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INTERLUDE
Dear friends of the Hamezi Festival,

The Festival is for us our own small seed, which we planted and have faithfully nurtured, with all the love we have to give. From its harvest we hoped the world would be filled with music and unity. For three years now, we have been meeting intensively around our seed, trying to offer and receive the best version of ourselves.
But the life of a farmer is shaped by seasons, and as we sow and as we reap, so too must we at times necessarily let the land lie fallow. So this year we have decided to let the soil rest — so that we may later see it regain its strength, until it is ready to once again enter the great exchange of cultivation. Thus, we announce that the Hamezi Festival will not take place this year.
Our dear friends, do not think that this is a farewell message. We’ll see you again soon!

With much love,
The Organizing Team of the Hamezi Festival.

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After we’ve introduced ourselves, it’s time to get to know each other...

The Hamezi Festival is a series of seminars on music and traditional Cretan arts that is organized every summer in Hamezi, Sitia, by the Cultural Association of Hamezi, the village's residents, and friends from surrounding areas. The common driving force for everyone is the love for the artistic tradition of the place.

The seminars are hosted in the courtyards of our homes, the churchyards, and other spaces around the village. During the days of the festival, Hamezi is filled with music. Although it takes place in an open space, the seminar is a private moment between students and the instructor. It is not open to the public. As the organizers of the festival, we are committed to preserving the integrity of the lesson process, which is our central focus.

The gatherings, the socializing in the village’s cafés at the end of each day, is the joyful result of bringing together musicians from different geographical backgrounds. It is a process that happens spontaneously through our shared love for music. The café is the community meeting point: it is where we learned to share, and it is where we share what we’ve learned. The music of our land was born and nurtured in these meeting places. For us at the festival, friendship and fun are a joy, but it’s important to note that they are not the main goal.

In our small village, which we "stretch" as much as we can to host students and teachers, additional visitors may leave the festival disappointed, as it’s possible they will not find a place to eat or drink during the seminar days.

That’s why, during the Festival, we organize two events open to the public: a concert in the courtyard of the Afenti Christou church and the closing celebration at the school, where the seminar presentations take place. Our music smells like our bread, and our bread is where our music is heard. We look forward to meeting again this year, under the roof of this virtue.

With dedication and love,

The Organizing Team of the Hamezi Festival.


"Hamezi, your alleys are full of mantinades,They are from the violinists and the many serenades."

The Hamezi Festival is organized for the 3rd year, under the initiative of the Cultural Center of Hamezi. Hamezi will host music lessons, a dance workshop, a weaving and natural dyeing workshop, and a mosaic workshop in its narrow streets and courtyards.
See you there!

Contact

  • Hamezi, Greece

For any question you have do not hesitate to send us an email or phone us.