LAVREOTIKI is a non-profit organization based in the southeastern tip of Attica, Greece, in the region of Lavreotiki. Established in 2022, the organization is dedicated to contemporary art practices and cultural heritage, focusing on uncovering and addressing complex challenges through innovative projects. Its inaugural project brought together 12 international contemporary artists to explore the rich cultural landscape of Lavreotiki, a region renowned for its historical significance as one of the oldest mining areas on a global scale. Lavreotiki is celebrated as a multi-layered cultural site, with its landscape regarded as a monument in itself.
The name “Lavreotiki” is derived from the words lavra-lavri, meaning underground passage or mine gallery, a direct reference to the extensive network of subterranean tunnels that define the region’s history and identity. Paying homage to the Lavreotiki district, the organization’s name symbolically reflects the region’s multi-layered cultural landscape, suggesting its initiatives align with a mindset attuned to recognizing and navigating (through) the variations, interconnections, and fragility of tangible, intangible, and natural heritage.
Stepping lightly into the land’s sites to trace the elements that operate on its side lines, encountering “the spirit or thought that passed there before”.
(Solnit, 2014)
By harnessing the resourcefulness of bottom-up efforts, LAVREOTIKI organizes a diverse range of activities, including art exhibitions, residencies, panels, and workshops, while remaining ready to facilitate research-oriented projects in less explored areas. The organization is founded on the belief that merging contemporary art with cultural heritage—and vice versa—through carefully planned and coordinated projects provides a comprehensive framework to foster innovation and creativity in both fields.
Building on this foundational belief, LAVREOTIKI envisions not only promoting contemporary art practices, but also contributing significantly to the broader heritage cycle within and beyond the Lavreotiki district in Greece. Central to its mission is the creation of platforms for exchange and exploration, encouraging collaboration between artists, researchers, local communities, and international stakeholders. At the heart of its initiatives are a commitment to interdisciplinarity, lifelong learning, and a dedication to pushing the boundaries of knowledge and creativity. These values inspire the organization to continuously seek innovative ways of engaging with contemporary art and cultural heritage in transformative, impactful ways.