The Collective

Avtonomi Akadimia is a durational art work and an educational assembly:

a practice of free, open-air education among trees, cicadas, and birds, at the very site where it once existed: the Akadimia Platonos Grove. Here, a military training camp took place two and a half thousand years ago, and Plato taught young men philosophy of the militarised state. Here, at this very spot from where it all went wrong, since 2014, we have been instigating an inter-epistemology of art, philosophy, environmental activism, and political healing. We conjure the reuniting of art and physis in ecofeminism. Here, we esteem knowledge of the Good Life above all knowledges and weave together indigenous epistemologies. 

The Athenian Schools of Care, as offered by Avtonomi Akadimia, juxtapose healing cultural techniques of becoming one—or re-symbiotizing with the elements of the natural world—with politics: political philosophy and artistic activism.

www.avtonomi-akadimia.net

The Athens Sculpture Atelier is a dedicated space for the study of traditional figurative sculpture, created for those seeking serious, focused training. It offers a range of educational opportunities—from an intensive six-month full-time program to shorter, immersive workshops lasting two to three weeks—allowing each student to engage at a level that reflects their commitment and goals.

https://www.athenssculptureatelier.com/

We are an art gallery concept in Athens that brings together exhibitions, workshops, and everyday creative practice under one roof. More than a place to view art, we are building a community around shared experiences — where people can meet, learn, and create together.

Alongside our exhibitions, we host hands-on workshops that invite people to reconnect with materials, slow down, and explore creativity in an accessible way. Our space also functions as a shared studio and co-working environment, supporting artists, makers, and independent thinkers who need both structure and inspiration.

Sustainability is part of how we think and operate. In our shop we offer carefully selected objects and materials that align with a more conscious, grounded way of living.

At its core, the gallery is about connection — to art, to process, to others, and to the physical world around us.

Αrtist, activist and multimedia sculptor. She was born in the Soviet Union as Mari, one of Europe’s last indigenous cultures with a shamanic tradition, and lives and works in Athens and Berlin. “Joulia Strauss” stands for a chord of artistic media, resonating in a deep bond with philosophy, technology and the ongoing reloveution for the world beyond Empire. Her sculptures, paintings, performances, drawings and video works have been seen in solo and group exhibitions at the Pergamon Museum and Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin, at Tate Modern, as well as at the Tirana Biennale, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, the Athens Biennale, the Kyiv Biennial, the ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe and documenta14, among others. She is the editor of Krytyka Polityczna Athens and (with Friedrich Kittler, Peter Berz, and Peter Weibel) of Götter und Schriften rund ums Mittelmeer (Wilehlm Fink, 2017). Strauss is the founder and organizer of Avtonomi Akadimia in Athens. She is currently training to earn her third stripe in Việt Võ Đạo Kung Fu and finalizing her film Transindigeneous Assembly.

Robert Bodem is not only an internationally recognized sculptor, but a deeply influential teacher whose work has shaped contemporary figurative sculpture through education.

After completing his studies at Boston University, where he earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Sculpture, Bodem began his career working alongside Dimitri Hadzi. This early foundation in traditional sculpture informed a lifelong commitment to both practice and teaching.

In 1998, he was awarded the Albert S. and Ester B. Kahn Award, which enabled him to establish the Sculpture Program at the Florence Academy of Art. Over more than two decades as Director of Sculpture, Bodem developed his influential methodology, Drawing in Space—an approach that has guided and inspired a generation of figurative sculptors, emphasizing clarity of form, structure, and perception.

His dedication to teaching continues through his role as the founding director of the Athens Sculpture Atelier, where he fosters a rigorous yet supportive environment in which students can engage deeply with the human figure. He also teaches workshops internationally and has served as a guest instructor at the Figura Dutch Academy of Figurative Sculpture.

Through his educational work, Bodem’s impact extends far beyond his own sculpture—living on in the hands and vision of the many artists he has trained.

Jonas Saul is a bestselling author of the Sarah Roberts Series, with over two million copies sold, and has published more than sixty thrillers. His work has outranked Stephen King and Dean Koontz on Amazon and has been optioned for television and film by MadRiver Pictures.

