Belgian artist quits Athens Festival curator post amid protests over his proposals

Belgian multidisciplinary artist Jan Fabre has tendered his resignation from the post of the artistic director of the Athens and Epidavros International Festival on Saturday, following stormy protests by Greek artists, opposition political parties and citizens over his plans for the upcoming summer's program, Greek national news agency AMNA reported.

Fabre had been appointed to the post for the period 2016-2019 in February by Culture Minister Aristeidis Baltas who was also under pressure to step down.

During a press briefing on Tuesday Baltas presented Fabre expressing confidence that he will breathe new life into Greece's largest annual cultural festival and strengthen its international status.

However Fabre's idea to limit this year's three-month festival to a tribute to his home country Belgium, admitting that he needs at least two years to get acquainted with Greece's contemporary artistic life, sparked escalating fierce reactions over the next three days.

In particular the exclusion of all Greek productions from the festival and their replacement by controversial plays mainly written by Fabre and his team and exhibitions of his drawings, photos and videos, triggered a "revolt" by numerous acknowledged Greek artists.

Olia Lazaridou, a popular actress and director, was among the Greek artists who told Greek media that they were insulted by Fabre's proposals for "essentially a Fabre- Belgian festival that would eliminate any Greek or other element."

Critics of Fabre's plans noted that since its establishment in 1955 the Festival has hosted performances by international legends of Art across Athens and in the ancient theater of Epidavros in the Peloponnese peninsula.

They argued that under its former artistic director, Greek George Loukos (2006-2015), the Festival had more international orientation, including several top quality performances by famous artists from across the world.

Under the plan Fabre unveiled, eight out of ten productions this summer would be made by Belgians.

In a letter of complaint co-signed by hundreds of artists on Friday Greek artists requested the dismissals of Fabre and Baltas. The call was backed by opposition parties and ordinary Greeks who expressed frustration and outrage on social media and the streets of Athens.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras tweeted on Friday night that he was monitoring the debate and that he had asked for greater weigh to be given to Greek productions. Enditem