Wednesday, March 21, 2012
On the occasion of World Poetry Day (March 21), the National Book Centre of Greece (EKEBI) is dedicating the day to poet Nikephoros Vrettakos, as 2012 has been designated by the Ministry of Culture as "Vrettakos Year," celebrating the 100th anniversary of the poet’s birth.
In the context of events, EKEBI is staging today a performance by Aliki Kayaloglou, who will recite poems and sing songs by Vrettakos and other poets, at the Bacaro venue, in downtown Athens. In addition, on March 22, an evening of political poetry readings will take place at the Ionic Centre, in the Plaka district of Athens.
Moreover, in the context of this year’s centenary celebrations, EKEBI runs a posters campaign in the Athens metro, light railway and tram carriages, aiming at familiarizing passengers with Vrettakos’s verses.
EKEBI: Nikephoros Vrettakos (in Greek)
- Not just another protest, but an OTHER protest
This year’s celebrations for World Poetry Day will also bring a new form of protest against the crisis and its social impact to the streets of Athens.
The Poets’ Circle of Athens, Poetix magazine, together with artists, publishers, booksellers, and international poetry networks are organizing an Athens Poetry Protest.
The celebrations call on all poetry-lovers to join with their favorite verses on picket signs or banners in defence of poetry and cultural values, against the crisis, populism and violence.
Events include a poetry-reading march on the streets of Athens, as well as a special performance by the students of the National School of Dance. World Poetry Day was introduced by UNESCO in 1999, following a proposal by renowned Greek author Vassilis Vassilikos.
Greek News Agenda: World Poetry Day-Worthy it is
