The series of educational, cultural, and artistic activities under the title “NKUA in the City” was established (following a proposal by the elected Member of the NKUA Administration Council, Professor Achilleas Chaldaeakes) by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, commencing on 21 March 2024. The events are co-organised in collaboration with the Municipality of Athens, on the basis of a relevant Memorandum of Cooperation, mutually agreed upon as of February 2025.
Within the framework of this series of activities, dozens of educational, cultural, and artistic events have so far been organised, with the enthusiastic participation of NKUA members and the citizens of Athens [: NKUA in the City Archives – NKUA Hub].
These events concern:
Commemorative references
To date, the following events have been organised:
Celebration of World Poetry Day → 21 March 2024: Poetry Marathon I & 21 March 2025: Poetry Marathon II
Celebration of World Music Day → 21 June 2024: concert with “Music Odyssey”, at the Propylaea
Celebration of World Environment Day → 5 June 2025: The Natural Environment Meets Folk Tradition
Celebration of World Philosophy Day → 28 May 2025: 1st Philosophy Festival: “Philosophy: Reason and Passion” & 17 June 2025: Lecture by Denis Robichaud at the Academy of Plato, with the forthcoming celebration on the third Thursday of November 2025
Period preceding Easter → 22 April 2024: “Today Spring is Fragrant”: Easter with Papadiamantis & 9 April 2025: Easter Concert
Period preceding Christmas → 20 December 2024: NKUA and the Municipality of Athens carol for Christmas
Special Sections
Series of Events on Poetry and Literature
Section “Poetry: The Negative of Silence” (coordinator: Gina Kalogirou) → 11 June 2024: Titos Patrikios & 13 December 2024: Tasos Germenis & 24 February 2025: Kyriakos Charalambides & 28 April 2025: Svetlana Kalezić-Radonjić – Echoes of Her: Resonances of the Female Voice. From Silence to Expression
Section “Discourse and Knowledge in the City of the 21st Century” (coordinator: Kirki Kefalea) → 18 June 2024: Christos Giannaras & 17 January 2025: Stelios Ramfos & 2 June 2025: Paschalis Kitromilides
Lectures
Series of educational lectures by distinguished members of NKUA
Maria Efthymiou (“Food, a significant parameter of World History” & “Private Property – Common Ownership, or how humanity measures itself, historically, against itself”) → 6 November & 3 December 2024
Petros Roussos (“Parenting in the digital age”) → 13 March & 3 April & 22 May 2025
Manos Stefanidis (“Propylaea – City Hall: Two pillars of our contemporary culture”) → 9 May & 6 June 2025
Two special lectures: one by the Rector of NKUA, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, at the City Hall (18 March 2025: “PREVENT”. “Prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases”) and one by the Mayor of Athens, Mr. Haris Doukas, in the Great Hall of NKUA (10 April 2025: “Sustainability and social transformation in cities”).
Broadcasts
The broadcasts “Artistic Explorations. Small Incisions in Modern Greek Art”, curated by Art Historian Dimitris Pavlopoulos, continues successfully (to date, sixteen broadcasts have been released on the PemptousiaTV channel).
Concerts
Two “concerts accessible and friendly to people with dementia and their companions”, or, alternatively, “music listening for all” → 12 March & 2 May 2025: musical ensembles of the Department of Music Studies, Faculty of Philosophy, NKUA, curated by members of the “Laboratory of Music, Cognitive Sciences and Community” of the same Department.
Tributes
“1st Student Poetry Competition of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens” → 20 September 2024 – 20 January 2025 (award and commendation ceremony on 21 March 2025, within the framework of Poetry Marathon II).
“META-PHRASEIS — A tribute to the translation work of Maria Papadima” → 12 June 2025.
The cycle of educational, cultural, and artistic activities under the title “NKUA in the City” continues dynamically during the current academic year (2025–2026).
During the current quarter (October–December 2025), the following events have, for the time being, been scheduled:
October 2025
“2nd Student Poetry Competition of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens” [section: TRIBUTES]. This year, the competition concerns the composition of a poem on the theme: “TEACHERS AND STUDENTS”. The competition period is set from 1 October 2025 to 20 February 2026.
Be well, teacher! ‘Teachers and Students: Glimpses into the Literary Life of the 20th and 21st Centuries’” [section: TRIBUTES. Event coordinator: Dora Menti]. Monday, 13 October 2025, “Ioannis Drakopoulos” Amphitheatre, @ 16:30–20:30.
“THE LYRIC MIKIS THEODORAKIS: 100 years since the composer’s birth” [section: CONCERTS]. Songs by Mikis Theodorakis, arranged for symphony orchestra, vocal soloists, and choir. Performers: Philharmonia Orchestra of Athens (Conductor: Nikos Maliaras), Maria Farantouri & Tassis Christoyannis. Participation by the Academia Youth Choir of Athens (AYCA). Sunday, 26 October 2025, “Ioannis Despotopoulos” Amphitheatre, Athens Conservatoire (Rigillis & Vasileos Georgiou B’ 17–19, Athens), @ 20:30. Free admission, with entry passes (reservations at: Ο Λυρικός Θεοδωράκης | Εισιτήρια online! | More.com).
November 2025
“Discourse, Knowledge, City: Will They Survive with Artificial Intelligence?” [section: “Discourse and Knowledge in the City of the 21st Century.” Coordinator: Kirki Kefalea].
Speaker: Professor Emeritus Nikos Christodoulakis. Wednesday, 5 November 2025, Great Hall of NKUA, @ 19:00.
December 2025
“Aliki Kayaloglou sings Manos Hatzidakis: 100 years since the composer’s birth” [section: CONCERTS]. Monday, 8 December 2025, Great Hall of NKUA, @ 19:00.
Stay tuned by following the relevant announcements through the communication channels of NKUA and the Municipality of Athens.