The collaboration between the Municipality of Athens and the Athens School of Fine Arts (ASFA) for the Democracy Award highlights a new way of connecting culture with democracy. The Memorandum of Cooperation signed between the two institutions is not only about the creation of a unique prize. It expresses a deeper commitment to promoting art as a tool for social dialogue and active participation. The Democracy Prize, which is awarded annually at the Athens Democracy Forum, has been established since 2016 as a tribute to individuals and organisations that promote democracy and human rights. With the involvement of ASFA, the Municipality of Athens sought to open the institution to new voices and ideas, creating a platform where the new generation of artists can express themselves. The association of the ASFA with the Democracy Award highlights the power of art to symbolize values such as freedom, participation and justice. Through a competition, students at the school are invited to design a unique sculpture that embodies the spirit of democracy. This work is not just a prize, it is a visual representation of the historical and contemporary meaning of democracy. The prize ceases to be just a formal award ceremony. It becomes a living project that engages students, artists, institutions and citizens, creating a sense of shared participation in the institution of democracy.

Democracy Award (© Menelaos Myrillas/ Municipality of Athens)

The involvement of students in the award design process underlines the importance of creative expression as a way of interpreting and disseminating democratic ideals. Students are invited to draw inspiration from Athenian democracy and to connect it to contemporary challenges and opportunities. With this collaboration, the Municipality of Athens makes the Democracy Award not just a symbol, but a process that brings art to the forefront as a means of social dialogue and reflection. The Award becomes a bridge between art, education and democratic consciousness. Thus, it is not only a recognition, but also an occasion for dialogue and participation.

Maria Roukounaki

The student of the School of Fine Arts, Mary Roukounaki, who curated the award, presents the extremely interesting source of the award’s design inspiration:

“The Greek words “ψηφος”and “ψηφίδα” have a common root, because both are related to small objects used in ancient Greece for counting or voting. Let’s explore the meanings and connections: Psyphos (Psyphos) – “Votes” or “pebble”.

In ancient Greece, citizens often used small pebbles or stones to vote in decisions such as elections, trials or ostracism.

Over time, “ψηφος” came to symbolize the very concept of voting, hence the meaning of “vote”.

Democracy Award

Ψῆφίδα (Ψῆφίδα): Meaning: : “small stone” or “mosaic tile”.

The word “ψῆφίδα” refers to small pebbles or tiles used to make mosaics. These tiny stones, placed together to form patterns or images, resemble the pebbles used in voting.

Etymological connection:

Both words come from the root “ψηφος”, which originally referred to small stones or pebbles. In ancient times, these pebbles served both practical and symbolic roles: Voting: Adult male citizens used the vot (pebble) to cast their vote, making it an instrument of democracy. White for yes black for no.

In art: a ψῆφίδα (small stone or tile) became the building block of complex mosaic works of art.

Thus, the common root marks small objects with important social roles – either for democratic participation or for artistic expression. The connection highlights the cultural significance of small, individual elements contributing to larger systems, whether in governance (voting) or art (mosaics)

This particular sculpture has been created on the basis of a colored dipole of a black granite base and a white marble top which refer to the two votes of “yes” with white and “no” with black. Between this dipole I painted a mosaic composition of a variety of tonal shades in grey tones that form these mosaics I mentioned above and which make up the ‘mosaic of democracy’.