CHRISTOS SAVVIDIS
Artistic & Organizing Director
Christos Savvidis is the founder of ArtBOX.gr and a founding member of the non-profit organization Forum European Cultural Exchanges, founded in 2000. Currently he is Arts Management Director of the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art in Thessaloniki, Greece, as well as Artistic Director of the MMCA’s Project Space (with Lydia Chatziiakovou). He has curated numerous contemporary art exhibitions and projects in Greece and abroad and he has given lectures and published articles on various occasions. Selected projects include: since 2009, Commissionaire for the Greek participation (in 2009 and 2010 also of the Cypriot participation), International Sculpture and Installations Exhibition “OPEN”, Venice, Lido, organized by Arte Communications; 2009, co-curator (with Daniel Birnbaum and others), project “Making Words”, in the frame of the 53rd International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale; 2006-2008, Artistic Director of Art Athina – international art fair of Athens; 2004-2008, Artistic Director of the annual visual arts festival “Action Field Kodra”, realized at the former military camp Kodra, Thessaloniki; 2005-2008, Artistic Director of the Forum Artists-in-Residence program, realized within “Action Field Kodra”, in collaboration with curators, such as Roger Buergel, Ruth Noack, Pier Luigi Tazzi, Denys Zacharopoulos and others; 2005, co-curator of the Greek participation in “BIDA 2005 – International Biennial of Contemporary Art in Sports”, organized by the General Secretariats of Sports of Spain and Greece; 2004, curator of the group exhibition “Any Place Any. Art-Immigration-Utopia”, at the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki, Greece; 2004, curator of the group exhibition “Young Balkan Artists. Variations in Balkan Spaces”, presenting works by 25 young artists from the Balkans, realized in three archaeological monuments in Thessaloniki (Eptapyrgion, Bey Hamam-“Paradeisos Baths”, Pazar Hamam-“Louloudadika”); finally, in 2003 he was assistant curator of the group exhibition “Europe Exists”, curated by Harald Szeemann and Rosa Martinez at the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki, Greece, organized by MMCA, the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
GEORGE PAPAKOSTAS
Director - Architect
George Papakostas, (b.1949) is Professor of Architectural Design and Head of the School of Architecture of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He has been Scientific Associate in the Institute for Lightweight Structures at the University of Stuttgart (IL) obtaining the title of Spezialist fuer Leichte Flaechentragwerke, IL, University of Stuttgart, Germany (1973-1977). He has been a Visiting Researcher at the Faculty of Architecture at the Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N. York, U.S.A. (1981-1982) and Visiting Professor at the Royal School of Architecture, Copenhagen, Denmark. (1990-1991). His professional activity includes more than 120 architectural design projects and architectural competitions. Among them is the B’ Biennale of Young Artists of Mediterranean Countries installation project (1986), the Municipal Theater of Kalamaria-Thessaloniki (1995-1997), the Civic Theater of Thessaloniki ¨Theatro Kipou¨ (1997), the Upgrading and Expansion of the Airport ¨Makedonia¨ of Thessaloniki (1997-2004) and the Aristotle University Research Dissemination Center, known as ¨red building¨. (2006-2011). His architectural research includes 32 scientific articles published in Greece and abroad, and his architectural work is published in 66 Greek and international architectural bulletins.
STEPHANIE BERTRAND
Curator (Visual Arts - Main Program)
Stéphanie Bertrand is an independent curator and writer based in Thessaloniki, Greece. Since completing an MFA in Curating at Goldsmiths College, London, she has curated a number of exhibitions and projects, including “Acercate más” at Casa Tres Patios, Medellin (2011), “Democracy in the making” at The Greek State Museum, Thessaloniki (2009), “Letters from a front” as part of the contemporary art festival Action Field Kodra 08, Thessaloniki (2008), “Fire red gas blue ghost green signs” at The Sassoon Gallery, London (2008) and “Radio gA-gA” at Art Athina 08, the Athens art fair, Athens (2008). She is the co-founder and co-director of the contemporary art collective initiative Société Anonyme (www.societeanonyme.gr) as well as a member of the Montreal-based collective L’Araignée. She has contributed texts to accompany a number of international exhibitions, including “One Another” at YYZ Artist Outlet, Toronto (2011), “Flexible Aura” at Brain Factory, Seoul (2009), “Calypso” at Sala Rekalde, Bilbao (2008) and “I desired what you were, I need what you are” at Maze Gallery, Turin (2008).
