A European culture forum
Six years ago, the Forum of European Cultural Exchanges was established in Thessaloniki with the aim of creating a network for artists, curators and art critics in different countries, particularly Southeastern Europe. The project, which was then held as part of the activities of the Center of Contemporary Art (which belongs to the Museum of Contemporary Art), grew into an independent endeavor over the next few years and expanded to include more activities and participants. For the first time this year, the forum will also be held for two days in Athens in collaboration with the Hellenic American Union (HAU). «Borderlines – Meeting with Remarkable Situations» will take place tomorrow and «Meeting Europe – Latvia» is the general heading of the discussion that will take place next Thursday. Among the 15 participants are Denys Zacharopoulos, Nikos Xydakis and Efie Strouza from the Greek side and curator from Israel Tal Bentzvi, Asu Aksoy, curator at the «Cental» art institution in Turkey, and Ada Rottenberg from Poland. The contemporary art of Latvia is the special focus of this year’s forum. Exhibitions on the country’s contemporary artistic production will be held in Athens (at the HAU) and at the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art in Thessaloniki. The forum has organized several exhibitions of contemporary art in the past: A traveling workshop/exhibition that sailed on a ship on an itinerary from Romania to France has been one of the most innovative projects. Another side to the forum are the programs of international artists’ residencies that began last year in Thessaloniki. A non-profit, non-governmental organization, the forum raises contemporary issues in art and is a meeting point for international artists and curators. It is coordinated by artbox and apollonia. www.artbox.gr or www.apollonia-art-exchanges.com. Hellenic American Union (22 Massalias, 210.368.0052).
