Episkinion
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
Category
Project Description
EPISKINION was founded in 2010 in order to aid and promote the emergence and complete reveal of the Ancient Theater of Acharnes, the 2nd largest municipality in Ancient Greece, in cooperation with other stakeholders.It is a non-governmental, non-profit and community-led organizationl. It relies on its members, its synergies and constant effort. Its actions have changed the way the locals think of their cultural identity.
Project Region
EU Programme or fund
Description of the project
Summary
The acquaintance and understanding of the citizens of Acharnae about their cultural heritage, through experiential, original, and highly sustainable ways, regarding the ancient theatre of Acharnae, a rare archaeological discovery of world interest due to its great historical, archaeological, social, and cultural importance. To achieve this goal EPISKINION was founded, a non-profit organization that boosted the active participation of citizens on a local and hyperlocal level with a view not only to promoting and conserving the ancient theatre but also enhancing the motivation of individual stakeholders forming a link between them. EPISKINION is a community-led model of a bottom-up approach a rare example for Greece that lead to theatre’s heritage conservation management while ended up with a successful collaboration between social groups and larger-scale actors. The solutions introduced by the EPISKINIOΝ community group are sustainable, inclusive, and ideally suited for the community and the project, Since the local community acquires something that it can proudly present to others, or at least understands what is preserved and why. Last but not least the current project is proved to be a key driver of economic growth for the municipality of Acharnes that demonstrates enormous social and economic disparities among its inhabitants, and enables her to regain the former glory of its ancient cultural identity by rebranding it.
Key objectives for sustainability
- An e-piggy bank opened to collect money for the ancient theatre, following the "adopt a theatre" model that could safeguard the initial funding of the forthcoming conservation management research. Indeed the Integrated Urban Development Plan intended to: a) Utilize the environmental (by displaying the unique biodiversity of the area), cultural, and archaeological reserve by uniting the archaeological environment and the urban fabric through the creation of an archaeological-environmental park. b) Enhance productivity and innovation, digital applications, the primary sector, small and medium-sized enterprises, social economy (e.g. social cooperatives), local gastronomy, folk art, etc. by encouraging synergies between tourism and culture-related activities and increasing their impact on local community and the economy. c)Revitalize underprivileged hubs in specific areas and achieve social cohesion through programs to combat social exclusion, so that the city of Acharnae can become an attractive and viable urban center, with a view to the protection and sustainable development of the natural and built environment, the promotion of the history, architecture and, in general, the special identity of the city, in order to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants overall, socially and financially
- The proclamation of a public tender for proposals to change the General Multi-Building Planning in the wider area of Acharnaes aimed at the integration of modern social life and modern development patterns through spatial, urban, and architectural planning in the context of sustainable development.
- The encouragement and support of competent carriers for the creation of a “Network of Cities Ancient Theatres”
- The establishment of an annual festival of ancient drama.
- The legislation of cultural route focusing on the Ancient Theatre.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
The community-led project accelerates the process of the first plot expropriation where the ancient theatre was found and its completion through the deposit of the required funds by the Archaeological Receipts Fund, as published in the relevant Gazette (FEK No. 276, 2011). After pressures and demands there followed the second plot expropriation, as published in the relevant Gazette (FEK No. 276, 2011 and FEK No .190.2019). This was important that lead to a further revelation of the theatre. Following a request to the Municipality, Salaminos Street passing in front of the plot is renamed “Archeou Theatrou” Street (Ancient Theatre Street). At the same time, the beautification of the entrance was deemed necessary with the removal of the bins and the installation of a sign for the monument, with funds, rose through the e-piggy bank. Apart from that, some partial interventions are about to be implemented in the upcoming months such as the pedestrianization of the ancient theatre street in combination with the renovation of the surrounding squares is the central element of the entire renovation combined with the promotion of the Ancient Theatre in terms of visibility and accessibility.