MARIA TRIANTAPHYLLIDOU
Curator (Applied Arts - Main Program)
She was born in Thessaloniki in April 11th 1955. She is a graduate of School of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, (1973 – 1979), with overall grade 9,00- Excellent. She holds Master degrees in Museology, (A.U.Th. 2002-2004, final grade 9,80-Excellent), and in “Protection, Conservation and Restoration of cultural Monuments” (A.U.Th 1998 – 2000, grade 9,40-Excellent). Her professional experience extends to Design, Construction and Supervision of architectural engineering projects, on Study of planning, documentation, conservation and restoration of landmarks, in the financial and project management and motoring of European Operational Programmes along with participation and honors in architectural competitions. In addition, experience as a curator and architect-museologist as well as teaching experience in the Museology Postgraduate Studies department of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki as an architect-museologist. She currently works in the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art as a museum administration manager.
MARIA NETSIKA
Curator (Gastronomy - Main Program)
Maria Netsika is a chemist-enologist, a consultant in wine-making, training, marketing and PR and also a wine and gastronomy writer. She is a member of the Association Hellénique des Journalistes et Ecrivains des Vins et Spiritueux and the Fédération Internationale des Journalistes et Ecrivains des Vins et Spiritueux. She is the founder of Wine Plus, a company for the promotion of quality wine and gastronomy, editor and director of Wine Plus magazine, a free press for wine and gastronomy and founder and responsible for the Wine Club THESSALONIKI ’96. She has been a scientific collaborator in pilot research programs for wine and gastronomy, a wine and gastronomy trainer as well as juror in international wine competitions. She has written the books The wine secrets and The wines of Greece, both published in Greek.
Artistic & Organizing Director
Christos Savvidis is the founder of ArtBOX.gr and a founding member of the non-profit organization Forum European Cultural Exchanges, founded in 2000. Currently he is Arts Management Director of the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art in Thessaloniki, Greece, as well as Artistic Director of the MMCA’s Project Space (with Lydia Chatziiakovou). He has curated numerous contemporary art exhibitions and projects in Greece and abroad and he has given lectures and published articles on various occasions. Selected projects include: since 2009, Commissionaire for the Greek participation (in 2009 and 2010 also of the Cypriot participation), International Sculpture and Installations Exhibition “OPEN”, Venice, Lido, organized by Arte Communications; 2009, co-curator (with Daniel Birnbaum and others), project “Making Words”, in the frame of the 53rd International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale; 2006-2008, Artistic Director of Art Athina – international art fair of Athens; 2004-2008, Artistic Director of the annual visual arts festival “Action Field Kodra”, realized at the former military camp Kodra, Thessaloniki; 2005-2008, Artistic Director of the Forum Artists-in-Residence program, realized within “Action Field Kodra”, in collaboration with curators, such as Roger Buergel, Ruth Noack, Pier Luigi Tazzi, Denys Zacharopoulos and others; 2005, co-curator of the Greek participation in “BIDA 2005 – International Biennial of Contemporary Art in Sports”, organized by the General Secretariats of Sports of Spain and Greece; 2004, curator of the group exhibition “Any Place Any. Art-Immigration-Utopia”, at the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki, Greece; 2004, curator of the group exhibition “Young Balkan Artists. Variations in Balkan Spaces”, presenting works by 25 young artists from the Balkans, realized in three archaeological monuments in Thessaloniki (Eptapyrgion, Bey Hamam-“Paradeisos Baths”, Pazar Hamam-“Louloudadika”); finally, in 2003 he was assistant curator of the group exhibition “Europe Exists”, curated by Harald Szeemann and Rosa Martinez at the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki, Greece, organized by MMCA, the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
GEORGE PAPAKOSTAS
Director - Architect
