MemoArt project
The MemoArt project was born in 2015, with the aim of offering every young person the opportunity to connect with their roots by creatively expressing an element of their local intangible cultural heritage.
The project aimed to create a safe space where participants could proudly present their personal cultural identity. Why did we focus on young people? Because they are the ones who will grow into active agents of culture formation and a well-rounded civil society. They are the ones who will promote democratic values through diversity, lay the foundations for a multicultural society, and encourage citizens to participate democratically in shaping their local communities.
In short, the MemoArt project was designed to strengthen this future role of young people as agents of democracy, participation, and cultural sustainability.
Phase A
The project began in Germany (September-December 2015), as part of the fellowship programme Start – Create Cultural Change. In Stuttgart, we collaborated with Kulturkabinett Kulturzentrum e.V., as well as other socio-cultural centres such as: Stage-divers(e) e.V., Dieselstrasse e.V., Komma Kultur, the Greek Theater Art of Stuttgart, TanzSportZentrum Stuttgart-Feurebach e.V. and Freunde der griechischen Kultur Stuttgart. Members from these organisations (theatre and dance groups, as well as refugees from Gambia and Syria) took part in a series of workshops and creative activities including: acrobatics, museum visits, painting, theatre, community cooking, music, cultural walks, and dance.
By the end of the first phase, we had captured 13 stories showcasing elements of intangible cultural heritage from around the world — all featured in the MemoArt project video.
Phase B
In the second phase, the project moved to Corfu (January – September 2016), with the support of the Museology Research Laboratory of the Department of Archives, Library Science and Museology at the Ionian University, and under the auspices of the Municipality of Corfu.
There, the objectives of the MemoArt project were achieved through:
Educational Programmes in Secondary Schools of Corfu
As part of this action, we designed a specially adapted educational programme for students, which received official pedagogical license, by the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports. The programme was offered free of charge to all Gymnasiums and Lyceums on the island, in collaboration with the Museology Research Laboratory.
Workshops in Visual, Performing, and Multimedia Arts
In collaboration with the Department of Audio and Visual Arts of the Ionian University, and with local cultural organisations, such as the Corfu Art Gallery and the Dance Studio Sotiris Bouchahiar, introductory workshops were offered by professional artists in a wide range of artistic fields. The goal was for each young person to discover which artistic medium could best support their personal expression.
One day conference: Intangible Heritage and Cultural Identity
As part of the celebrations for World Heritage Day (April 18), we co-organised a conference with the Museology Research Laboratory and the NGO Diadrasis. The aim was to highlight the role of the local community and its distinct characteristics as elements that can reveal common reference points between cultures; bring people closer together; and lay the foundations for a multicultural society.
Invited speakers from the Directorate of Modern Cultural and Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, university professors, and cultural professionals shared their work and experiences.
The audience included students, representatives of local government, museums and cultural organisations, as well as individuals with a strong interest in culture and tradition. The conference concluded with networking activities.
Conference Programme
09:00 – 10:00: Arrival – Registrations
Part A (Room 2.39)
Chair: Dr. Georgios Papaioannou
10:00 – 10:30: Opening Remarks
Theodoros Pappas, Deputy Rector of the Ionian University | Professor of the Department of Archives, Library Science and Museology at the Ionian University
Minas-Damianos Raptis, Deputy Mayor for Culture, Municipality of Corfu
10:30 – 11:00: Stavroula-Villy Fotopoulou, Director of Modern Cultural and Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports
“The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO, 2003) and the development of management models for folk culture”
11:00 – 11:20: Dr. Georgios Papaioannou, Assistant Professor, Department of the Department of Archives, Library Science and Museology at the Ionian University
“Examples of Intangible Cultural Heritage from Greece and around the world”
11:20 – 11:40: Dr. Michalis Panagopoulos, Lecturer, Department of Audio and Visual Arts at the Ionian University
“The application of mathematical models to prehistoric frescoes”
11:40 – 12:00: Laura Tapini, Conservator of Antiquities, Coordinator of Diadrasis
“Echoes of a Shared Past – Ortak Geçmişin Fısıltıları: from the preservation of tangible to the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage”
12:00 – 12:30: Discussion
12:30 – 13:00: Break
Part B (Room 2.39)
Chair: Dr. Georgios Papaioannou
13:00 – 13:20: Peripatos Sociocultural Enterprise
“MemoArt Project: A Contemporary Approach to Intangible Cultural Heritage”
13:20 – 13:40: Sofia Paschou, Lawyer, MSc, PhD Candidate, Department of Archives, Library Science and Museology at the Ionian University
“Art as a Means of Expression: Freedom, Protection and Limitations”
13:40 – 14:00: Dr. Ioannis Deligiannis, Lecturer, Department of Audio and Visual Arts at the Ionian University
“Creating Contemporary Interactive Cultural Products: User Experience Design, Technologies and Examples”
14:00 – 14:30: Discussion
14:30 – 15:30: Break
Part C (Library)
15:30 – 17:30: Networking Activities
Members of the organising team, speakers and the audience participated in an interactive, participatory discussion. Goal: to reflect on the outcomes of the conference and bring forward new ideas and proposals.
