11th FolCalFest: Hope in Life - Refugeeism and Immigration
Research Centre for Greek Singing (R.C.Gr.S.) - ERKET 28-01-2023 Athens (Grecia)

11th FolCalFest: Hope in Life - Refugeeism and Immigration

ERKET (Research Center for Greek Singing) has organized the 11th FolCalFest, under the title “Hope in life - Refugeeism and Immigration”, in Holargos. The festival took place on Saturday 28, January 2023 at 8pm, at the municipal theatre “Mikis Theodorakis” of Papagos-Holargos. Six vocal groups participated. The entrance was free.

The subject of the 11th FolCalFest was the social phenomenon of refugees and immigrants in parts of Greece and more specifically how this phenomenon is expressed in the community as musical, singing and dancing tradition, becoming a living memory and heritage.

The 11th FolCalFest is supported by the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Municipality of Papagos-Holargos and operates under the auspices of the above Ministry.

The activities of the 11th FolCalFest are part of:
1. The 20th anniversary (2003-2023) of the UNESCO convention for the safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage
2. The activities of the NGOs accredited to provide advisory services to the Intergovernmental Committee in the framework of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage
3. The 2023 European Heritage Days on the living heritage approach
4. The European festival events under the EFFE label for 2022-2023
5. The 100 years anniversary (1923-2023) from the Asia Minor catastrophe
Represented regions / Participating groups:

Part I - Immigration

  • Argyrokastro and Tepeleni (South Albania), “Lot Kurbeti” polyphonic group, art direction Kristo Bushi
  • Deropolis and Pogoni (Epirus), ERKET polyphonic group “Kerantzides”, art direction Paraskevi G. Kanellatou
  • White Mountains, Chania (Crete), Cretans Association of Vrilissia - Rizitiko Group, art director: Georgios Vlassis

Part II - Refugeeism

  • Megalo Zaloufi (Eastern Thrace), Arvanites refugees in Neo Himonio, Evros (Thrace), Kallitechniko Ergastiri Melission - Thracian tradition, art direction Eleni Filippidou
  • Pontos (Asia Minor), Syllogos Pontion Petroupolis & Iliou “Manuel Komnenos”, administration Yannis Koulaxouzidis
  • Erythrea (Asia Minor), ERKET Traditional Singing Group & Adontes en Halkidi, art direction Paraskevi G. Kanellatou.



Text as provided by the organiser(s).


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