George Papakostas, (b.1949) is Professor of Architectural Design and Head of the School of Architecture of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He has been Scientific Associate in the Institute for Lightweight Structures at the University of Stuttgart (IL) obtaining the title of Spezialist fuer Leichte Flaechentragwerke, IL, University of Stuttgart, Germany (1973-1977). He has been a Visiting Researcher at the Faculty of Architecture at the Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N. York, U.S.A. (1981-1982) and Visiting Professor at the Royal School of Architecture, Copenhagen, Denmark. (1990-1991). His professional activity includes more than 120 architectural design projects and architectural competitions. Among them is the B’ Biennale of Young Artists of Mediterranean Countries installation project (1986), the Municipal Theater of Kalamaria-Thessaloniki (1995-1997), the Civic Theater of Thessaloniki ¨Theatro Kipou¨ (1997), the Upgrading and Expansion of the Airport ¨Makedonia¨ of Thessaloniki (1997-2004) and the Aristotle University Research Dissemination Center, known as ¨red building¨. (2006-2011). His architectural research includes 32 scientific articles published in Greece and abroad, and his architectural work is published in 66 Greek and international architectural bulletins.
STEPHANIE BERTRAND
Curator (Visual Arts - Main Program)
Stéphanie Bertrand is an independent curator and writer based in Thessaloniki, Greece. Since completing an MFA in Curating at Goldsmiths College, London, she has curated a number of exhibitions and projects, including “Acercate más” at Casa Tres Patios, Medellin (2011), “Democracy in the making” at The Greek State Museum, Thessaloniki (2009), “Letters from a front” as part of the contemporary art festival Action Field Kodra 08, Thessaloniki (2008), “Fire red gas blue ghost green signs” at The Sassoon Gallery, London (2008) and “Radio gA-gA” at Art Athina 08, the Athens art fair, Athens (2008). She is the co-founder and co-director of the contemporary art collective initiative Société Anonyme (www.societeanonyme.gr) as well as a member of the Montreal-based collective L’Araignée. She has contributed texts to accompany a number of international exhibitions, including “One Another” at YYZ Artist Outlet, Toronto (2011), “Flexible Aura” at Brain Factory, Seoul (2009), “Calypso” at Sala Rekalde, Bilbao (2008) and “I desired what you were, I need what you are” at Maze Gallery, Turin (2008).
MARIA TRIANTAPHYLLIDOU
Curator (Applied Arts - Main Program)
She was born in Thessaloniki in April 11th 1955. She is a graduate of School of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, (1973 – 1979), with overall grade 9,00- Excellent. She holds Master degrees in Museology, (A.U.Th. 2002-2004, final grade 9,80-Excellent), and in “Protection, Conservation and Restoration of cultural Monuments” (A.U.Th 1998 – 2000, grade 9,40-Excellent). Her professional experience extends to Design, Construction and Supervision of architectural engineering projects, on Study of planning, documentation, conservation and restoration of landmarks, in the financial and project management and motoring of European Operational Programmes along with participation and honors in architectural competitions. In addition, experience as a curator and architect-museologist as well as teaching experience in the Museology Postgraduate Studies department of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki as an architect-museologist. She currently works in the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art as a museum administration manager.
MARIA NETSIKA
Curator (Gastronomy - Main Program)
Maria Netsika is a chemist-enologist, a consultant in wine-making, training, marketing and PR and also a wine and gastronomy writer. She is a member of the Association Hellénique des Journalistes et Ecrivains des Vins et Spiritueux and the Fédération Internationale des Journalistes et Ecrivains des Vins et Spiritueux. She is the founder of Wine Plus, a company for the promotion of quality wine and gastronomy, editor and director of Wine Plus magazine, a free press for wine and gastronomy and founder and responsible for the Wine Club THESSALONIKI ’96. She has been a scientific collaborator in pilot research programs for wine and gastronomy, a wine and gastronomy trainer as well as juror in international wine competitions. She has written the books The wine secrets and The wines of Greece, both published in Greek.