To celebrate 20 years of its mentoring program, Rolex is launching “Rolex Arts Festival – Celebrating 20 Years of Mentoring” which will be held in Athens from May 22 to 28, 2023.
Dozens of artists will celebrate this long-standing commitment to the world of the arts and 20 years of mentorship with the Grande Maison.
Tribute to the mentoring program
The Rolex Artist Mentorship Program holds a special place within the Perpetual Arts Initiative. It is known for its unique approach to mentorship and plays an important role in promoting artistic excellence.
Recognized for its professionalism and authenticity, the Mentorship Program has become a universal reference in the art world and a symbol of Rolex's unwavering support for the cultural world. It offers emerging talents the opportunity to collaborate with established artists in their field to gain confidence and realize their full creative potential. In addition, the program contributes to the preservation of the world's artistic heritage.
Over the past twenty years, an exceptional artistic community has emerged. It plays a remarkable role in enabling the program to achieve its primary goal: to transmit knowledge internationally to a new generation of artists. The festival to be held in Athens is both the result of this unique program and a tribute to it.
Thirty artistic events, nine different locations
Performances, exhibitions, readings, screenings, installations, and multidisciplinary discussions will highlight the creative exchange of more than 60 protégés and mentors. Throughout the week, more than 30 artistic events will take place in nine venues—stages, galleries, and public spaces—in Athens, the cradle of art and creativity. Dance, theater, music, film, architecture, visual arts, and literature will be among the disciplines highlighted from May 26 to 28, by a whole generation of talents advancing in their field of the arts with the support of Rolex.
From 22 to 25 May, during the first part of the festival, the public of the city of Athens will have the opportunity to discover 14 events dedicated to dozens of Greek artists, young and professional from the world of arts.
From 26 to 28 May, many works belonging to former protégés will be presented; They will engage in an open dialogue alongside renowned mentors, including true legends. The Rolex Arts Festival aims to be a source of inspiration in Athens, the center of world culture, and will also demonstrate Rolex's determination to pursue excellence, a desire that drives the Maison to support exceptional individuals and organizations in the world of art.
Our highlights
The visitors of Rolex Arts Festival will find a wide variety of events and presentations. Proceeds will be donated to partner institutions for their artistic efforts and activities.
On the program and to discover:
A group exhibition at the National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST) featuring the work of eight former visual arts protégés. It features Sammy Baloji, Alejandro Cesarco, Masanori Handa, Nicholas Hlobo, Mateo López, Thao Nguyen Phan, Camila Rodríguez Triana, and Matthias Weischer, with a discussion opening with mentor Carrie Mae Weems.
A group exhibition at the Benaki Museum highlights the achievements of all former protégés in the field of architecture, such as Sahel Alhiyari, Gloria Cabral, Mariam Issoufou Kamara, Simon Kretz and Yang Zhao – with an opening discussion moderated by mentor Sir David Chipperfield.
A screening of short films in the garden of the Benaki Museum, featuring works by former protégés and directors, including Aditya Assarat, Kyle Bell, Sara Fgaier, Annemarie Jacir, Josué Méndez, Celina Murga, Agustina San Martín, Tom Shoval, and Chaitanya Tamhane.
Two theatrical performances : The Case of the Stranger of Whitney White, former protégé at Athens Conservatory, followed by a discussion with her mentor, Phyllida Lloyd and [÷] v .0.8: Bolero, solo performance by former protégé Sebastián Solórzano Rodríguez, in the Ω2Complex room of the Conservatory.
Two dance performances at the Athens Conservatory : former protégé Khoudia Touré with an international ensemble of Greek dancers for a performance, and a joint poster shared by Eduardo Fukushima in a solo performance and by Myles Thatcher, former protégé who choreographed a duet.
Two musical performances : former protégé Ben Frost in a sound performance in the Alexándra-Triánti Hall of the Megaron and former protégés Dina Elwedidi, Marcus Gilmore and Aurelio Martínez in a closing concert in the Megaron Gardens, accompanied by musicians from Egypt, Honduras and the United States, and the exceptional participation of former mentor Gilberto Gil.
Four installations at the Athens Conservatory with former protégés Selena Cartmel (drama), Matthias Upirez (drama), Federico León (drama) and Jason Aki Somma (dance).
A musical performance in the name ofArtemis: Fountain, commissioned by former protégé Pauchi Sasaki, who created a work in which music blends with the water jets of the pool Cultural Center of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
A World in Your Ear (A Word in the Ear): Former literary protégés Naomi Alderman, Antonio García Angel, Edem Awumey, Colin Barrett, Julían Fuks, Julia Leigh, Miroslav Pankov, and Tracy K. Smith will have their texts read in English and Greek by renowned actors. They will be presented in a performance in the Amphitheater of the Athens Conservatory.
For more information, visit www.rolex.org. The Rolex Perpetual Arts Initiative is located at this link.
André Tirlet
