Eleusis 2023 - 2nd Ecoculture Festival

The European Capital of Culture (ECoC) is an annual initiative that aims to highlight the diverse cultural wealth of European cities, and in this way help its citizens better identify with each other. This year, Elefsina—along with Veszprém (Hungary) and Timisoara (Romania)—holds the title and presents a rich cultural agenda over the course of a year.

The programme’s name, The Mysteries of Transition, was inspired by the Eleusinian Mysteries. These were secret religious practices held in Elefsina during antiquity to honour the goddess Demetra. Makes sense that each event on the programme was therefore dubbed a Mystery. The festival’s cultural agenda is built around three thematic axes: Environment, Labour, and People and Society, and includes 130 artworks, 465 events (Mysteries) in 30 different city sites, and 17 different types of art by 192 Greek and 137 international artists from 30 countries.

Τhe 2nd Ecoculture Festival will take place in Elefsina as part of the Eleusis 2023 programme. As with any like-minded event, its goal is clear: to educate visitors on the significance of looking after our planet and to encourage individuals towards adopting a more sustainable way of life. Considering Elefsina’s transformation into a heavy industrial zone during the past decades, this international gathering will also aim at promoting the area as an example of re-examining the relationship between man and nature. The festival's programme branches out in three sections, exploring the environment, ecology, and sustainability: Design Campus (Architectural and urban design), Eco Art (Contemporary art), and Green Incubator (Interdisciplinary dialogue).

Click here for a selection of some of Eleusis 2023’s events that will be taking part throughout the year.