The Nikos Kazantzakis Museum (1983 – 2023): Celebrating 40 years of action 2023 Festive Events Program


In the year 2023, The Nikos Kazantzakis Museum celebrates its 40 years of operation. In this context, it organizes multi-thematic events with reference to the life and work of the great writer, but also to the great moments of the Museum, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, with the co-organization of the Region of Crete, the support of many Municipalities, agencies, and institutions of the Island.
The events will take place at the Museum's facilities in Myrtia village, but also at emblematic points throughout Crete. Thus, The Nikos Kazantzakis Museum travels throughout Crete, inviting all Cretans to become partakers of the work of the great Cretan writer and thinker, but also of the Museum's complicity in all expressions of culture.
In order for the celebration to have as many fellow travelers as possible, the Museum organizes also online activities, accessible through its website.

These actions are summarized as follows:

THEATER
Production of the play "Nikiforos Fokas", by Nikos Kazantzakis, directed by Telemachos Moudatsakis, by the Vivi Theater. This is one of the most important plays by Nikos Kazantzakis. And while it has as its starting point the tragic story of the assassination of the Roman emperor by Nikephoros Phokas and the subsequent assassination of the latter by Ioannis Tsimiskis, it goes beyond the specific limits of history. Nikiforos Fokas and his actions are also directly connected to Crete, which in the 10th century he liberated from the Arabs.
The work, with its poetic irresistible verse, philosophical reflection and ideological twists, is a supreme challenge for its staging. With this production, the public will have the opportunity to get to know the great Cretan writer through the spectacle of the theater.
Scheduled performances:
• July 10, 2023, Myrtia Heraklion, with the support of the Municipality of Archana-Asterousia. Official first presentation.
• July 12, 2023, Holy Monastery of Arkadiou-Rethymno, with the support of the Municipality of Rethymno.
• July 14, Holy Monastery of Toplou-Siteia, with the support of the Municipality of Sitia.

MUSIC
- Concert entitled: "Musical spots", by the Vamos Ensemble orchestra. Nikos Kazantzakis lived in an era that was stigmatized by important events both geopolitically and in the field of Art. He dedicated himself to writing and trying to get to know as many cultures as possible (Traveling) from which he was inspired.
The Vamos Music Ensemble organized a musical journey to this era, with the aim of introducing to the public a culture that is distant, but timeless, because its recipe had very strong foundations and has endured until today. Thus, the public will have the opportunity to get to know great musical moments that have been imprinted in the chronology of our culture.
Atik, Piaf, Skalkotas, Kurt Weill, among others, are present in a highly aesthetic program with period music and songs from the European countries traveled by Nikos Kazantzakis. Greece, France, Germany, Russia, Italy, countries that were milestones in the life of the great author, give their credentials through great musical successes of the time.
VAMOS ENSEMBLE orchestra.
Soloist: Tasos Apostolou, Anna Kotti

Scheduled concerts:
• June 25, Firka Fortress Chania, within the framework of the 2nd Book Festival of the Municipality of Chania, with the support of the Municipality of Chania.
• July 16, Myrtia, with the support of the Municipality of Archana-Asterousia.
• July 17, Neapolis Lasithiou, with the support of the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos and the Folklore Museum of Neapolis.

- Concert of the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Crete (SONKDI), under the direction of Miltos Logiadis. The program includes symphonic works by composers who, according to existing testimonies, were among the favorites of Nikos Kazantzakis, as well as compositions based on texts by the great author. The concert is the final event for the 40th Anniversary of the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum.
• November 19, 2023, Cultural-Conference Center of Heraklion. With the support of the Municipality of Heraklion, DIKEI and DEPANAL

  Address: Miltos Logiadis
  Soloist: Tassis Christogiannopoulos

EXHIBITIONS
A photo exhibition entitled "Traveling ... Memories". The aim of the exhibition is to highlight the successful course of the four "Travelling..." Festivals that took place in Myrtia from 2016 to 2019 and at the same time to prepare the ground for the upcoming 2024 Festival.
  The exhibition will give the opportunity to the photographers who participated in the "Traveling..." festivals to exhibit their works in the village's neighborhoods. Approximately 100 photographic works will be presented in 4 different installations that will be placed in 4 different locations (stations) within the village of Myrtia. The installations are planned to be surrounded by parallel actions as well as decorated by artistic constructions that had been created in previous years for the needs of the festivals.
• July 2023, Myrtia

Artistic Curator: Chrysostomos Spetsidis-Yiannis Mavrantonakis

VIDEO
Production of an anniversary video for the 40 years of operation of the Museum. The video will be shown both at the main and selected events of the Museum and will present the journey of the Museum in its 40 years of operation.

CONFERENCES
Scientific Conference on the theme: "The female form in the life and work of Nikos Kazantzakis".
The female form has an important presence in the life and work of Nikos Kazantzakis, while the ambivalent representation of women in his work has often been commented upon. As with other issues related to the author, the topic often raises conflicting opinions. The Museum addresses both young researchers and experienced and specialized scholars of Modern Greek Literature and Nikos Kazantzakis and invites them to examine aspects of the life and work of Nikos Kazantzakis around his relationship with the female form and its depiction in his texts, to explore unexplored or overlooked aspects of the subject and to propose new, objective approaches based on modern scientific data.
• 20-22 October 2023. With the support of the Municipality of Heraklion and the Vikela Municipal Library of Heraklion

ONLINE ACTIONS
- "Hidden Diamonds".
  Digital Projection of 12 items from the Museum's Collections, with the aim of highlighting part of the wealth of its Collections, to honor its founder, Giorgos Anemoyiannis, but also to underline the important role of its donors who support the Museum throughout time and in practice. Each month one of the items from the Collections will be exhibited in the Museum and will be the "exhibit of the month", while at the same time it will be presented on the Museum's website with the aim of having a thematic digital exhibition entitled "Hidden Diamonds in the Museum" by the end of the year ». Thus, twelve different documents will be presented, the history of their acquisition will be illuminated, as well as the history that connects them to the form and work of Nikos Kazantzakis.
https://www.kazantzaki.gr/gr/12-hidden-gems

- "Online Microfiction Workshop"
It is a tour to get to know the world of micro-fiction. It is aimed at adults who wish to get to know the condensed narrative world of literature and includes: reading and analyzing short fiction stories, studying relevant educational material, attempting to write short stories.
Upon completion of the Workshop, a digital book featuring a selection of the short fiction stories written by the participants will be published and freely available online.
Lecturer of the Workshop: Yannis Farsaris, author and educator.
Duration: March 4- April 2, 2023

MAJOR EVENTS
The cycle of events also includes 2 central events that will take place in Myrtia and Athens, in which extensive reference will be made to the history, achievements and actions of the Museum from its foundation until today, while personalities who have contributed and continue to be honored contribute to the operation of the Museum.
• August 3, 2023, Myrtia
• November 2023, Athens

*Dates may change and adjust according to new data.