Key objectives for inclusion
EPISKINIOΝ established in 2010 and less than a year achieved significantly grow its members, mainly volunteers, not paying a subscription, not needing to meet specific criteria (e.g. academic), and participating in decision-making in a highly democratic way, Its members are almost equally divided to both genders, while their academic and age profile differs. This is understandable since its members can be school and university students, workers, unemployed, pensioners, craftsmen, artists, academics, etc. without exception. Free participation without criteria ensures social cohesion because discrimination is avoided, especially in a municipality like Acharnes that faces such problems due to economic and social inequalities and multiculturalism. Therefore, the participation of citizens in decision-making is important considering their degree of influence at all stages of the project. Moreover, the creation of a cultural route regarding the Ancient Theatre aims, included among other things, to clean up the surrounding area, but also to create infrastructure projects ensuring the accessibility of citizens. At the same time, EPISKINION developed creative relations and collaborations with public and private bodies and organizations designing and implementing with them various cultural activities with the common object of its rich cultural heritage focusing on the Ancient Theatre and aiming to raise public awareness for its protection. Last but not least, according to a questionnaire distributed among inhabitants, 90% of them claim that the city will benefit multiply (economically, culturally, touristic and socially), while only 10% responded that the benefits will only be cultural. Additionally, the majority of the local community is convinced that the project will be beneficial to their city, by ensuring sustainable development.
Results in relation to category
The community-led project “EPISKINION” accelerated the process of the first plot expropriation where the ancient theatre was found and its completion through the deposit of the required funds by the Archaeological Receipts Fund, as published in the relevant Gazette (FEK No. 276, 2011). )and the second plot expropriation and its completion (as published in the relevant Gazette (FEK No . 190., 2019). All the funds were deposited to the property owners. That second expropriation covers the whole area of the Ancient Theater, which remains underground. This was important that lead to its further revelation. Through specific interventions, the aim is to achieve a spectacular improvement in the living conditions of residents, including the regulation of vehicle and pedestrian traffic, the demarcated parking spaces, the possibility of integrating cycle paths as well as bioclimatic improvement of the thermal factors of the area. Therefore we realize that cultural heritage has been put into value in the spirit of sustainability, and the ancient Theatre of Acharnae case study may be an exemplary model of preservation and community participation that would serve numerous sustainable development goals. At the same time, the beautification of the entrance was deemed necessary with the removal of the bins and the installation of a sign for the monument, with the fund, rose through the e-piggy bank. Apart from that, some partial interventions were later implemented.
How Citizens benefit
The EPISKINIOΝ is growing in a dynamic that is not limited to actions related to actual conservation management, but it invests in the dissemination of actions through social media and its website, as well as in initiatives aimed at mobilizing more and more citizens. Those entail both periodical and individual actions. The former includes a) educational programs conducted in the schools of the area, as well as handmade board games with archaeological themes. b)the annual 40 km cycling archaeological tour of Acharnae, which takes place with the cooperation and presence of other stakeholders as well (the Municipality, the Ephorate of Antiquities, and the cultural associations). Dionysiou Areopagitou Street in the center of Athens is the starting point, and after going through the Acharnean Gates, the route passes through all the monuments of the municipality by creating an awareness of the importance of preserving these invaluable sites, to end up at the ancient theater of Acharnae for the culmination of the events. c)The Student Festival of Ancient Theatre with the collaboration of the Municipality, which includes performances of Ancient Drama by elementary, junior high, and high school students from the schools of the Municipality of Acharnae, as well as the Theatrical Masks exhibition where all schools participate. d)The Student Essay Competition, aiming to mobilize young people to protect, conserve, and promote the monument. e)The Student Painting Competition in collaboration with the Ephorate of Antiquities, in which competition the selected works of the students are exhibited in the fencing of the Ancient Theatre. f) Cine EPISKINION, a movie theatre for the screening of films or recorded ancient drama plays. While individual actions include: concerts with the participation of distinguished artists and the Greek National Opera.
Innovative character
The case of EPISKINION is distinct. On the one hand, it is a rare sample of a bottom-up approach in heritage conservation management in Greece with processes that not only motivated and routed by the community itself but also gradually graduated over time. While on the other it presents numerous actual and non-actual conservation impacts for the monument. Although the key- role is that due to the protection of the Ancient Theater of Acharnae, they have managed to draw up a network of complementary integrated and sustainable urban development actions aiming at improving the citizens' quality of life, as well as boosting the allure of the area.
