Latest news with #GreekCulture
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Greece closes top tourist attraction as heatwave scorches country
The Acropolis in Athens to close temporarily due to heatwave, Greek officials have said. Greece's culture ministry on Tuesday ordered a partial closure of the Acropolis, the country's top monument, to protect visitors amid heatwave conditions. Temperatures in the country are expected to reach 42 Celsius (107.6 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, with a maximum of 38 Celsius in Athens The ministry in a statement said the site would be closed from 1:00 to 5:00 pm (1000 to 1400 GMT) "for the safety of workers and visitors, owing to high temperatures." The news comes after authorities in Greece imposed mandatory work breaks in parts of the country where temperatures are expected to exceed 40C, with the heatwave forecast to last until Thursday. The Labour Ministry ordered the work stoppage, from midday to 5pm, for outdoor manual labour and food delivery services, primarily in central Greece and on several islands. Employers were also asked to offer remote work options. No emergency measures were implemented in Athens, and the current hot spell - following sweltering temperatures across Europe - is not considered unusual. Greek authorities say they are taking long-term steps to address the effects of climate change, including the deployment this summer of a record number of firefighters.
RNZ News
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Māori-Greek artist takes a slice of Aotearoa to the Big Apple
Jimmy James Kouratoras has two decades of experience in the film industry as a scenic artist and 12 years as a solo artist. Photo: Supplied They say there's nothing you can't do when you're in New York, which is spot on for a Māori-Greek artist who got to witness his work light up Manhattan. Jimmy James Kouratoras' Hei Tiki - For the Love of Our Ancestors painting is currently being shown in New York's Theatre District as a part of the Sacred Origins exhibition at Jutta Gallery, and it has featured on a 10-metre high digital billboard. "It was like sending a message from the ancestors straight into the heart of one of the world's busiest cities," he said. It is the artist's first showing in the art capital since 2015, when an older piece was exhibited at the Agora Gallery. Hei Tiki - for the love of our ancestors painting on a digital billboard in Manhattan Photo: supplied Every brushstroke is a salute to his Māori and Greek whakapapa. His new piece brings "heavens, the earth, nature, and the human realm in close quarters with each other" and his tīpuna are portrayed as elements of nature. "As an artist, most of my work happens in solitude, in deep connection with ancestry, whenua, and wairua. So to have that work seen and recognised on an international stage is a privilege." The Waikato-Tainui and Cretan Greek tāne has also been named a finalist in this year's National Contemporary Art Award. Hosted by Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery, the competition had a record 480 entries shortlisted to just 53 artists. The exhibition will run from 1 August to 16 November and the winners will be announced on 31 July. "This acknowledgement isn't just about me - it's about the kaupapa, the stories of our tīpuna, the layers of whakapapa, and the ongoing journey of transformation through art," Kouratoras said. The painting, Hei Tiki - For the Love of Our Ancestors, is currenting showing in New York City. (This image has been rotated) Photo: supplied He never took the usual art school route, but naturally draws from his bloodline to create contemporary artwork that every so often aligns with socio-political topics. "I work through karakia, through intuition. The studio becomes a sacred space here, the invisible mechanics of the universe begin to take shape." As a part of his solo exhibition, Kouratoras' latest creation is dedicated to the sacred rhythms of the Maramataka, or the traditional Māori lunar calendar. Matariki Sacred Waters - Where Land Meets the Sky , accompanied by 14 paintings and seven Pou sculptures, is now showing at Franklin Arts Centre in Pukekohe. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
CTV News
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Dragon boats, jazz and Greek Day on Broadway: Events to check out in Metro Vancouver this weekend
A previous year's Greek Day on Broadway is seen in this photo from the event's website. ( Whether you're celebrating the summer solstice, National Indigenous Peoples Day, or nothing at all, there are plenty of festivities to enjoy in Metro Vancouver this weekend. Here are some you might want to check out: Greek Day on Broadway Now in its 51st year, Greek Day on Broadway will take over the Kitsilano thoroughfare between Macdonald and Blenheim streets from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Organizers say they're going 'bigger and bolder' with their annual celebration of Greek culture this year. 'Dive into a day filled with authentic Greek food, live music, traditional dance performances, and interactive activities that promise fun for the entire family,' the event's website reads. Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival 'The continent's biggest dragon boat race' takes place in False Creek this weekend, and spectators are welcome to view the action and soak up the atmosphere at Concord Pacific Place on Pacific Boulevard. The races themselves take place Saturday and Sunday, but performances on the festival's main stage begin Friday evening at 5:50 p.m. Saturday and Sunday will see more performances, cultural pavilions, a local craft vendor market, a food truck festival and more, according to organizers. Dragon Boat Festival Vancouver The 2019 Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival is seen from the water in this photo from the event's website. ( National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations A variety of events are planned around the Lower Mainland and across the country this weekend for National Indigenous People's Day. Two Metro Vancouver cities that are hosting gatherings Saturday are Surrey and Burnaby. The Surrey celebration takes place from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Bill Reid Amphitheatre in Cloverdale, while the Burnaby event will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Civic Square on Willingdon Avenue. Vancouver International Jazz Festival The Vancouver International Jazz Festival begins its 40th edition Friday and continues through July 1. More than 100 events are scheduled, including dozens of free performances, at venues across the Lower Mainland. A full schedule of events can be found on the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society website. B.C. Halal Food Fest Surrey's Holland Park will play host this weekend to what organizers say is 'Western Canada's largest halal food festival.' B.C. Halal Food Fest features more than 100 vendors and expects to serve more than 100,000 guests over the course of three days. Featuring carnival rides, a market bazaar and live performances daily, the free event runs from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. B.C. Halal Food Festival A previous year's B.C. Halal Food Festival is seen from above. ( Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Burnaby's Scandinavian Community Centre is hosting its Midsummer Festival this weekend, featuring a 'life-size viking village,' music and dance performances, food and craft vendors and more. The festival is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15 for Saturday and $10 for Sunday, and can be purchased at the door. The event is free for those under age 16. ScotFestBC Head to Coquitlam's Town Centre Park this Friday and Saturday for ScotFestBC, Metro Vancouver's 128-year-old Highland Games competition and Scottish cultural celebration. The festival begins Friday evening at 5 p.m. with live performances and an opening ceremony that are free to attend. On Saturday, the games begin, and tickets are required. More information about the event can be found on its website. ScotFestBC ScotFestBC participants carry a caber on a SkyTrain platform in this photo from the festival's website. ( Great Grandview Garage Sale Residents of East Vancouver's Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood are holding more than 200 simultaneous garage sales on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The ninth edition of the Great Grandview Garage Sale is intended to be an opportunity for residents of the neighbourhood to sell their used or unwanted possessions and buy their neighbours' things. A map of participating garage sales can be found on the event's website. The Shoe Project The Pacific Immigrant Resources Society and YWCA Vancouver have teamed up to produce the latest edition of 'The Shoe Project,' a performance series that features immigrant and refugee women sharing 'powerful personal stories' that each involve a pair of shoes. 'This year's Shoe Project cohort includes women from Ukraine, Sudan, Afghanistan, Colombia, Kurdistan-Northern Iraq, Bangladesh, Lebanon, India, Poland and Chile,' organizers say on their website. Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Newmont Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre in Olympic Village, 162 W. 1st Ave., Vancouver. With files from MOVE 103.5's Leanne McLaren
