The Ministry of Culture and Sports is honoring the writer Iakovos Kambanellis for his contribution to the Hellenic nation as an artist and a man.
The Ministry of Culture and Sports is honoring the work and civic contribution of Iakovos Kambanellis with a series of events in Greece and abroad. The Ministry, within the framework of the 2022 Literary Year of Iakovos Kambanellis, will spotlight the multidimensional work and contribution of the internationally renowned writer to Greek arts and letters. A playwright, screenwriter, poet, lyricist, prose writer, actor, Kambanellis, born on 2 December 1921 on Naxos, was an intellectual who left an indelible imprint on modern Greek culture with his multifaceted work and social engagement until his death in 2011.
As Lina Mendoni, Minister of Culture and Sports, has stated, “In the work of Iakovos Kambanellis, more recent modern Greek history is recorded with realism and intense emotion. It is the history of post-war Greece, with its political and social tensions, as it attempted to recover from the traumas of World War II and the Greek Civil War. Kambanellis created fully drawn characters who are recognizable, authentic. Beyond his skillful writing, the immediacy of his language is one of the basic reasons that the Greeks identified with his work, loved it, and recognized themselves in his texts.
Independent of his literary achievements, Iakovos Kambanellis was especially beloved for the deep humanity that distinguished him, for his generosity, struggle for democratic ideals, and resistance to fascist ideology in whatever form it might take. Showcasing his unsurpassed body of work, the respect and love he expressed for Greece and the Greeks, his moral character, social stance and presence is the least we can do to acknowledge our debt and pay tribute to him.”
Independent of his literary achievements, Iakovos Kambanellis was especially beloved for the deep humanity that distinguished him, for his generosity, struggle for democratic ideals, and resistance to fascist ideology in whatever form it might take. Showcasing his unsurpassed body of work, the respect and love he expressed for Greece and the Greeks, his moral character, social stance and presence is the least we can do to acknowledge our debt and pay tribute to him.”
Kambanellis was a writer and spiritual man who, though self-taught in his area of expertise, mastered all types of prose and verse, with iconic literary works and essays, unsurpassed theatrical texts, timeless screenplays, and, of course, iconic songs with music by Mikis Theodorakis. Our objective is for his rich body of work to become even more broadly known among younger generations through a series of activities and events both in Greece and abroad, and to inspire younger artists through a productive dialogue with his body of work.”
With 40 theatrical works, Iakovos Kambanellis is one of the most prolific Greek playwrights of the 20th century. His The Courtyard of Miracles is considered the work which launched contemporary modern Greek drama. His autobiographical novel, Mauthausen, represents his contribution to the global literature on the concentration camps. Our Grand Circus remains indelibly inscribed on our individual and collective memories, as a literary turning point in the struggle for
freedom and democracy.
Within the framework of the commemoration, the Ministry of Culture and Sports is organizing a series of activities in Greece and abroad for the showcasing of the work of the honored artist in the following areas:
1. Events in Greece and abroad;
2. International Translation - Publication Program;
3. Provision of support for institutions and other entities organizing events.
For coordination, support, event planning and design, as well as evaluation of proposals and applications from the various entities for their activities within the framework of the celebration of the 2022 Literary Year of Iakovos Kambanellis, a five-member, unpaid professional Working Group consisting of the following individuals was established:
Dr. Eleni Doundoulaki,, Theatrologist. Secretary General for Contemporary Culture of the Ministry of Culture and Sports;
Dr. Sissy Papathanasiou, Cultural Historian. Head of the Letters Directorate of the Ministry of Culture and Sports;
Katerina Kambanelli, Costume and Set Designer. Heir and administrator of the Kambanellis Archive;
Platon Mavromoustakos, Professor. Theatre Studies Department of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens;
Panagiotis Mentis, Writer/Screenwriter. President of the Greek Playwrights Association
MAJOR EVENTS OF THE 2022 LITERARY YEAR OF IAKOVOS KAMBANELLIS:
FEBRUARY 2022
Publication and presentation of the bilingual volume Iakovos Kambanellis. The anniversary volume will become part of the Ministry of Culture and Sports set of commemorative books.
MARCH - JUNE 2022
Exhibit dedicated to the writer, his body of work, and the historical context at The Gkika Gallery of the Benaki Museum, accompanied by related educational activities created in collaboration with theatrical entities and university departments of theatre studies and music studies.
JUNE 2022
Tribute to Iakovos Kambanellis’ contribution to cinema in collaboration with the the Greek Film Archive (Tainiothiki tis Ellados). Screening of films with screenplays by the writer. Greek Film Archive - Lais Hall.
SUMMER 2022
Organization of a series of events in collaboration with the Municipality of Naxos, the birthplace of Iakovos Kambanellis and location of the eponymous Museum. The program will include presentation of the bilingual volume Iakovos Kambanellis, concerts, readings, workshops, and amateur theatre performances on Naxos.
INTERNATIONAL TRANSLATION - PUBLICATION PROGRAM
The Ministry of Culture and Sports is collaborating with the Hellenic Foundation for Culture on the presentation of the writer’s work internationally. Within this framework, partnerships are planned with selected publishing houses specializing in translation and the publication of theatrical texts, as well as academic centers for Greek studies at foreign universities. The translation and publishing activities will be supported through book exhibits and events specially organized by international entities, university foundations, and artistic entities, as well as through professional meetings. Special mention needs to be made of events in Paris and London, whose objective is to draw the attention of the international professional and artistic communities, as well as those involved in publishing, to the artist and his work. These events also aim to strengthen the presence of Greek literary and dramatic writing as well as the number of Greek books in Greek and in translation available internationally.
Paris
Event in collaboration with the Centre Culturel Hellenique (Centre for Hellenic Culture); the Department of Greek (UFR de Grec) at the Sorbonne; the Chair in History and Literature at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales), and other entities.
London
Events in collaboration with the Koraes Chair in Modern Greek and Byzantine History, Language and Literature of the Centre for Hellenic Studies at King’s College London, with The Hellenic Centre and other entities.
After special consideration and evaluation of relevant requests, the Ministry of Culture and Sports will extend its support to events planned by various cultural and local/regional governmental entities in honor of Iakovos Kambanellis.
EN Translation © Diana Savas
