non profit association of 73 members from 22 countries, that works for the development of the intercultural dialogue in the Euro-Mediterranean area. The Bjcem organizes events, encourages exchanges, promotes meetings and supports the creation of new projects and artworks. The first edition of the Biennial was hosted in Barcelona, 1985. The following editions of the Biennial of the Young Artists took place in Thessalonica (1986), Barcelona (1987), Bologna (1988), Marseille (1990), Valencia (1992), Lisbon (1994), Turin (1997), Rome (1999), Sarajevo (2001), Athens (2003), Naples (2005), Bari (2008), Skopje (2009). During the 26 years of its history the Biennial has been considered as the main window over the creation in the Mediterranean, presenting the works of artists from 18 to 30 years, from different fields: architecture, comic, cinema, video, industrial and digital creations, photography, writing, gastronomy, music, theatre, dance, etc. with almost 7000 artists participating and over 700.000 visitors.
www.bjcem.org
