In a 16th-century monastery among the pine forests of Mount Erymanthos. Ten days where silence has weight and art emerges not from intention, but from attention.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Poretsou Monastery, Kalavryta, Peloponnese — 16th century monastery on the slopes of Mount Erymanthos, near the historic town of Kalavryta |
| Duration | 10 days (9 overnight stays) |
| Disciplines | Visual artists, photographers, musicians, writers, directors, actors — anyone whose practice can respond to nature, silence, and perception |
| Price | €1,480 per person |
| Max capacity | 12 participants |
| Curator / Mentor | Pano Labrou — Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize winner |
| Accommodation | Double rooms (two single beds) inside the monastery complex with private bathroom |
| Meals | ✓ All meals included — breakfast, lunch, dinner, prepared by chef from local seasonal ingredients |
| Transport | ✓ Bus from Athens to Monastery and return to Athens included |
| Excursion | ✓ Full-day excursion to Ancient Olympia (UNESCO) — transport and entrance ticket included |
| Available dates 2026 | September 10–19, 2026 (June editions sold out · Deadline: 25 March 2026) |
Hidden among the slopes of Mount Erymanthos, near the historic town of Kalavryta, lies Poretsou Monastery — a place built in the 16th century where the air is pure, the light unfiltered, and the sound of the river replaces the noise of the world.
Every path, every echo, every surface becomes part of the sensory experience. The texture of moss on walls, the smell of rain, the glow of evening light on the mountain. This is a landscape that sharpens perception — where observation turns into meditation, and creation emerges from attention itself.
In this environment, living and working are not separate. The act of inhabiting becomes part of the creative process. Nature becomes mirror, and perception becomes path.
The day begins with silence, movement, and openness to what the environment reveals. Guided walks through the landscape. Sensory exercises of observation, sound, and light. The morning belongs to the place.
Artists return to their rooms or workspaces — writing, photographing, composing, drawing, or simply reflecting. The mentor is available for discussion and feedback. The process is self-directed. The afternoon belongs to you.
Group meetings — conversations around artistic practice, perception, and the philosophy of seeing. Occasional silent walks or readings close the day, under the sound of the river and the evening light. The evening belongs to everyone.
On outcomes: There are no predefined goals — only an invitation to explore how perception becomes creation. Each participant follows their own rhythm. The program concludes with a collective presentation within the monastery, where process becomes offering and perception becomes form.
The group departs together from Athens on the morning of September 10, 2026. This shared travel is part of the program — a slow transition from urban to natural, from movement to stillness.
Panayiotis Lamprou is a Greek visual artist whose work explores perception, intimacy, and the silent relationship between the self and the world. His photography reveals the unseen — moments where light, texture, and thought converge into stillness. He has developed a practice rooted in attention and authenticity, often working within landscapes of isolation and reflection.
As curator of Nature and Perception, he guides participants through a process of awareness — not by instruction, but by presence. For Pano, art begins where observation deepens: when the surface becomes threshold, and seeing becomes being.
The program runs in short intensive editions. Demand has been high — plan ahead.
Application deadline for September edition: 25 March 2026
The program focuses on research, sensory awareness, and shared experience. There are no required outcomes and no portfolio requirements. What matters is openness — to observation, to silence, to the place. Participants are encouraged to explore and create at their own pace.
Yes — bring whatever tools or equipment your practice requires. The program encourages a personal, self-directed approach. The monastery and landscape provide the studio; you bring the practice.
Guided walks, group reflections, and shared discussions form the core of the residency. Participation is strongly encouraged — but we understand that individual needs vary. The daily program has built-in space for personal work and solitude.
Accommodation is individual. If you wish to share your room with a friend, please contact us in advance and we will see what can be arranged. The intimate scale of the program (12 participants) makes the group dynamic important to maintain.
If the program is canceled by Eutopia, all advance payments are refunded. If a participant cancels, advance payments are non-refundable, unless the spot is filled by another artist from the waiting list.
One edition still available. 12 participants maximum. Deadline: 25 March 2026.
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