Tsipras urges more Greek productions in annual festival

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Thursday announced on Twitter that he had urged the new artistic director of an annual summer festival to include more Greek productions.

Tsipras said on Twitter he met with Belgian multidisciplinary artist Jan Fabre, recently appointed to manage the event's artistic content, at Maximos Mansion on Wednesday.

“I am following the discussion regarding the identity of the International Athens and Epidaurus Festival; It’s welcome,” Tsipras said on Twitter.

The move came in the wake of strong reaction by the local cultural community following announcements by Fabre that this year’s event would focus on productions from his native Belgium. Describing the upcoming festival at a recent press conference Fabre said the event would take on a “Belgian spirit” this year.
 
“In my meeting with Jan Fabre I stressed the need for more Greek productions to be included in the festival,” said Tsipras, adding in another tweet that Fabre and Culture Minister Aristides Baltas had agreed to examine the matter.

Fabre was appointed artistic director following the dismissal of Giorgos Loukos.