Τύπος στρατηγικής (εργαλείο, εκδήλωση, εκπαιδευτικό μάθημα κ.λπ.)

Music, Theatre, Story-telling

Πότε ξεκίνησε / τελείωσε;

Our choral activities are being implemented since autumn of 2016 until today(autumn of 2020) and it is a recurring project on a weekly basis all year round, excluding July and August each summer. During specific periods every year (i.e. during February, May and June), our rehearsals become more intensive and are repeated twice or 3 times per week, especially during preparation for performances. During this fresh year-round cycle, starting from autumn of 2020 until end of summer of 2021, it is our ambition to grow our "Cycle of solidarity" practice (including a summer festival for the first time) into a lasting cultural event. This means that it will become more well-known beyond Lesvos boundaries, bringing people to the festival every year and helping to highlight the island as a unique destination for eco-tourism, bio-diversity, heritage and traditions. 

Όνομα του οργανισμού

Polyphonica Aegean Children's choir + Cantalaloun Intercultural adults' choir

Πόλη και χώρα

Both choirs are based in Mytilene, Lesvos. Polyphonica central choir is based in Athens, Greece

1. Περιγράψτε σύντομα το έργο σας

Our practice is firmly orientated to the inclusion of as many and variant people as possible, with the maxim that Art is beyond language, ethnicity, race, gender, religion, etc. In other words,polarised ideologies which are biased against certain types of people are not part of our practice as artistic+activist groups, either during the Covid period or generally. 

Important notice: activities at all times are adapted to respect corresponding COVID-19 measures which are being applied. 1. Weekly music rehearsals with the 2 choirs. There are different sub-groups according to different musical experience of each participant 2. Seminars on voice training, body percussion, music score reading-solfege training, poetry, theatrical expressive tools and trash art. They are held on certain weekends all year round3. Interactive performances of free entrance that may include theatre, story telling & acrobatics4. Activist protest performances that the 2 choirs organise originally or may be part of other protest events organised by other groups5. Online singing classes through internet platforms such as Skype and Zoom. During spring of 2020 these online classes were being held on a weekly basis6. A summer festival that we plan to organise together with local cooperative projects and schools, dwelling on the concept of "Hospitality-Solidarity"

2. Ποιος ήταν ο στόχος του έργου;

Refugees and local residents around the areas of the “detention camps” are people who suffer from the lack of public care & social justice: refugees having the minimum of access to basic rights, like accommodation, health care, freedom of movement, and locals having being deprived from their rights of living in a safe environment. Central idea we foster: to revive the ancient principle of hospitality (in Greek: philoxenia).We want to remind all that we are equally vulnerable and connected and to build bridges in a place where the pandemic has arrived in a climate of rising xenophobia, racism and hate.  

3. Ποιος συμμετείχε στη διαδικασία σχεδιασμού;

Maria Vamvoukli

4. Εάν μπορούσες να αλλάξεις κάτι, τι θα άλλαζες; 

The running of an intercultural children's choir in a non-multiculturalist society like Lesvos island was a bet from the beginning. In the children's choir, parents needed to trust us as teachers for our work step by step and as persons. This was not self-evident. Hosting both choirs in a support centre for refugees and locals such as "Mosaik Centre" bore a special weight and significance and prevented some parents from trusting the choir and registering their children. Just before the Covid-19 period in Greece, both ensembles performed during two antifascist demonstrations around the central square of Mytilene, responding to the huge humanistic crisis exploded in Lesvos island after January 2020. Both were heavily criticized by a majority of citizens with extreme right-wing tendencies for their stance and active participation, which was an obvious political choice, as well as risky. Equally, they have been widely promoted by international press as standing examples of solidarity and humanitarian stance against fascist attacks of the period.Last, the children's choir were attacked with words and insults during June 2020 from a fascist group, as it is considered an "NGO", which is synonymous in Lesvos with "the worst type of criminal". This extreme reaction was something that we managed to overcome with open discussion with our young choristers and their parents afterwards and it was a great lesson for all of us, proving the inner bonding of our group!

5. Πώς επηρέασε το έργο στην κοινωνία των πολιτών;

We believe it is a good practice because it addresses the main preblematic issue that has arisen on the island recently: the co-existence of local and foreign communities in a way that is not only by tolerating one another without feelings of xenophobia and hate, but by interacting with each other with constantly growing feelings of sympathy. While in the planned activities we will include groups and people we already work with (which are mainly people and groups already convinced on the idea of solidarity and hospitality, notably members of community choirs), our main target group are local people and communities across the island. We envision local people to play a central part in participating, joined by refugees and people working in solidarity with refugees. 

6.Πως η καινοτομία, η έμπνευση και η συμπερίληψη εφαρμόζονται στην πρακτική σας;

In a place like Lesvos, many actors come in with a humanitarian agenda and an exclusive focus on displaced people.Instead, we focus on regenerating the local social fabric. We intend to influence local citizens-associations on a deep level, by making people realise that strong values such as hospitality-solidarity are common in all cultures and equally prominent in songs, myths and generally folklore. As a more specific target group, we aim to spend a considerable part of our practice with school children-teachers. What makes it innovative is the concious working with different languages that our participants suggest through songs, stories etc.This choice coexists with the systematic use of musical & theatrical methods that are non-verbal and help to connect people immediately on a significant level, that of non verbal communication!In these ways, inclusion is made real practically: by including people from all walks of life & origin (check the tab Pedagogy in the choir's website).

7.Πως χρηματοδοτήθηκε η βέλτιστη πρακτική σας; 

For Cantalaloun adults' choir:personal fundings by friends and fans, two crowdfunding campaigns (for our two big musical-theatrical shows), free contribution box. For Polyphonica Aegean children's choir: funding by private donors. Both choirs are free for anyone.

8. Πως διαχύθηκε/προωθήθηκε η βέλτιστη πρακτική σας;

Through the word of mouth mainly. We made also FB pages and websites and some annual reports of our progress were sent to some followers-friends.