‘The Kingdom of Alexander the Great’ travels to the Louvre via Stavros Niarchos Foundation

Maria A. Karamitsos
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‘The Kingdom of Alexander the Great’ travels to the Louvre via Stavros Niarchos Foundation

The much-anticipated exhibition, In the Kingdom of Alexander the Great – Ancient Macedonia» (Au Royaume d’Alexandre le Grand – La Macédoine Antique), will travel to the Louvre Museum, through a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. The exhibition will run from October 13, 2011 to January 16, 2012. Designed to introduce visitors to the richness of the artistic heritage of northern Greece, the exhibition will showcase several aspects of Macedonian culture, such as, its artistic production, the everyday life of men and women, its religion and its death rituals. 

The exhibition, which is curated by a team of Greek and French experts, brings together 500 works that trace the history of ancient Macedonia, from the fifteenth century B.C. up to the Roman Empire. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the rich artistic tradition of northern Greece, the treasures of which remain rather unknown to the general public, due to the relatively recent nature of archaeological discoveries in the region.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is an international philanthropic organization, making grants in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and medicine, and social welfare. The Foundation’s activities are worldwide in scope, with emphasis on Greece and the support of Greek-related initiatives. The Foundation funds organizations and projects that exhibit strong leadership and sound management and that have the potential to achieve a broad and lasting impact. The Foundation actively seeks to support projects that facilitate the formation of public-private partnerships as effective means for serving public welfare.

Since the beginning of its grantmaking efforts in 1996, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation has provided total grant commitments of nearly $1,300,000 through more than 2,000 grants to nonprofit organizations in 95 national around the world. 

 

Nuns Help Fight Fire Before Being Evacuated

Maria A. Karamitsos
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Nuns Help Fight Fire Before Being Evacuated

A 5300 acre wildfire in Goldendale, Washington that began almost two weeks ago, just across the street from the St. John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox Monastery, is still blazing. Late reports indicate that nearly 100 structures have been destroyed by the fire, dubbed the Monastery Complex Fire, including about 24 homes. The monastery – 19 nuns reside there – was also evacuated, but not until the sisters went out to help battle the inferno. The nuns, who also operate a well-known bakery there, saw the flames and rushed outside with water, rakes and rags in effort to put out the fire. 

The goats were evacuated as flames crept toward the Monastery buildings and the cemetery. None of the wooden crosses have been damaged. Reports yesterday indicated that the dormitory, chapel, bakery and barn have not incurred any damage. The cause of the fire remains unknown, though arson is suspected. The fully-evacuated community has been declared a disaster area, and will receive funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Firefighters from across the state of Washington – 500 in total – have come to the area to assist.

By last week, the fire was said to be 50% contained, and no new fires have broken out in the area.  The nuns had been working recently to remove brush in the area. Officials indicated yesterday that that has helped the fire to not spread further.

Watch a video.

Venizelos: Recession Will Reach 5.5% This Year

A. Makris
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This week will be critical, said Greek FinMin Evangelos Venizelos at the Economist conference, while he forecasted that recession will reach 5.5% in 2011.
Greece is not Eurozone’s catalytic problem”, he said, adding that if Europe fails to tackle the Greek problem, it would be forced to find solutions on much larger problems.
“We face constantly new challenges, but unfortunately a negative stereotype of Greece prevails at the international level, questioning the country’s ability. We must convince that we have the determination and commitment do meet our obligations, Venizelos, also Deputy Prime Minister, stated.
He set cost cutting as top priority in 2012. “Now is the time to make historical decisions. If we do not make it coordinately, then we would be forced to do so under much worse conditions”, he stressed.
Greece cannot delay further in implementing privatization, said the Minister, who agreed with IMF representative that the Greek government proceeded with new taxes under great pressure. “This injustice would be remedied by the new single tax system”, he concluded.
(source: capital)

IMF: Greece Needs "Additional Measures" To Cut Deficit

A. Makris
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IMF: Greece Needs "Additional Measures" To Cut Deficit

Bob Traa
Greece΄s government will need to take “additional measures” to meet its budget targets, a senior International Monetary Fund official said Monday, adding that the country must move ahead with cuts in its public sector.
Speaking at a business conference, Bob Traa, IMF Senior Representative for Greece, said the government must proceed with structural reforms and move quickly to close unnecessary state-linked organizations and further restrain the public-sector wage bill.
“Additional measures will need to be taken for the deficit to be reduced to sustainable levels,” Traa said.
His remarks come just hours before a teleconference call with a troika of IMF, European Commission and European Central Bank inspectors to assess Greece΄s progress in meeting its budget goals.
(source: Dow Jones)

Mazonakis Tours East Coast and Canada

Maria A. Karamitsos
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Mazonakis Tours East Coast and Canada

Greek singer Giorgos Mazonakis will come to North America for four concert dates, this November 25 – December 5. The singer will perform in NY, Boston, Montreal and Toronto. No other cities have been announced to date. 

