From June 23rd to 26th, 2016, the SNFCC welcomes the public and is transformed into an open space of creativity and exploration - Free admission events for all
Can we become, literally, different people? Can we change our mind, our feelings, the way we think and exist in the world?
The answer is, unquestionably, yes.
Laurie Anderson
To read the detailed program of events, click here.
Message by Limor Tomer
In June 2016, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) in Athens, will host the original cultural event under the title Metamorphosis: The SNFCC to the World. The SNFCC, designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano, consists of the new facilities for the National Library of Greece (NLG) and the Greek National Opera (GNO), as well as the creation of the 210,000 m² Stavros Niarchos Park.
From June 23rd to 26th, the SFNCC comes to life, and it transforms itself into an open and accessible space for everyone, as this four-day event will embrace performances and other programs by internationally renowned artists from Greece and around the world. This will be a living space of ideas, exploration and interaction through an innovative program of cultural, athletic and educational actions for all age groups.
In tandem, visitors will have the opportunity for the first time, to enter the new premises of the Greek National Opera and National Library of Greece, as well as to enjoy the Stavros Niarchos Park in its entirety.
More than 400 artists from all over the world come together in the Metamorphosis program where Greek and international creators contribute to a great celebration of collaboration and participation, values on which the SNFCC has been based. Visitors create, the pathways of the East are intertwined with western traditions and the boundaries of different art forms are repealed. Music falls in step with nature, dance intertwines with sports, science becomes a game, literature is turned into a performance for young and old. In a corresponding fashion, different age groups, generations, skills and singularities meet on a common platform that aspires to become a meeting place for all.
Limor Tomer, General Manager of Concerts & Lectures at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is the Events’ Performance Curator, while the internationally acclaimed, experimental artist Laurie Anderson is the guest Artistic Director for the event. Additionally, Robert Storr, Dean of Yale School of Art, with curators Barbara London, Kalliopi Minioudaki and Francesca Pietropaolo present the video art program during the events. The magician Mark Mitton and his troupe will sweep away young and old into interactive spectacles of illusion and imagination.
The evening race SNF RUN: Running into the Future, starting at the Panathenaic Stadium and finishing at the Stavros Niarchos Park will take place this year for the second time, with registrations opening at midnight on Monday, May 16th. The athletic events are organized by the NGO “Regeneration & Progress”. In addition, the National Gallery is presenting an exhibition with works by Greek painter Panayotis Tetsis curated by Marina Lambraki-Plaka, while the Athens Conservatory is curating and presenting for the first time in Greece, two emblematic works of musical minimalism. The Greek National Opera is taking part in the program with a performance at the Alternative Stage and the National Library of Greece opens its premises for the first time to the public. General coordination of the events is overseen by Mily Paschali, SNF Program Coordinator for Arts & Culture.
During the four days of Metamorphosis, the program brings together artists of different persuasions and styles, such as the groundbreaking Laurie Anderson, the Syrian musician Omar Souleyman, Eleftheria Arvanitaki, the American-Iraqi musician Amir ElSaffar, the Xylouris White duo, the percussion virtuosos/masters Douglas Perkins and Dimitris Desyllas, the internationally renowned Chinese composer Tan Dun, Demy, choreographer David Dorfman, as well as the famous chess champion Garry Kasparov and the project's architect Renzo Piano. The program aspires to convey the vision of the SNFCC for the creation of a space freely accessible to all, which will belong to the citizens themselves and which has been designed to accompany for many years to come, the creative wanderings of the residents of Greece, as well as those of its visitors.
All events are free of charge and are taking place with the exclusive support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
In the course of the events, the SNFCC Membership Program will be launched. The SNFCC Membership program aims to provide members with special privileges related to SNFCC’s events and services as well as motivate the public’s support for the operation of the SNFCC once it is delivered to the Greek State. In order to support the kick-off of the Membership Program, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation will cover the first 25,000 subscriptions through an exclusive grant.
Notes for editors:
• Events’ opening hours
Thursday, June 23rd: 18:00 – 04:00
From Friday, June 24th at 18:00 to Sunday, June 26th at 04:00 (Monday AM) the SFNCC will be open continuously.
• Certain events require registration. Detailed information can be found at the website www.SNFCC.org/metamorphosis
• The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), as a whole (buildings and open spaces), can accommodate up to 32,000 visitors at any given time. Of these, 4,000 visitors can be hosted inside the buildings of the National Library of Greece (NLG) and the Greek National Opera (GNO), including performance halls, lobby areas, the Lighthouse, etc.
• The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) is the largest single gift of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, and it includes the construction and complete outfitting of new facilities for the National Library of Greece (NLG) and the Greek National Opera (GNO), as well as the creation of the 210,000 m² Stavros Niarchos Park. The events Metamorphosis: The SNFCC to the World will offer the public the opportunity to get acquainted with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), before it begins its operation under the Greek State, which as its future owner will be responsible for the project’s management and operation.
