Closing day conference & concert

In just four days, on Sunday, January 14, the 6th Thessaloniki Biennale of Contemporary Art will come to an end. After three and a half months of extraordinary audience attendance at the Biennale's various activities, the curtain will drop on the sixth edition with two events: an open discussion (13.01, 11:00) that will address questions about the past, present and future of the Biennale; and a concert that will give a tone of celebration to the finale (13.01, 20:30).

Details about the two events:

Open Discussion: Thessaloniki Biennale: Retrospect and Future Prospects
Saturday, 13 January 2018, 11:00-14:00
Thessaloniki Concert Hall / building Μ2
Open to the public

Artists, curators, executives, institutional representatives, professionals and the audience will take part in a public discussion that will attempt to evaluate the ten-year history of the Thessaloniki Biennale and help shape its future by tabling suggestions and ideas.

Ten years after it was first launched, what has been the impact of the Thessaloniki Biennale on the city's cultural map and the international art scene? To what extent has the Biennale contributed in energising the arts? How has the Biennale evolved and conversed with social reality?

Speakers will attempt to address these questions in three roundtable sessions with the following themes: 1/Curatorial Organisation and Models 2/Development - Synergies, 3/ Education-Inclusion. The roundtables will include Q&A sessions with the audience.

1/ Curatorial Organisation and Models
Coordinator: Maria Tsantsanoglou, SMCA director
Sophia Kaitatzi-Whitlock, SMCA vice president of the board
Areti Leopoulou, Curator, CACT-SMCA
Thodoris Markoglou, Curator, SMCA
Syrago Tsiara, Director of the 6th Thessaloniki Biennale of Contemporary Art
Elli Chryssidou, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Arts, Municipality of Thessaloniki

2/ Development-Synergies
Coordinator: Andreas Takis, SMCA president of the board
Thanasis Gogadis, Chief editor, 95,8 fm / ERT3
Chryssa Zarkali, Head of Public Relations and Communication, SMCA
Alexandros Thanos, Deputy Regional Governor for Tourism and Culture, Region of Central Macedonia
Triantafillos Kourouklas, Head of Department of Culture, Municipality of Pavlos Melas
Spiros Pengas, Deputy Mayor for Tourism and International Relations, Municipality of Thessaloniki
Chrissa Saravelou, marketing manager, Thessaloniki Hoteliers Association

3/ Education - Inclusion
Coordinators: Evi Papavergou and Katerina Paraskeca, SMCA Museum Educators
Babis Alexiadis, Animator
Paraskevi Gaitatzi, Educator
Niki Nikonanou, Assistant Professor of Museum Education, University of Thessaly.
Villy Polyzouli, MMCA Museum Educator
Ioanna Serafeimidou, Family travel and leisure advocate

Closing-day Concert

Jan Van featuring Irene Arabatzi
Saturday, 13 January 2018, 20:30 @ LΑΒattoir (26 Oktovriou 86 Str., Thessaloniki)
Free Admission
The Jan Van orchestra blends the sounds of the clarinet and bass guitar with the ornate rhythms of Africa, and those of the davul and Farfisa with the psychedelia and rock n' roll of the '70s.
Following their indie album "JAN VAN", which came out in vinyl and cassette, the band/project of Jan Van de Engel has released a new digital album that features fresh songs, covers and remixes and includes a sample of the band's collaboration with Foivos Delivorias.
Efthymis Filippou wrote the lyrics for the songs of the new album. The band's music and themes originate from the world of Greek folk festivals. The band blends this musical tradition with the exotic sounds of afro-beat, funk and avant-garde.

LINEUP
Irene Arabatzi: vocals
Giorgos Skipitaris: clarinet, vocals
Giannis Poupoulis: guitar
Kostis Christodoulou: keyboards
Paraskecas Kitsos: bass
Kostas Meretakis: percussion, vocals
Jan Van de Engel: jazz

Jan Van de Engel Discography:
2017 JAN VAN Singles Remixes & Covers (digital release)
2015 JAN VAN – 12'' LP vinyl / cassete
2014 Aimata (play) – 10" EP, vinyl
2013 Ladokolla – 7" Single, vinyl
2010 Misspent – CD

http://janvan.net/
Production Coordination: Menta Art Events – www.menta3.com