Born and raised in the Athens suburb of Nikaia on March 4, 1972, Mazonakis began his career at age 15. His first CD, Mesanichta kai kati, was released in 1993. He’s produced 13 full-length albums to date, including two live CDs and one compilation. Known for his modern Laika and Greek pop music, with his bravado and wide-range appeal, Mazonakis remains one of the most popular Greek singers. 

Greek America Foundation Offers Scholarships for 2012 Study Abroad in Greece

Maria A. Karamitsos
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Greek America Foundation Offers Scholarships for 2012 Study Abroad in Greece

The Greek America Foundation is once again offering the Hellenic Legacy Scholarship for college students participating in study abroad at DEREE – The American College of Greece in Athens for the 2012 Spring semester which runs from February to June, 2012. The scholarship includes the cash equivalent of full tuition for a semester.

The Hellenic Legacy Scholarship is one of the core components of the mission of the Greek America Foundation. Study abroad in Greece provides an opportunity for a truly transformative experience in which students have the chance to learn more about themselves and to develop an understanding of the place of Hellenism and Greece in the world. To date three full-semester scholarships and a full-year post-baccalaureate fellowship have already been awarded.

The purpose of the Hellenic Legacy Scholarship is to foster a love for Greece and Hellenism in students who are passionate about making a difference in the world around them. The scholarship aims to accomplish more than making a semester in Greece affordable; it is about how Greece and Hellenic heritage inspires the recipient to transform his or her community.

The Greek America Foundation is dedicated to the promotion, preservation and perpetuation of Greek culture, history, heritage and ideals in contemporary America. Although currently raising money for an endowment with an ultimate goal to send between 50 and 60 students to Greece annually, the Foundation will award scholarships concurrently while building the endowment fund.

Download the application requirements and cover sheet here.

Vandi, Kokkinou and Karafotis to Tour North America

Maria A. Karamitsos
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Vandi, Kokkinou and Karafotis to Tour North America

The highly anticipated North American tour of three of Greece’s most popular singers Despina Vandi, Elli Kokkinou and Kostas Karafotis will take place this fall. Many are already calling it the event of the season.

Despina Vandi
Elli Kokkinou

 

 

Confirmed dates have been set for this October in Chicago, Atlantic City, Montreal and Toronto. The singers have all toured North American previously, and have many fans eagerly awaiting their return.

Kostas Karafotis

Theater Stages 7 Sophocles Plays in One ER

Maria A. Karamitsos
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Theater Stages 7 Sophocles Plays in One ER

The Hypocrites Theater, a Chicago theater company known for its avant garde works, experimenting with new, and stretching existing genres, has adapted and staged seven Sophocles plays in one production, “Sophocles: Seven Sicknesses,” all set in a hospital emergency room.

 

Performed in the basement of the Chopin Theater, a small Wicker Park storefront, they present three themed acts: “Honor Lost,” “Honor Found” and “Honor Abandoned.” Experimental theater director Sean Graney has added an unexpected musical soundtrack to the show – all songs are by rock-n-roll legend Bruce Springsteen, from his album “The River.” They songs are performed live on stage by the actors.

 

Chicago Tribune Art Critic Chris Jones referred to the swinging doors in the emergency room “functioning as the equivalent to the famous central doors in the Theatre of Dionysus.” The chorus in this production is a pair of nurses, who’ve “seen it all, done it all.”  Jones added that the director takes “a glancing blow rather than staring Sophocles right in the face,” and that the director’s “natural inclination is more Euripidean than Sophoclean.”

Though the tragedies are not performed in their entirety, it is rare to have all seven of the fully-intact surviving plays of Sophocles staged together. It is more common for only “Oedipus,” “Antigone” and “Elektra” to be staged.

The four-hour dinner and show ends in late October.

British X-Factor Comes to Mykonos

Fani Toli
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British X-Factor Comes to Mykonos

According to a press release issued by Sun Newspaper, the Judges House part of the X-Factor competition is going to be filmed in the Greek island of Mykonos, while the Greek-origin judge, Tulisa Contostavlos will be also there.

Filming will last 4 days and will take place in the area of St. Ioannis, where the villas are characterized by a sense of distinct luxury, according to sources.

Finally, during the X-factor shows, images taken from the areas of Ornos and Chora (Centre) will be presented.

 

Albanian Men Arrested for Destroying Greek Flag

Fani Toli
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Albanian Men Arrested for Destroying Greek Flag

 A man from Abania has been arrested because he destroyed a Greek flag.  The arrest took place in Vartholomio, Ilia in South Greece.

It seems that the destruction of the flag was caused by three escaped prisoners and police were already seeking them.

The men went early in the morning to the central square of the village Neochori in Killini, they have ripped down a Greek flag and started to destroy it.

Police continues searching for information on the two missing offenders from Albania.

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