COMM’ON along with Communitism, were the local hosts of the 16th International MitOst-Festival that took place in Metaxourghio area in Athens from the 3rd to the 7th of October 2018, welcoming and hosting more than 320 MitOst members and friends from all over Europe and neighbouring regions.
Thematic focus:
For both COMM’ON and Communitism, as local hosts, our main goal was to co-create a real neighborhood festival along with as many and more diverse possible local stakeholders that would bring into the thematics of the festival’s discussions, the local challenges they are facing. The festival took place in Metaxourgio, Avdi square and the Municipal Gallery were used as the central festival meeting and working points while 70 parallel workshops, talks, events, tours and parties took place in 19 different spaces of the neighborhood (cafes, bars, cultural spaces, community groups, spaces etc.) and in the yurt that Caravan Project set up on the square.
We transformed Avdi square from an illegal parking spot to an open space for people to meet, talk, eat together and dance. We worked closely with the Cultural Organization of the Municipality of Athens, the municipal services of the 3rd district and we cooperated with Melissa Network and Social Kitchen “The other human” to prepare and serve fresh cooked food. We also collaborated with Plastikourgeio shop & lab, in order to make the festival as sustainable as possible.
320 visitors & participants | 35 partnering stakeholders
70 workshops/talks/events/tours | 5 days
20 venues & spaces in Metaxourghio | 15 volunteers
Description: MitOst e.V. is a non-profit organization based in Berlin, Germany.
It promotes cultural exchange and active citizenship in Europe and its neighbouring regions. With 1400 members in 45 different countries as well as with various partners it’s part of a dynamic European network. MitOst organizes international programs and projects and serves as a platform for new forms of social engagement and projects. Once per year, MitOst invites its members and everyone being interested in cultural and social and civic exchange in Europe and its neighbouring regions to the International MitOst Festival, a four day international forum offering cultural activities, further trainings and networking opportunities. The International MitOst-Festival is a meeting point for all those who are interested in cultural and civic exchange in Europe and its neighbouring regions bringing together thinkers and activists, experts and newcomers. A diverse program with more than 70 events provides space for networking, learning, reflection and inspiration. Since its premier in the Hungarian city Pécs in 2003, the festival has been migrated through Europe and taken place every year in another city.
Impact: "In Metaxourgio, an illegal parking becomes a square“ An urban claim for Avdi square by Communitism, COMM’ON and MitOst Festival. Athens Voice freepress, article - read online here (greek text)..
MitOst Festival 2018 Partners & Supporters: Robert Bosch Stiftung, Bosch Alumni Network, Literarisches Colloquium Berlin e.V., City Tool Box, Goethe Institut Athen, German Embassy in Athens, Municipality of Athens, Cultural Organization of Municipality of Athens, Municipal Gallery, Frou- rarchio, Solidarity Now, Plastikourgeio, Greenstorming, Melissa Network, Ble Papagalos, Saorsa, Bios, LUDD, Life is Good, P82, Horizons, Tsoulithra, Latraac, Fabrica, Anasa, Kouzouloúm, Ásylo, Allos Anthropos, Cabaret Voltaire, Atopos, Myrovolos