A sought-after speaker and instructor, Jonas has spoken at international writing conferences and film festivals worldwide. He is the founder of Imagine Greece Retreats, hosting annual retreats for writers and readers on the sunny shores of Greece, where he currently resides. His teachings focus on crafting irresistible tension and emotion, building a sustainable writing career, and avoiding the common pitfalls of the publishing industry.

An acclaimed freelance editor, Jonas collaborates with several publishers and offers private editing services to authors worldwide. His editing website features glowing testimonials from clients who credit him with taking their books to the next level.

For speaking engagements, jury work, or to connect:

📧 jonassaul@icloud.com | jonas@imaginegreeceretreats.com

The Squirrel is a personal handcraft upcycling workshop. The creator behind it, Mrs. Anna Hays, brings a cottagecore, occult, and medieval fantasy aesthetic from nature to the heart of the city. Gathering natural materials and creatively reusing discarded items, she creates unique, custom pieces of all kinds. Her goal? Waste elimination and a revival of magick! Based in Athens and shipping worldwide, she is here to bring your ideas to life.

Find Anna, the “Squirrel” on Instagram (@thesquirrelgr)

Eduard Melnik is a craftsman who creates exceptional axes, knives, and unique pieces from wood and metal. His work is deeply inspired by mythology, with a special focus on Slavic and Northern traditions.

Each piece reflects a blend of strength, symbolism, and artistry — shaped by hand and guided by imagination. A true creator, he forges not only metal, but his own path.

(And yes, as you might have guessed by the surname, we are related.)

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DmKMWTQv5/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I’m Dialekti, blending artistry and enchantment through jewelry with a magical spirit, and designing Greek bridal sandals for life’s most meaningful steps.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/GorgonJewellery

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AlmyraSoles

Founded by Anna Xydia in 2024, Sister A is a holistic wellness brand rooted in a deeply personal journey. Originally greek, born and raised in Luxembourg, Anna was naturally drawn to cosmetics, beauty, and self-care from a young age it was always an intuitive part of who she was. 

From early on, she felt different and unique, wanting to be fully authentic while also longing to belong somewhere, because she didn’t quite fit in. During her late teens and early adulthood, she faced personal challenges that led her to seek deeper healing. She studied psychology and coaching,immersing herself in holistic practices that helped her reconnect with her mind, body, and spirit. 

Through this journey, she not only found healing but also fell in love with self-discovery—and now she wants to share that journey with others by creating a supportive sisterhood for women.

Sister A began with four carefully crafted self-care products featuring lavender, designed to help women relax, ground themselves, and reconnect with their inner world.

From the start, Sister A’s vision has been more than just products ’s about creating a community for women. A space where women can heal, grow, and explore all aspects of themselves, while embracing their raw feminine energy, creativity, and authenticity

Sister A combines wellness, self-care, movement, spirituality, and creativity in a bold, multidimensional approach. The brand is dedicated to supporting women on their journey to holistic wellness.

links: www.sister-a.com (http://www.sister-a.com/)

instagram : sister.a_holistic

tik tok: sister.a_holistic

I am an Intuitive Energy Artist and a PhD researcher, specialising in art for wellbeing and socially engaged art practices with refugees. As an artist I specialize in personal animal totems, guardian angels and unique soul essence. I launched out as an artist in 2005, initially painting a variety of landscapes and spiritual pieces. However, in 2011 (on a trip to Australia) I understood my gift as a medium through art.

During the process I often see visions in my mind’s eye for my client which I bring into the physical world via my artwork. As soon as I pick up a paintbrush the magic begins and the layered work of healing unfolds. I often go on a journey, praying, sending healing and surrendering to the process. Messages / guidance accompany the finished artworks along with pictures of the process.

Find me on insta @ showerofblessings.love

Our farm is a unique natural space, accessible to everyone, available for corporate and private events, as well as special parties. Within the space, we organize messy play activities, while also running the Farm School, offering experiential learning experiences for children.

At the same time, we regularly host family events on weekends, giving both children and adults the opportunity to enjoy quality time close to nature and the animals.

https://www.instagram.com/alopix_farm?igsh=MXZoYmZpNzF0bDUzYg==

Cat Cafe Athens is the first cat café in Greece dedicated to promoting cat adoptions and raising awareness about animal welfare. More than just a café, it is a safe and welcoming space where people can relax, connect, and interact with rescued cats in a calm and caring environment.

