Athens 2018 – Books everywhere!
We’re delighted to announce our participation in the UNESCO 2018 World Book Capital initiative with a rich programme of literary events and activities, which we are co-organising with the Municipality of Athens.
The Athens 2018 World Book Capital programme features more than 250 activities and events that will reach an estimated one million visitors. Innovative and socially inclusive to its core, the programme will bring together all the city’s major cultural institutions and other stakeholders, along with selected civic groups and creative initiatives.
Athens is a European city that combines a unique cultural heritage with dynamic creative expression, and the key vision of the Athens 2018 World Book Capital programme is to unite the city’s creative forces in a common cultural goal: to leave a solid legacy in terms of physical evidence, as well as in the mindset of its citizens. With a vibrant patchwork of events, artworks, projections, walking trails, grass-roots initiatives and workshops, Athens 2018 – Books everywhere! aims to provide fertile literary ground for open dialogue, not only for creators, stakeholders and intellectuals but – more importantly – for all its citizens.
Renowned British and Greek writers, experts and artists will take part in this literary celebration. Discussions, readings, exhibitions, film festivals and round-table discussions will broaden the public’s horizons, as the aim of these activities isn’t the usual book presentations and writers’ talks but discussions, debates and analyses of a wide variety subjects, all inspired by the world of books. Athens 2018 World Book Capital will play an important part in the city’s most significant festivals, while the city will be filled with creative programmes that will make Athens an inspiring place to live, work and explore.
European Literary Walk 2018
Join us at this year’s European Literary Walk, where you’ll have the chance to meet renowned European writers and listen to them read extracts from their work.
| When | Saturday 29 September 2018 (11.00–16.00) |
| Where | National Library of Greece 364 Syngrou Avenue 176 74 Athens |
European Day of Languages 2018
To celebrate this year’s European Day of Languages, we’re delighted to invite you to a multilingual festival of song, dance, storytelling and interactive games.
| When | Saturday 22 September 2018 (10.00–15.00) |
| Where | Athens Conservatoire 17–19 Vasileos Georgiou B Avenue 106 75 Athens |
British Cinema: Classics Illustrated tribute
Join us at a series of outdoor film screenings we’re organising as part of the Athens Open Air Festival, featuring a selection of the best British book adaptations.
| When | 15 June–29 August 2018 |
| Where | Venues across Athens |
Literary Saturday Mornings
On the occasion of our International Creative Writing Summer School and the presence of a group of distinguished British writers and creative writing experts in Athens, we’re delighted to invite you to a series of events on contemporary British literary output through readings and discussions taking place on three Saturdays in June. Find out more.
| When | Saturday 9, 16 & 23 June 2018 |
| Where | Numismatic Museum Café 12 Panepistimiou Street 106 71 Athens |
| www.facebook.com/events/250540375494807 |
A Book Affair at Radio d’Athènes
A Book Affair is a term used to describe a situation in which one is reading a short, casual, fun book, while attempting to read a much longer, more complex book. In this spirit, we are creating a temporary library/stage which will be open to the public for a run of several months (May–November 2018). During this period, we will invite Greek and international publishers, authors, editors and artists to present their work via lectures, talks, performances and book signings. The selection spans art, theory, fashion, literature, psychoanalysis, architecture and design, a mix of fun books and more complex reading. Find out more.
| When | 11 May–30 November 2018 |
| Where | Radio Athènes 15 Petraki Street 105 63 Athens |
Book Days at the Athens Science Festival
This year our annual celebration of science and technology will be infused with literature through a series of talks, discussions and workshops led by a renowned British writers and scientists. Find out more.
| When | Saturday 28 April & Sunday 29 April 2018 |
| Where | Technopolis 100 Pireos Street 118 54 Athens |
| Website | www.athens-science-festival.gr |
| www.instagram.com/athens_science_festival |
Booker-prize winning novelist Ian McEwan in Athens
Award-winning British novelist and screenwriter Ian McEwan will appear at the Athens Concert Hall in a discussion with Greek poet Haris Vlavianos on how a writer creates his persona as he writes his novels. McEwan, whose translated works are very popular in Greece, is visiting Athens for the first time. His talk is part of a cycle of events organised to mark Athens World Book Capital 2018.
Brief introductory speeches will be delivered by George Kaminis, Mayor of Athens, and Anastasia Andritsou, Director of the British Council in Greece.
Admission is free with admission tickets. They will be distributed starting at 17.30 on the day of the lecture, which will be in English with simultaneous interpretation into Greek.
About Ian McEwan
Ian McEwan was born in 1948. He has written two collections of short stories and fourteen novels. In 1987, he won the Whitbread Award and six years later the Prix Femina Étranger for Lost Child. Three of his novels were included in the final nominees for the Booker Award, which he eventually won in 1998 for Amsterdam. In 2008, The Times included him in the list of 50 Greatest British Writers Since 1945, while The Daily Telegraph ranked him 19th in the list of 100 Most Powerful People in British Culture. His last book Karydtsouflo was released in Greek in December 2017 by Pataki Publications.
| When | Wednesday 25 April 2018, 19.00 |
| Where | Megaron – The Athens Concert Hall Vas. Sofias Avenue & Kokkali Street 115 21 Athens |
| Live stream | https://diavlos.grnet.gr/event/e1076 |
| www.facebook.com/events/2082775068625699 |
The event is being organised by the Athens Municipality, Patakis Publications and the British Council.
Information
For further information, please contact Maria Papaioannou:
| Maria.Papaioannou@britishcouncil.gr | |
| Telephone | 210 3692 336 |
