Psiloritis UNESCO Global Geopark has started a promising collaboration with Periplus workshops in an intensive three-day period of meetings and dialogue with local communities to re-approach the local material culture of the Geopark.
On April 28-30, we welcomed Mr. Dimitrios Skourogiannis and Mrs. Elina Simigdala from Periplus workshops and we toured areas of the Municipalities of Anogia, Malevizi and Mylopotamos, speaking with representatives of the local communities: the municipal authorities, active local collectives such as Cultural Associations, educators, social enterprises in the field of culture, businesses in the field of agricultural and manufacturing entrepreneurship, producer groups, cooperatives and we visited local museums and monuments to record folklore material of the local culture.
The aim of Periplus workshops is to introduce to areas that are rich in customs and traditions over time, combined with a unique natural environment, the logic of an open and creative approach to local material culture. Through short-term but intensive field research, they seek new promising paths for future development. Through the lens of modern design, they innovatively approach the circular economy and inventively utilize folklore tradition. They seek close collaboration with communities through unconventionally re-imagined craft techniques with materials hidden in local nature or among the abundant neglected by-products of agriculture. The ultimate goal is to find solutions and inventive approaches to open up new sustainable possibilities for local communities.
In the summer of 2026, a two-week field workshop will be held in an area of the Geopark to implement this goal, and this fall, new meetings will be held in the rest Municipalities of the Geopark.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Municipalities of Anogia (Mayor Mr. Socrates Kefalogiannis, Deputy Mayor Mr. Vasilis Fassoulas and President of the Municipal Council Mr. Michalis Dramountanis), Malevizi (Mayor Mr. Menelaos Bokeas, Deputy Mayor for Tourism and Culture Ms. Chrysa Lyronis and the Special Advisors to the Mayor, Mr. Philippos Vamvoukakis and Mr. Konstantinos Bezos) and Mylopotamos (Mayor Mr. Klados Giorgos and all representatives of the Mylopotamos Municipal Council) for their hospitality, discussion, support and contribution to the research of folklore material, tangible and intangible cultural heritage. We also thank the President of the Community of Krousonas, Mr. Costas Pitsikakis, for his support, the President of the Fodele Community, Mr. Charalambos Panteris, for his support and sharing his extensive knowledge of his community and Mr. Yiannis Papadakis, as well, for the welcoming and showing the Olive Oil Museum at Enagron Ecotourism Village in Axos and the discussion about the history of the Village.
We also warmly thank all the participants in the opening discussions with the Periplus workshops and the Psiloritis Geopark:
The representatives and Presidents from: Cultural Association of Livadia (Ms. Mary Chnari), Cultural Association of Sarchos (Ms. Pervolaraki Irini), Cultural Association of Damasta (Mr. Perakis Kostas), Cultural Association of Krousonas (Mr. Giorgos Soultatos), Cultural Association of Sison Astali (Ms. Tsikala Aliki and Mr. Dimitris Nyktaris) and the Cultural Association of Fodele (Mr. Manolis Fakoukakis, Ms. Alexandra Panteri as well as Ms. Katerina Pavlaki who showed us the Museum of El Greco)
In the field of education and culture: the School of Weaving of Anogeia (Ms. Zoe Papadakis), the Environmental Education Center of Anogia (Ms. Zacharenia Kefalogianni and Ms. Agapi Kalomiri) and the Woodcarving Museum of Axos (Mr. George Koutantos)
The social enterprises Argastiri – Androidus (Mr. George Kalomiri and Mr. Antonis Dagiantas) and Rodakas (Ms. Maria Padouva) and N-Idea (Ms. Niki Pasparaki and Ms. Evi Vrentzou)
The Anogia Livestock Breeders Association (Mr. Vasilis Manouras), the Anogia Dairy Cooperative (Mr. Stefanos Cheeretis, Mr. George Sbokos and Mr. Pavlos Skoulas) and the Psiloritis Cheese Factory (Mr. George, Mr. Dimos and Mr. Stratis Klados) in Livadia
The businesses Athos workshop (Mr. Manolis and Mrs. Paraskevi Plevraki) and Cretanthos (Mr. George Tzianoudakis) in Aggeliana, Logos Craftware (Mr. Nikos Manias and Mrs. Niki Koutantou) and the handicrafts - Weaving and traditional folk art workshop "Mitos" in Axos (Ms. Aliki Koutantou-Chnari) and Keramion in Margarites (Mr. George and Mrs. Mariniki Dalamvela)
The apple producers of Krousonas and Ms. Maria Pitsikaki for her significant contribution to their call, the Organization of Organic Olive Oil Producers Natura Cretica from Mylopotamos (Mr. Stavrakakis Nikolaos, Mr. Giorgos Christoforakis and Mr. Giannis Perantonakis) and the producers of local agricultural products of Damasta (Mr. Mavrakis Giorgos, Mr. Liadakis Nikos (livestock farmer), Grigoris Marousis (honey producer), Mr. Giorgos Sarris, Mr. Trigonis Michalis).
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Last Update : 16-05-2025 16:35
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