ARTWORKS and Vamvakou Revival joined forces in two distinct artistic collaborations, highlighting the Greek countryside as a space for creativity and cultural activity, with the support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).

The first collaboration involved the Artists’ Residency Program in Vamvakou, which took place in July 2020. Three young visual artists – Iason Megoulas (aka Cacao Rocks), Alexandros Simopoulos, and Pavlos Tsakonas – all Fellows of the 1st SNF Artist Fellowship Program by ARTWORKS, created murals on public surfaces around the village, transforming forgotten walls and old buildings into contemporary landmarks. Their interventions raised questions about the aesthetics of public space and the cultural identity of the rural landscape.

The second collaboration was an online film festival titled “Life in the Countryside: Nature & Hospitality”, held in June 2020. With the contribution of Jacob Moe (co-founder of the Syros Film Festival), five award-winning filmmakers – all ARTWORKS Fellows – shared films that explore the Greek periphery through personal, poetic, and political perspectives. Each film was available for 24-hour streaming on vamvakourevival.org, inviting audiences on a multifaceted journey through the landscapes and narratives of rural Greece.