Located in the seaport town of Nafplio, Greece, the former tomato-canning factory has been redesigned to be a multi-use complex, with three buildings and vast outdoor spaces now home to an arts and humanities library, workshop space, coffee shop/bar, exhibition space, concert halls, amphitheater and open-air cinema. Defined as a ‘contemporary centre of art and culture,’ the journalist, artist, art collector and businesswoman Florica P. Kyriacopoulos is on a mission to revitalize Nafplio.
The Fougaro model, which is essentially injecting a multi-functional program into contemporary design and architecture, seeks to create a “cell for creativity and life.” Soon after its inauguration it facilitated its Fourago Craft Fair #1, featuring a selection of handmade objects by 56 artists and designers. Kyriacopoulos stated that, “This kind of output is a lot more relevant to our lives than, say, high art.” Which is to say, that the entrepreneur seeks to fill the gap between elite art institutions and open, accessible resources and spaces for up-and-coming artists and designers. This new and ambitious creative community now faces the moment of truth, as Greece and its people are busy navigating the murky waters of austerity.