jeff vanderpool
Photography and Cultural Heritage
First developed in 2011 by photographers Jeff Vanderpool and Stergios Karavatos, Photography and Cultural Heritage (PCH) consists of a workshop concept aimed at engaging citizens to turn their gaze on the common heritage around them. Working in collaboration with public institutions, heritage organizations and university programs, the workshops aim to enable citizens to identify heritage in a wide variety of manifestations (local customs, intangible heritage, architecture, landscape, ethnography, etc.). Using the power of the image, participants subsequently look at forms of visual representation and relevant techniques to achieve their vision. The results of the workshops form part of open-air exhibitions held in public areas of towns commissioning the project.
PCH: ELEUSIS AS A CASE STUDY
Since 2012, PCH has been running in the city of Eleusis, first supported by the Heritage Management Organization and since 2016 supported by the Municipality of Eleusis. The workshop is open to residents of Eleusis and the surrounding areas and cooperates with the MA in Heritage Management (University of Kent; Athens University of Economics and Business) which is also based in Eleusis. The workshop is held over 12 sessions starting in February and culminates with a public exhibition outside the renown archaeological site on the main pedestrian road in Eleusis.
The city of Eleusis is located approximately 20 km from Athens. Formerly an industrial town, it is now more and more becoming a center for culture and the arts. In 2016 it was selected to be European Capital of Culture in Greece in 2021.
Working on camera settings in one of the lecture halls at the municipality building.
Students editing their work in one of the lecture halls of the municipality building.
Working on photography techniques at the archaeological site of Eleusis.
photo: Maria Douka
Public presentation of student projects at the Cyceon Cafe in Eleusis.
Setting up the PCH exhibition at the Old Olive Press in Eleusis.
Workshop presentation at 4th Heritage Management Conference in Eleusis.
Photo: Aspasia Stavropoulou
"Art walk" led by Jeff Vanderpool during the 4th Heritage Management Conference in Eleusis.
Jeff Vanderpool at the 2017 exhibition held outside the archaeology site of Eleusis.
Photo: Joanna Vasdeki
Passers-by stop to have a look at the exhibition.
Selections from participants' work:
(The Cultural Organization of the Municipality of Eleusis)
PCH: TRADITIONAL TOYS IN AGRINIO
A short two-day course on documenting traditional toys in the Agrinio area in collaboration with the Cultural Heritage Management and New Technologies Department of the University of Patras and the Municipality of Agrinio. Work produced in this two-day workshop was exhibited in a end-of-year show organized by the university.
Agrinio is a small city in the western region of Greece known previously for its tobacco production. Located just north of the Gulf of Corinth and connected to the southern region of Greece via the Harilaos Tricoupi Bridge, Agrinio is home to the University of Patras' Heritage Management program.
Photographing a presentation of traditional toys.
Studio images of traditional toys taken during the PCH-Agrinio workshop.
PCH in Agrinio
Photo: Anna Modiati
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