EVENTS

The international independent visual arts scene at the Tobacco Factory of the Hellenic Parliament. 66 artistic platforms, more than 1,100 artists from 22 countries, and a multifaceted contemporary art program from September 17 to 20, 2026.

For the past fourteen years, the Platforms Project has served as an international hub for collaboration and the exchange of ideas among artists, curators, theorists, and independent art spaces. It is not merely an exhibition, but an institution that documents contemporary collective artistic practices and creates an active, ever-expanding international network of collaborations.

Artemis Potamianou  and Michalis Argyrou  are directing the Platforms Project, while Artemis Potamianou is serving as the event’s artistic director.

The Platforms Project 2026 , with an extensive parallel program of events, creates a channel of communication between artists and the public through performances, talks, educational activities, guided tours, and presentations. Alongside the main exhibition, the Platforms Project 2026 presents an extensive parallel program featuring 57 performances, thematic talks and conferences, book presentations, workshops, organized guided tours, and educational activities, offering visitors a comprehensive contemporary art experience.

The Platforms Project 2026 will feature fourteen thematic talks and workshops. Workshops and discussions on issues related to society, art, and contemporary culture hold a special place in the program, featuring artists, theorists, and researchers from Greece and abroad, such as “From Silence to Action: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Gender-Based Violence, Institutional Framework and Social Awareness,”  organized by The Red Boat Projects platform; the international panel “International Center for Walking Art in Prespa (WALC),”  organized by the Visual Arts Journey to Prespa; and “Photography in Art: A Means of Navigating the Contemporary World,”  organized by Vivian Kalomiri and Nansy Andritsopoulou.

The program also includes book presentations, such as those by Fotis Kangelaris, talks by Alexandros Voutsas, Dr. Maria Kamilaki, and Elissavet Dionysopoulou, as well as talks by international artists on collectives, such as Basti Kuhz and Kate Enters. Notable highlights include the talks “The Imprint of Behavior,” moderated by Maria Stamatis, and project presentations from platforms such as “Presentation of the ‘Next Stop’ Action” by Horizon of Events, “Eco-Poetry: Ecological Fertile Poetry” by the Eco Flaneur platform, and “The Bright Side” by Kalliroi 16. Finally, Galerie Theorema asbl will host a discussion on “Art and Philosophy.”

Open Studios: The new generation of artists takes center stage at the event
For the ninth consecutive year, Open Studios is being presented and has now become an integral part of the event. This year’s Open Studios will feature not only the studios of the Athens School of Fine Arts, but also those of the School of Fine Arts at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as well as the Department of Visual Arts and Moving Images and the Department of Graphic Design, within the School of Graphic Design and Visual Communication at the University of West Attica. The students present works and specially designed projects, bringing the new generation of creators to the forefront and fostering dialogue between art education and contemporary practice.

Educational Activitied for Kids: Kids’ Lab 2026 και “Platforms Project’s Smile” Kids’ Lab 2026, the Platforms Project’s educational program for children ages 4–14, designed by Katerina Filindra, invites young visitors to discover contemporary art through creative workshops, play, and experimentation. At the same time, Maria Zygomala (Dental Surgeon – Visual Artist) is leading the painting workshop “Platforms Project’s Smile,” where children use a smile as a starting point for imaginary worlds and visual narratives. Through colors, shapes, and stories, the children transform teeth into houses, villages, boats, and dreamlike worlds, freely expressing their imagination and creativity.

Ξεναγήσεις: Γνωριμία με τους καλλιτέχνες και τις ανεξάρτητες καλλιτεχνικές πρακτικές
Το Platforms Project είναι η μοναδική διεθνής φουάρ που εντάσσει οργανωμένες ξεναγήσεις ως βασικό μέρος του προγράμματός της, δίνοντας στους επισκέπτες τη δυνατότητα να γνωρίσουν τους καλλιτέχνες, να συνομιλήσουν μαζί τους και να προσεγγίσουν ουσιαστικά τα έργα και τις συλλογικές καλλιτεχνικές πρακτικές. Οι ξεναγήσεις θα πραγματοποιηθούν στις 18, 19 και 20 Σεπτεμβρίου, στις 14:00, 15:00, 17:00 και 19:00.

Παράλληλη έκθεση «M#3, Moments, Meetings, Memories»: Μια αναδρομή στην πορεία του Platforms Project
Παράλληλα με την έκθεση στο Καπνεργοστάσιο, παρουσιάζεται στον χώρο Lofos art project η έκθεση «M#3, Moments, Meetings, Memories», σε επιμέλεια των Liesbeth Bos and Konstantin Economou, με τη συμμετοχή 41 καλλιτεχνών που έχουν λάβει μέρος στο Platforms Project τα προηγούμενα χρόνια. Η έκθεση λειτουργεί ως μια αναδρομική ματιά στην πορεία του Platforms Project στην Αθήνα, συγκεντρώνοντας έργα, εμπειρίες και προσωπικές αφηγήσεις που αναδεικνύουν τον τρόπο με τον οποίο οι καλλιτέχνες δημιουργούν σχέσεις, συνεργάζονται και διαμορφώνουν ένα διεθνές δίκτυο ανταλλαγής ιδεών. Μέσα από διαφορετικές φωνές και οπτικές, εξερευνά τι είναι εκείνο που παραμένει στη μνήμη μετά από μια τόσο πυκνή εμπειρία συνάντησης, δημιουργίας και συνεργασίας.