Our mission is to give stray and abandoned cats a second chance by helping them find loving homes, while also educating the public about responsible pet ownership. Through daily interactions, events, and community initiatives, we aim to build a culture of empathy, respect, and compassion for animals.

Cat Cafe Athens is also the creator of the Cat Festival, a large-scale event that brings together animal lovers, organizations, and brands to celebrate cats and support adoption efforts across Greece.

By combining social impact with a unique hospitality experience, we strive to create meaningful connections — between people, animals, and the community.

Tailor-made trip itineraries, where every single detail has been put into place just for you to save your time and ensure a unique and special trip based on your dreams, wishes, budget and interests.

https://eutraveldesigner.com/

Medium Ritualist Keivo Kruus is a practitioner working at the intersection of ritual, intuition, and unseen forces. His work draws from ancient traditions, channeling subtle energies into grounded, transformative practices.

He serves as a bridge between worlds — guiding, sensing, and holding space for what cannot be easily explained.

https://www.facebook.com/share/18Lg43u8dr/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Santorini by Maria

Retreat facilitation. Nervous system reset. Craft-led experiences.

Maria Petrenko is a Santorini-based experience designer and retreat facilitator working with pace, place, and attention.

She creates small-scale, carefully structured experiences that support nervous system reset and meaningful slowing down. Not through passive relaxation, but through intentional sequences. Walks at the right time of day, hands-on craft, and quiet, grounded moments shaped by the island.

Her work often unfolds in collaboration with local artists, craftspeople, musicians, and winemakers. Each experience is designed to feel coherent, calm, and rooted in place.

She also supports retreat leaders and travel designers in shaping experiences with rhythm, clarity, and depth.

Best suited for:

– Retreats seeking depth over activity

– Creative professionals in need of reset

– Travelers drawn to slower, more intentional Santorini

And of course, fellow cat lovers - Maria has ten rescues and no intention of stopping.

 Each experience is designed around one core question: 

How should this day feel, and what needs to happen for that to be true?

The Author dedicated over 20 years of his life to exploring and searching for inaccessible places that remain to this day far removed from the effects of mass tourism. He has come into contact with cultures and authentic traditions on the verge of being lost, and is constantly driven by an insatiable desire for knowledge that’s brought him to a point beyond his own expectations.

During the Odyssey of his journeys, among indigenous tribes in the remotest of areas in the Amazon, he has entered into a profound, symbiotic relationship with the queen of their sacred plants: Ayahuasca. In this book, Alessio Prefumo narrates his Amazonian explorations in great detail, with thoughtful, ethnic, geographical and photographic descriptions, plus great insights into his many extraordinary exploits that can only be described as straddling the limit of what can be considered real, and that have nothing to envy of the most daring adventure novels. Only after many years of searching has the author found what he’s always coveted… During a shaman’s ceremonial rite he finally fulfils the only true possible voyage: the great voyage inside oneself. Thanks to this concoction of the most potent of entheogens, this magnificent catalyser of the pineal gland, and also to an innate desire for inner discovery, Alessio has managed to live the famous Epopteia, and will now describe what that supreme consciousness that has been praised by all of the past’s great schools of philosophy and mysticism really was. Herein, the author attempts to translate into words the extraordinary astonishment of rousing from the material dream and ultimately discovering the immortal soul.

Check out this Beacons page! - https://beacons.ai/alessioamazonloveexpedition

Megan Schertler is a leading voice in print-first publishing strategy, known for turning ambitious editorial visions into revenue-ready brands. Co-founder of In Real Life Media (http://www.inreallife.media/) and creator of the Magazine Accelerator (http://www.inreallife.media/programs), (http://www.inreallife.media/programs) a business development intensive that provides a detailed strategy for achieving profitability with print magazine businesses, Megan works with magazine founders and brands to design systems that transform cultural capital into real business growth. Formerly Publishing Director at Highsnobiety, she has helped shape some of the most influential titles of the last decade—including Fantastic Man, Interview, CR Fashion Book, COS Magazine, and Hypebeast. She also worked on the editorial teams of Marie Claire UK and SHOWstudio. With deep editorial instincts and strategic rigor, Megan helps magazines define their unique position, build sustainable business models, and grow with integrity.