about Zig Zag Festival

Zig Zag Festival was introduced in 2021 as a way of connecting Greek and international artists, locals and visitors with the unknown features of the Greek landscapes. The "Cultural Zig Zag" is a summer art exploration for artists blending art and nature with experiences from the local environment, architecture, and gastronomy through artworks, on-site visual installations, and performances.
Every two years Zig Zag Festival commutes to a new destination, offering new insight to the hidden parts of Greece, its deep-rooted history, rich cultural heritage and topography.

Objectives

Zig Zag Festival revisits natural history through contemporary art, with the aim of reclaiming attention to the historical landmarks of the Greek landscape through an amalgam of culture and nature.

Sculptors, painters, new media artists, performance artists, and musicians draw inspiration from the local nature and materials, showcasing a diverse collection of works and expressive forms in both indoor and public spaces. Each year, a selection of young and established artists and curators are integrated into the festival's program, offering network opportunities through group-based engagement.

Selecting the festival's destination is particularly significant, as the area is transformed it into a vibrant canvas through a 7-day program that offers an entirely new experience for artists and visitors to connect to the landscape and local community.
Zig Zag Festival opens before the official tourist season, a period of time quite beneficial for artistic and cultural activity. This allows those who choose to be independent of the general tourism, to engage, enjoy and open to new perspectives and experiences. The significant increase of the local audience and visitors from nearby areas create new groups of dedicated individuals wanting to create meaningful ties with the locals and the landscape.

An important part of the festival's program involves creating substantial social and financial advantages for the local community by visiting businesses, restaurants and taverns and booking locally owned accommodations for the duration of the events.

Program

Each year, Zig Zag Festival introduces a new theme that serves as the foundation for its artistic program. The cultural activities are warmly embraced by the participants and residents who welcome it as their own cultural event of the summer.

Zig Zag's signature cultural program includes:

. Exhibitions
. Events and art interventions in the public space
. Performances and original sound and music events
. Workshops
. Excursions and guided tours that explore the historical and natural landscapes of its host village
. Gastronomy, visits to Local kitchens and sustainable food, tour to traditional restaurants, kitchens and recipes

Organisers and Team

Organised and coordinated by: CHEAPART NPO

Program Directors:

2021 - 2022, Isternia, Tinos. Georg Georgakopoulos, Elina Dallas, Fotini Kapiris, Eva Dallas
2023 - 2024, Kissos, Pelion. Georg Georgakopoulos, Fotini Kapiris
2025, Kypseli, Tzoumerka Epirus Georg Georgakopoulos, Fotini Kapiris, Babis Karalis