The Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a landmark fundraising event at the Herod Atticus Theater beneath the Acropolis. On Friday, October 3, acclaimed director and choreographer Dimitris Papaioannou will present “This That Keeps On – A Personal Archaeology”, a one-night-only work created especially for the occasion.

Commissioned by the museum, Papaioannou’s new piece pays tribute to both his own 40-year artistic journey and the museum’s role in sharing Cycladic ideals with the world. Thirty dancers and actors will bring his signature hybrid creatures to life, exploring themes of memory, fragility, origin, eroticism, and joy against the backdrop of Greece’s ancient heritage.

Celebrated director and choreographer Dimitris Papaioannou. Photo: Julian Mommert

Internationally recognized for staging the opening and closing ceremonies of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, Papaioannou has long been a defining figure of Greece’s contemporary arts scene. His multidisciplinary practice, spanning comics, choreography, performance, and design, has shaped him into one of the most influential creators of his generation.

“This That Keeps On” is conceived as a living dialogue between the ancient and the modern, assembling and reimagining material from Papaioannou’s multidimensional career through his distinct discipline of form and style.

The fundraiser, with limited seating for Friends and Supporters of the Museum, will directly support the creation of a new Museum of Cycladic Art. In keeping with its educational mission, the museum and Papaioannou will also offer free tickets to students of fine arts, theater, music, design, cinema, art history, dance, and scenography.

As it turns 40, the Museum of Cycladic Art is embarking on a new era of “Transformation”, aiming to redefine itself as an inclusive, experiential cultural hub and architectural landmark. More details on its plans will be announced soon.