βίδα Information

βίδα is pronounced ˈviːða (IPA) or 'veedha (pseudo-phonetic alphabet). It is a not-for-profit organisation based in Athens, Greece, which specialises in creating, instigating and supporting live & performance-based art works & events, and organising various other activities which relate to, inspire, or inform such work. βίδα began its official existence in 2006 when it was founded by Rowan Thorpe (director) and Olia Lydaki [Όλια Λυδάκη] (founding member), and is the culmination of 10 years of semi-existence in various informal and temporary forms, under various names and in various countries, as its ghost followed Rowan around the globe, until it settled in Athens, Greece. βίδα strives to provide a focal point for many developments in the live/performance arts in Greece through direct creative output, encouragement and tangible support for output from others, and through raising general public awareness of exciting developments in the arts. There is a strong focus on pushing the unique talents and qualities present in the live/performance-art created in Greece, and as a direct response to life and culture in Greece. Much emphasis is placed on relevance to "The Public", and social conscience (and so-called "artivism"). βίδα particularly aims to appeal to audiences who usually avoid contemporary theatre/film/dance works (out of a sense of alienation or frustration with the often self-referential and overly “sophisticated” nature of such work) by creating, fostering and promoting more direct and universal work (and subject matter), and to market the work in a publicly accessible manner.