New Feminism – Pilot Project

Contemporary Female Perspectives Beyond Division

A particularly important contribution to Art Thessaloniki 2026 is the pilot project NEW Feminism, realised by Global Galleries in cooperation with Artforum Hellas, Artforum Culture Foundation, and Winter Stiftung Hamburg.

The pilot project NEW Feminism was successfully presented during the 9th Art Thessaloniki International Contemporary Fair and achieved a highly positive reception among both professional and general audiences. The project demonstrated that contemporary artistic positions addressing themes of equality, cultural participation and female perspectives can generate meaningful dialogue across diverse visitor groups while avoiding ideological polarization.

The exhibition featured works by Jana Dettmer, LEONI (A. Jäckel) and Corinna Zieleke and served as a platform for intercultural exchange, artistic reflection and public engagement.

Audience Response

One of the most significant outcomes of the project was the strong interest shown by visitors throughout the duration of the fair. The exhibition stand attracted a continuous flow of visitors, many of whom engaged in extensive discussions about the artistic concepts and the broader social questions addressed by the project.

Feedback collected during the event was overwhelmingly positive. Visitors particularly appreciated the project's balanced and dialogue-oriented approach, which presented contemporary female artistic perspectives as an integral part of cultural discourse rather than as a confrontational position.

Professional Reception

The project also received highly encouraging feedback from art professionals. Artists, gallery representatives, collectors and especially curators expressed considerable interest in both the conceptual framework and the artistic quality of the presentation.

Numerous professional conversations confirmed the relevance of the project's central themes within contemporary cultural debates. Several curators highlighted the project's ability to combine artistic excellence with social relevance while maintaining an open and inclusive perspective.

Publication and Outreach

To support the exhibition, a bilingual publication in English and Greek was produced and distributed during the fair. Demand for the publication exceeded expectations.

More than 500 copies of the brochure were requested and distributed to visitors, cultural professionals and institutional representatives. The high level of interest demonstrated the project's ability to communicate its objectives beyond the exhibition space itself and to provide visitors with lasting access to the ideas and artistic positions presented.

Institutional Visibility

The visibility of NEW Feminism was further strengthened through additional presentation channels beyond the exhibition stand.

The project was featured through municipal cultural information services and cultural programme listings. Furthermore, information materials were made available through the information area of MOMus Contemporary Art Museum on the exhibition grounds, enabling the project to reach a broader audience and enhancing its institutional presence within the overall fair environment.

Cultural Impact

Within the context of Art Thessaloniki, NEW Feminism successfully positioned itself as a contemporary cultural initiative promoting dialogue, mutual respect and equal participation in cultural life.

The project demonstrated that contemporary art can provide a constructive framework for discussing issues of identity, equality and social transformation while fostering understanding between different perspectives. The exhibition encouraged reflection and exchange rather than division, thereby contributing positively to the cultural atmosphere of the fair.

Conclusion and Outlook

The successful realization of NEW Feminism confirms the relevance of its thematic focus and validates its curatorial approach. The exceptionally positive response from visitors and professionals alike indicates substantial potential for further development.

As a pilot project, NEW Feminism has established a strong foundation for future exhibitions, international collaborations, educational programmes and interdisciplinary cultural initiatives. The results achieved at Art Thessaloniki demonstrate that there is significant interest in projects that combine artistic quality, social relevance and international cultural dialogue.

The project can be regarded as a successful model for future presentations and an important contribution to contemporary cultural exchange within the European art context.
The project's relevance was further confirmed by the considerable interest shown by leading figures from the contemporary art sector, including artists, curators, museum directors and cultural decision-makers. Their positive responses underlined the project's potential for future international development and collaboration: Yiannis Fokas, Panagiotis Tanimanidis, John Kyvra, Aura Coperland, Takis Efstathiou, Erik Kling, Eleni Vretta Fotiadou, Triantafillos Vaitsism Vladimir Ilev, Eva Apostilidou,  Wolfgang Schmitz, Manos Stefanidis, Mice Jankulovsky, Reinmar Bartl (Opy Zouni Award winner 2026), Michael Dobbs, Rosalba di Perro,  Alberto Perobelli, Pantelis Tsatsis, Girgis Saratsis, Vasilis Vafeiadis,  Christos Lahanas, Nikophoros Tsekouras, Gianna Tsandekidou, Lamprini Costica, Christos Papadopoulos, Romeo Martus, Jacob Abraham,  Thaleia Maria Alexaki, Giorgos Katsigras,  Giorgis Melekis,  Dimitra Koumanaki,  Emmanouela Liagkou,  Panagiotis Papadimitropoulos,  Sigrid Porschen, Barbel Thurer,  Noor Aburayyan,  George Jordan, Nikos Kroupis, , Minas Kosmidis ...

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