Research
Day 1
Where democracy began
Welcome and introductions. Study visits to the Pnyx, the Ancient Agora and the Acropolis Museum. Working session on the foundations — and the exclusions — of ancient democracy.
Civic Lab
From ancient ideas to active citizenship
Dates
Flexible — multiple dates available
Location
Athens / Piraeus
Duration
6 days · Monday to Saturday
Target group
Artists, Art & Culture Professionals, Educators (all levels), Youth Workers, Youth, University Students
Description
Born in Athens over two millennia ago, democracy keeps evolving to meet new challenges, from digital participation to social inclusion. Democracy Reimagined explores the origins of democratic thought while designing participatory methods that make democratic values meaningful and relevant for today's communities.
What you take home
Interested in Democracy Reimagined?
Share your preferred period and we will get back to you with the closest match.
Get in touch
Dates are flexible and confirmed based on demand — no fees, no commitment at this stage.
Flexible dates throughout the year
Athens / Piraeus
6 days · Monday to Saturday
Individuals and organisations welcome
Tentative schedule
An outline, not a timetable — trainers adapt it to the group in front of them.
Research
Day 1
Welcome and introductions. Study visits to the Pnyx, the Ancient Agora and the Acropolis Museum. Working session on the foundations — and the exclusions — of ancient democracy.
Discover & Experience
Day 2
Workshops with Athenian civic organisations and activists. Participants compare democratic pressures across their own countries: participation, disinformation, representation, inclusion.
Co-create
Day 3
Teams choose a civic challenge and design an educational response. Facilitation techniques, prototyping methods, first version built and taken apart.
Co-create
Day 4
Second version, tested inside the group. What survives contact with real participants, and what does not.
Co-create
Day 5
Teams prepare Saturday's public democratic experience — a street performance, interactive stations or an open assembly — and handle the logistics: site, permissions, materials, invitations.
Share & Public Engagement
Day 6
The public democratic experience runs in the city and the community is invited in. Afterwards, reflection on what happened, a transfer session, certificates and closing.
Cultural activities
Athens is not a backdrop to the course — it is part of the material. Beyond the field visits built into the programme, every participant gets a shared set of cultural activities, plus a few chosen for the theme of this specific course.
Included in every course
Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum — entry ticket
Guided walking tour of the historic centre — Plaka, Monastiraki and the surrounding neighbourhoods, with our team
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre — visit to the park, library and opera house
Chosen for Democracy Reimagined
Ancient Agora archaeological site — entry ticket
Museum of the City of Athens — entry ticket
Dates and fees
Mon 19 – Sat 24 October 2026
Monday to Saturday
Mon 16 – Sat 21 November 2026
Monday to Saturday
Mon 25 – Sat 30 January 2027
Monday to Saturday
Mon 15 – Sat 20 March 2027
Monday to Saturday
Mon 10 – Sat 15 May 2027
Monday to Saturday
Mon 21 – Sat 26 June 2027
Monday to Saturday
Practical details
Attend at least 80% of the sessions and you leave with an ARTIT Certificate of Attendance, handed to you at the closing session on the last day. If your sending organisation needs Europass Mobility documentation, tell us when you register and we will prepare it.
The course runs over six consecutive days. Each day sits either in the morning or in the afternoon block, and we decide which closer to the date. The schedule is indicative, not a timetable: trainers adapt it to the group, and walking tours and site visits may change with weather, opening hours and availability. The last day, when the work goes public, runs longer. The final schedule reaches you two weeks before you travel.
Anything that comes as a ticket or a pass is yours to use on whichever day suits you, including the free half of each course day and the Sunday after. Nothing is added in its place if you use it early. Opening hours in Athens shift with the season, and visits may be rescheduled if a venue is closed or the weather does not allow it.
No laptop needed. Bring a phone or camera for documentation, clothes and shoes you do not mind getting wet or dirty, a hat and a refillable water bottle. Gloves, bags and all making materials are provided.
The ARTIT method
Study visits to the Pnyx, Ancient Agora and Acropolis Museum introduce the foundations and exclusions of ancient democracy.
Workshops with civic organisations and activists compare democratic challenges across participants' countries.
Teams design and prototype a practical educational response, from a classroom game to a community campaign.
A public democratic experience — a street performance, interactive stations or an open assembly — invites the community in.