We will collectively practice listening, mindfulness, and creativity as ways of cultivating the experience of Home: a place of presence, of opening up, and deepening relationships with the self, with each other, with the environment, and with the beyond-human world.

During this program, we will explore the island’s echoing underground caves, its murmuring limpid beaches, and its cicada-serenaded ancient ruins. The largest island in the Ionian Sea, Kefalonia’s languid daily pace will prompt us to slow down and sink into a deeper and more expansive present. 

The ancient Greek word oikos can be translated as home. It is the root of the English prefix eco- in economics and ecology. The aim of the program is to shift us from a careless economics-based daily experience (consumption and competition) to an ecology-based one (creation and interdependence).

Each day a theme of inquiry and reflection ties into the larger theme of ‘Home’.

We will begin each morning with a collective mindfulness and/or embodiment practice. During the day we will offer various optional activities: field recordings, walks, swimming, explorations, personal creation time, etc. After our collective evening meal, we will have a conversation around the daily theme. 

We will present a one-day Full Moon event at the Castle of Agios Georgios. The event will feature a group sound installation and a performance. You will have the freedom to choose your level of engagement. 

Our goal is to nurture the capacity of creativity within each of us through practice, shared experience, and mutual support. 

✧ August 31 – Arrival

✧ September 01 – Deep listening (home within)
✧ September 02 – Expanded listening (home together)
✧ September 03 – Elemental listening (home beyond)
✧ September 04–  Sound collection  
✧ September 05 – Weaving, collective creation
✧ September 06 – Sound Installation premiere
✧ September 07 – Integration and reflection

Typical daily flow:

Morning practice, Open studio, Afternoon activity (optional), Dinner 

We ask that everyone attends the morning practice and dinner. You will be able to choose level of engagement for the daytime activities.

We hope to strike a balance between independent creation and inter-dependent exploration.

September 03 – Arrival
September 04 – Deep listening (home within)
September 05 – Growth and de-growth (home together)
September 06 – Sensory expansion, flow state (home beyond)
September 07 – Weaving, creation through listening   
September 08 – Full moon performance at the Castle
September 09 – Integration and reflection
September 10 – Departure

Typical daily flow: Morning practice, Breakfast, Open Adventure/Creation, Dinner, Evening Conversations 

We ask that everyone attends the morning practice and evening conversation.

You will be able to choose level of engagement for the daytime activities.

We hope to strike a balance between independent creation and inter-dependent exploration.

We believe that we live in a time where we all need to activate the creator within.

This program is open to all people. You do not need to identify as an 'artist' to participate in  our program. We only ask you come with a curious mind and open heart.

This program is for you if you are looking to:

 - Connect deeper with yourself, others, and the beyond-human world

 - Cultivate your creative practice

- Experience the ecology, history, and culture of Kefalonia, Greece

Language
The program will be conducted in English, so some understanding of English is recommended.

All speakers of other languages are welcome.

Ionion Center for the Arts and Culture

This program is part of the First International Environmental Festival of Kefalonia organized by the Ionion Center for the Arts & Culture.

Τhe Ionion Center International Program aims to:

 
- Attend the demanding needs of a fast changing world, toward building healthy future cultural environments and societies

- Work on the coexistence, interaction and creative co-operation and also increase the international collaborations in the fields of Creation and Research, Arts, Sciences, Environment

 
- Adopt new academic fields through academic partnerships and linkages

 
- Enrich and expand a strong international network with mutual benefits for the connected Institutions and Communities

- Offer to the collaborating Institutions a vivid alternative, challenging, creative, innovative, leading model in Education

WHAT’S INCLUDED:
7 nights accommodations at the Ionian Center for Arts and Culture* 

Breakfast & Dinner each day 

Curated daily programming 

Performance at the Castle on Friday night 

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:
Airfare

All ground transportation on the island**

Travel/Medical Insurance

Additional Expenditure

Lunches

PACKAGE PRICING: 

Reach out for pricing 

* Accommodations are in shared rooms with 2-3 guests total 

** Local car rental ~35 euro/day, we will link participants to share cars 

In order to ensure fit, we ask that you fill out a brief application & our team will reach out to you with next steps.

