Platforms Project 2024 – Independent Art Fair was completed with great success on Sunday 13 October at the Greek Public Tobacco Factory, which proved to be an ideal venue for this year’s event.

From 10 to 13 October, thousands of spectators visited – with free admission – the largest international exhibition of the independent art scene, filling the iconic building of the Greek Public Tobacco Factory, which hosted this year’s 12th edition. The opening ceremony on Thursday 10 October was attended by the President of the Hellenic Parliament, Mr Konstantinos An. Tasoulas and the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni. They were given a guided tour of the exhibition and had the opportunity to talk to the participating artists and the public.

Platforms Project 2024 presented 62 art platforms from 25 countries, with more than 900 artists.

The rich programme also included the extremely interesting conference of the Greek Section of the International Association of Art Critics (AICA), on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of its foundation. More than 20 curators and art historians of different generations participated, who spoke about the evolution of art criticism and presented their views on the challenges facing critical discourse and curatorial practices, both in Greece and internationally. At the same time, 10 more speeches/discussions were held with the participation of 25 speakers, including well-known artists, theorists, art critics, architects and experts, which further enriched the experience of the participants. The multifaceted parallel programme featured a further 52 performances from the participating platforms in the Greek Public Tobacco Factory exhibition space throughout the days and hours of the exhibition, as well as workshops, and educational programmes for children.

For the 7th consecutive year, workshops of the Athens School of Fine Arts presented the works of their students and moved the Open Studios to the Greek Public Tobacco Factory.

This year’s event hosted even more platform groups from the field of design, while the extended programme included four parallel solo exhibitions of artists from foreign platforms, which can still be visited at ENIAGallery in Piraeus.

In total, more than 900 independent artists from all over the world participated. The project is directed by Artemis Potamianou and Michalis Argyrou. Artemis Potamianou was the artistic curator of Platforms Project 2024.

For another year, Platforms Project 2024 provided a unique platform for young and established artists to exhibit their works, get to know each other and connect with a wider audience, creating a “living” interactive artistic mosaic. Networking opportunities were plentiful, fostering collaborations and connections.

Visitors had the opportunity to explore the teams’ projects in the open and welcoming space of the Greek Public Tobacco Factory, each of which was a testament to the power of collaboration, creativity and innovation.

The Platforms Project has undoubtedly established itself as the annual rendezvous of the independent international art scene. Platforms Project – Independent Art Fair is more than just a showcase of creativity; it is a testament to the power of artistic expression, the importance of independent platforms in supporting the arts and fostering a thriving creative community.

“We are thrilled by the great response from the audience. The success of the event reinforces our commitment to promoting the independent art scene. We owe a big thank you to the 120 volunteers who supported the event with unparalleled professionalism and boundless enthusiasm. We are looking forward to the next 13th edition of Platforms Project”, state its directors Artemis Potamianou and Michalis Argyrou.