The Ritsos Project 2016

The Ritsos Project is an annual festival of the fine arts that celebrates the artistic legacy of the great Greek poet and intellectual, Yiannis Ritsos (1909-1990). Founded in 2014, we seek to unite classical musicians from the world over, with Greek visual artists and actors, to create vibrant and immersive experiences. The main feature of the 2016 Ritsos Project takes its title from the Ancient Greek word Κáθαρσις (Catharsis) – meaning a cleansing or purification of emotions (particularly those of pity and/or fear) through art. The tumultuous global events of the last 12 months pose challenges to us as artists. What does the practice of our art mean in the midst of austerity, capital controls, or during the migrant crisis? How can we use art to respond to these events and to counteract the fear driven responses we find around us? How can art be cathartic?
Πηγή: The Ritsos Project 2016