Are you looking for an art residency in Greece?
Meet Mathew Halpin.
The visual artist from Australia whose art residency projects contribute to the revival of rural settlements in Crete.
Mathew Halpin is an Australian visual artist counting many solo exhibitions worldwide and a qualified theatre set designer in operas, short films, dance and plays.
Mathew has lived in London UK, Tallinn Estonia, and Sydney Australia.
At the moment he is living in Crete where he started up international artist residencies programmes in two rural settlements: In Lakkos and Ano Asites.
“ The idea is to bring art to places that were down on their luck and turn things around.” Mathew Halpin
Mathew contributes to the revival of the aforementioned semi-abandoned settlements, and connects locals with artists in residency.
Enjoy reading!
LLG: How would you describe the art residency projects in Crete that you run?
I have two big old houses in Heraklion city and Ano Asites village. Both houses host artists from anywhere around the world.
The spaces are for all creative people to spend time with each other or be alone.
I have many contacts on Crete with local creatives. I often organise collaborations with artists staying in the residencies and also with locals.
We also put on events like art exhibitions and music evenings. Many visual artists like to leave a mural in the areas of the residencies.
The residency in Ano Asites is located in a rural setting, 24 km from Iraklion. Ano Asites is a settlement of 300 inhabitants and offers inspiring surroundings, forest views, and easy access to Psiloritis mountain and to the European Hiking path E4 that crosses the neighbouring area.
The residency house is spacious and consists of two double bedrooms and one single bedroom, a bathroom with a shower, and a fully equipped kitchen. Two studio spaces are also available for artists to work on their art projects during their residency.
LLG: How do your projects have an impact on the local communities?
Crete is a wonderful place for traditional culture but there is not much happening in the contemporary arts. I bring contemporary art to the island.
In return, many creatives come here for research and inspiration. I also have located the residencies in areas that needed revitalising.
The murals have helped bring attention to both locations.
LLG: Which is the story behind the projects that you produce?
Before the city residency, I started a project called ‘’The Lakkos Project’’, in 2015.
Its goal was to bring life back to Heraklion city’s most neglected area within the old town.
The Lakkos artist’s residency is in a big old house with spaces for artists to work, live and exhibit.
The project kept the years alive through the contribution of numerous foreign artists. More information you may read here.
LLG: Concerning your new project, this time it is a book. Can you tell us some more about this project?
I just published a book about all of the questions I just answered.
It is a light-hearted and often funny look at running an artists residency on a Greek island.
It is called. AIR ” Artists in Residence” and is published on Amazon.
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