We will collectively practice listening, mindfulness, and creativity as ways of cultivating the experience of Home: a place of presence, of opening up, and deepening relationships with the self, with each other, with the environment, and with the beyond-human world.

During this program, we will explore the island’s echoing underground caves, its murmuring limpid beaches, and its cicada-serenaded ancient ruins. The largest island in the Ionian Sea, Kefalonia’s languid daily pace will prompt us to slow down and sink into a deeper and more expansive present. 

The ancient Greek word oikos can be translated as home. It is the root of the English prefix eco- in economics and ecology. The aim of the program is to shift us from a careless economics-based daily experience (consumption and competition) to an ecology-based one (creation and interdependence). 

Each day a theme of inquiry and reflection ties into the larger theme of ‘Home’. We will begin each morning with a collective mindfulness and/or embodiment practice. During the day we will offer various activities: field recordings, walks, swimming, explorations, personal creation time, etc. The daytime format is open and allows you to choose your level of engagement. After our collective evening meal, we will have a conversation around the daily theme. 

We will present a one-day Full Moon event at the Castle of Agios Georgios. The event will feature a group sound installation (using the collected field recording material) and a performance (using poetry, images, and sound). You will have the freedom to choose your level of engagement. 

Our goal is to nurture the capacity of creativity within each of us through practice, shared experience, and mutual support. 

We believe that we live in a time where we all need to activate the creator within.  

This program is open to all people. You do not need to identify as an 'artist' to participate in  our program.  We only ask you come with a curious mind and open heart. 

This program is for you if you are looking to: 

   -connect deeper with yourself, others, and the beyond-human world 

   -cultivate your creative practice as a tool for evolution

   -experience the ecology, history, and culture of Kefalonia, Greece

Language: The program will be conducted in English, so some understanding of English is recommended.   All speakers of other languages are welcome. 

September 03: Arrival
September 04: Intention setting
September 05: Deep listening (home within)
September 06: Growth and de-growth (home together)
September 07: Sensory expansion, flow state (home beyond)
September 08: Full Moon Performance at the Castle
September 09: Integration and reflection
September 10: Departure

We ask that everyone attends the morning practice and evening conversation. 

You will be able to choose level of engagement for the daytime activities.  We hope to strike a balance between independent and inter-dependent exploration. 

Our story is one of serendipity, of following the golden thread of life, and answering the call of curiosity. 

Giulia Gallina hosted a program in the summer of 2022 at  the Ionian Center for Arts and Culture. Keena and Joro of being-sound applied in the last moment and were graciously accepted.  Upon meeting, there was an natural recognition of shared inquiry between the artists.  A conversation of the relationship between art, mindfulness, evolution, and the power of collaboration between cultures. 

It was on a summer night after the presentation of Giulia's work, and upon the invitation form the center, that three began to conceive what it would be like to extend the gift of creative collaboration and communion with the island to an international community of inquisitive souls. 

Thus, HOME: The Art of Listening was born. 

Our intention is to grow a community of curious souls, who are looking to transform the world around them through transforming themselves. 

We hope that this program is a step towards creating the world we wish to live in and to reimagine how we gather. 

This program is part of the First International Environmental Festival of Kefalonia organized by the Ionion Center for the Arts & Culture

Τhe  Ionion Center International Program aims to:  

   -Attend the demanding needs of a fast changing world, toward building healthy future cultural environments and societies

   -Work on  the coexistence,  interaction and creative co-operation  and also Increase the international  collaborations in the fields of Creation and Research, Arts, Sciences, Environment.

   -Adopt new academic fields through academic partnerships and linkages.

   -Enrich and expand a strong international network with mutual benefits for the connected Institutions and Communities.

   -Offer to the collaborating Institutions a vivid  alternative , challenging , creative, innovative, leading model in Education.

https://ionionartscenter.gr/

Michael Green