Art, Music, Sharing Bring Athens’ Kypseli Public Market Back to Life

The landmark Kypseli Public Market along the Fokionos Negri walkway in central Athens, is back in action with the official launch at 8pm tonight with plenty of song, dance and art, ahead of a two-day social entrepreneurship event set for October 5-6.

Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis will inaugurate the market which now hosts eight new shops as well as art activities, photography exhibits, educational and book-sharing events, sharing economy exchanges, workshops, concerts and theater performances as well as solidarity initiatives.

Corina Crețu and Giorgos Kaminis. Photo Source: @agorakypselis

The aim is to give the once bustling market a new lease on life that will involve the local community.

Based on a social economy model made up by cooperatives, mutuals, associations, foundations, and social enterprises, in cooperation with the Impact Hub Athens, the Kypseli Market initiative it the first social business enterprise in Greece.

Referring to the municipality’s efforts to revive the Kypseli market, European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Crețu congratulated Kaminis “for an important project that will improve the lives of its citizens. It is a project being implemented with EU funding, the small cost of which – about 1 million euros – is inversely proportional to the benefits for the local community and for urban development.”

Crețu, who toured the market with Kaminis on Wednesday, added that Athens was setting a fine example and called on other cities to follow in its steps.

Tonight’s opening event will feature an Athens Wind Orchestra concert followed by a DJ party.

The Kypseli Public Market now hosts the following new shops: Wise Greece offering food products by small Greek producers; florists Flower Power; Restart (Epanekinisi), which recycles electronic devices; Biohive serving fresh juices, vegetables and fruits directly from organic farmers; Archipelago selling second-hand goods in efforts to create jobs for people with psychosocial problems; Chef’s Corner – a pop-up kitchen for innovative chefs and cooks; Creators of Cosmos active in the design and implementation of role playing games; and Daisy – a silk print gallery.

For more info on Kypseli Public Market activities, press here and here.