This program is a collaboration between the University of Southern Maine and the Ministry of the Aegean, a cabinet-level ministry of the Hellenic Republic. The director of the program is Mary Snell of the University of Southern Maine. The contact for the exchange in Greece is Vasso Polichroni whose office is located in the Ministry's satellite office on the island of Lesvos.
The mission of the program is to develop exchanges of professional artists, and to promote friendship and the sharing of creative expression and culture between the two countries. The country sending an artist provides transportation. The receiving country is responsible for all other expenses including in-country transportation, housing, food, and event expenses, including promotional and technical expenses. To aid in the cultural aspect of the exchange, housing in private homes is encouraged for at least part of each stay.
The most recent, the seventh, exchange took place in June of 2005. Four jazz artists, called the Maine Street Jazz Quartet, traveled to Mytilene, Lesvos, and gave two concerts plus a series of clinics in jazz and in jazz performance technique on individual instruments. The highly successful clinics helped create an excitement and an interest in the quartet and their music. More than 600 people came to their concert in the Demotiko Theatro of Mytilene. While on the island the quartet met with a number of local dignitaries.
The first exchange took place in July 1992 when USM faculty member, pianist Laura Kargul gave three performances on the island of Lesvos in the villages of Plomari and Molyvos and in the city of Mytilene.
The second exchange artist was Nicos Economides of Chios, Greece, a traditional musician (violin, lute) who came to USM for a week in November 1995 and gave workshops and a hugely successful concert with Antonis Gardassis.
The third exchange took place in the summer of 1997 when USM photographer Rose Marasco traveled to three northern Aegean islands -- Lesvos, Limnos and Chios -- to shoot photos of Greek women and their home environments. (She returned again in 1998.) A video was shot by the director and Andrea Sarris at the same time.
The fourth exchange occured in November of 1998. Michael Akalestos, an iconographer (or haiographer), lectured on the history and role of icons in the Greek Orthodox faith and gave a series of workshops to demonstrate how icons, the roots of modern Western painting, are created.
The fifth exchange took place June 2001. Actor and theater director Wil Kilroy traveled to Lesvos where he conducted acting workshops and directed a performance of scenes from American plays. The scenes were performed in Greek and in English (one was repeated in both languages) by members of local theater groups, and took place in the theater of Filotechnikos Omilos Mytilinis in Mytilene.
The sixth exchange took place in October of 2003 when dyer / weaver Sophia Tata came to Maine to give lectures workshops on the art of dying wool with natural plants and in weaving colorful and original tapestries. She will brought colorful examples of her weaving which shown in a small exhibition in the Kidder Gallery on the USM Gorham campus. She also participated in the official establishment of a Sister City relationship between the cities of Portland, Maine, and Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece.
The exchange is also involved in other activities. Go to other events for more details.
The program has been successful so far in exchanging individuals. Yet to be able to exchange larger groups such as a traditional Greek dance troupe or an American jazz combo, additional funding is needed. We also are seeking financial support for completion of the Marasco exhibit and video, and for a cultural video documentation project that records the dying crafts and home skills of people living and working in traditional island villages.