Projects in Penitentiaries

GNO Learning & Participation Lead Donor

Donor of the educational programmes in Penitentiaries

The GNO Learning & Participation, with support from the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, is continuing its artistic workshop cycle for another year in four Penitentiaries across Greece, aiming to transform these penitentiary spaces into environments that foster free expression, creativity, and meaningful communication.

The workshops are not limited to teaching artistic skills; they aim to serve as tools for empowering participants, providing psychological support, and promoting social cohesion. Through music, dance, singing, and collective experiences, participants have the opportunity to discover new ways to communicate, build collaboration and discipline skills, boost their self-esteem, and strengthen their mental resilience against everyday challenges within a penitentiary setting. At the same time, by engaging with people from different cultural backgrounds, these groups become spaces for fostering intercultural dialogue, getting to know one another, and practicing mutual respect.

During the 2025/26 season, four workshops are scheduled: a music workshop at the Rural Penitentiary of Agiá in Chania; a dance workshop at the Eleonas Women’s Penitentiary in Thebes; and music and singing workshops at the Penitentiaries of Diavata and Nigrita, respectively. Each of them draws inspiration from its participants’ experiences, cultural backgrounds, and personal stories, creating an environment where artistic action motivates personal growth, social interaction, and hope for the future.

• Rural Penitentiary of Agiá in Chania

Music workshop

October 2025 – March 2026

Using string and percussion instruments, participants will embark on a journey through the traditional music of the wider Mediterranean. Through a melodic trip to their homelands, they will remember, discuss, and work together.

The workshop starts on: 20 October 2025

Designed and conducted by: Dora Margatiti (musician), Giannis Papatzanis (musician), Stelios Sykakis (musician)

• Eleonas Women's Penitentiary in Thebes

Dance workshop

November 2025 – April 2026

In Eleonas, female prisoners will have the chance to be introduced to ancient Greek drama's chorus odes and connect them to their own narratives and experiences. Through the three key elements of a chorus ode – movement, voices, and speech – participants will work both individually and together, discovering the power of the group, enriching the process with elements from their multicultural identities. Thus, dancing becomes a means of expression and a lever for social reintegration, allowing participants to redefine themselves through creativity.

Designed & conducted by: Katerina Spyropoulou (dancer, choreographer), Margarita Trikka (dancer, choreographer)

The workshop starts on: 19 November 2025

• Diavata Penitentiary in Thessaloniki

Nigrita Penitentiary in Serres

Music and singing workshop

February – June 2026

In Diavata and Nigrita, participants will be introduced to the process of music composition through singing. The material will emerge from themselves, through writing lyrics and melodies inspired by their personal traditions and memories. By using their voices and natural expressiveness as a starting point, they will develop skills in self-expression and collaboration, learn new techniques, and create collective songs that represent a mosaic of diverse sounds, rhythms, and languages. This journey will culminate in a final performance in which the group will present their artistic result, affirming the power of art to unite and heal.

In this way, these workshops serve not only as creative outlets but also as bridges to reintegration. The development of artistic and communication skills, the cultivation of trust, and the experience of collective effort lay the foundations for a smoother return to society.

Designed & conducted by: Natasha Tsakiridou (singer, performer), Stamatis Pasopoulos (composer, musician)

Workshops at the Diavata Penitentiary in Thessaloniki start on: 2 February 2026

Workshops at the Nigrita Penitentiary in Serres start on: 5 February 2026