Events

PicNic Manifesto

ongoing activity

in Athens Public Spaces

During the last years, we are experiencing an increasing threat of privatization over Athenian public spaces. Presented as “renovations”, “embellishments”, “hygienization”, “defense of order”, or plainly as plans for tourism attractions. These diverse interventions on parks and hills reduce their green areas and aim to limit their usage, accommodating it to profiting schemes and to a view of the city that disregards its inhabitants’ vital needs.

Amidst this contested scenario, picnics emerge as a convoking and resisting quotidian activity that refreshes the air and renovates our possibilities to experience public space as a joyful common. We invite you to help us write a Picnic Manifesto! How do picnics materialize our views of the type of city where we want to live? How do they express our views on coexistence, welcomeness and sharing?

The first Picnic Manifesto was at Akadimia Platonos Park, adding to the many actions being done to support the park’s existence as it is, against the cutting of 314 trees and the invasion of bulldozers and cement. The second was in Strefi Hill Exarchia, November, 2023.

This will be an ongoing Mouries’ activity at various parks in the city. Bring friends and whatever you’d like to share (fruits? ideas? cookies? questions?) We look forward to see you there!