Cultural event set to bring Greece’s capital to international spotlight in 2017

One of the world’s leading contemporary arts shows, the “documenta 14: Learning from Athens”, will take place in Athens on April 8 and will run through to July 12, 2017- bringing Greece’s capital city into the international spotlight.

The opening of the highly anticipated show will take place on April 6-8 after Athens municipal authorities approved the event earlier this week, so that the city’s central squares and locations including Kotzia, Syntagma and Avdi squares as well as the Areopagitou pedestrian walkway prepare to co-host for the first time in six decades the “documenta 14 show.  According to Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis, this has placed ”Athens at the heart of cultural interest… as major international media outlets focus on Athens as a dynamic modern cultural and art destination urging their readers to visit”.

“More than 5,000 art authorities, including museum directors and collectors, have thus far confirmed their participation in the top event, including 1,400 journalists from around the world,” Kaminis added.

Directed by Adam Szymczyk, this is the first time since ‘documenta14’s’  inception in 1955, that the contemporary art exhibit held exclusively in the German city of Kassel, will be jointly hosted by a second city. Kaminis has called the event a “multiple challenge” and a “gift for our city… which will leave a legacy for Athens”.

Greece’s leading carrier Aegean Airlines will be supporting the event by launching direct flights between Athens and Kassel  from March through to June. The event is also backed by Athens International Airport, the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), Marketing Greece and the Athens-Attica Hotels Association.