“Nature & Perception” Art Residency in a Monastery
Peloponnesus Greece 2026
Α program, in a 16th century monastery, in the mountains of Peloponnese, aimed at visual artists, photographers, musicians, writers, directors, actors, etc., lasts 10 days.
Deadline 30 November
Deadline 30 November
Deadline 30 November Deadline 30 November
Overview
In a landscape untouched by time, in a stone-built monastery from the 16th century among the pine forests and quiet waters of Mount Erymanthos, artists are invited to explore the fragile space between appearance and awareness.
Nature and Perception unfolds as a retreat of observation and renewal — an encounter with the visible world and the stillness that lies beneath it.
Through walking, listening, and creating, participants are guided to rediscover perception as a living act. The program invites a slowing down of vision — a return to presence, where art emerges not from intention, but from attention.
Set within the serenity of Poretsou Monastery, this ten-day seminar merges artistic practice with sensory reflection. It is both an inward and outward journey — a movement from the surface of things to the quiet depth of seeing.
Location
Hidden among the slopes of Mount Erymanthos, near the historic town of Kalavryta, lies Poretsou Monastery — a place where silence has weight and time slows into rhythm.
Here, the air is pure, the light unfiltered, and the sound of the river replaces the noise of the world. The terrain is both vast and intimate — open horizons framed by stone, sky, and shadow.
Every path, every echo, every surface becomes part of the sensory experience: the texture of moss on walls, the smell of rain, the glow of evening light on the mountain.
It is a landscape that sharpens perception — where observation turns into meditation, and creation emerges from attention itself.
The monastery offers simple yet serene accommodation within its stone buildings, allowing full immersion in the rhythm of the place. Days unfold in quiet continuity: walking, listening, creating, and returning — always returning — to the stillness of nature.
In this landscape, nature becomes mirror, and perception becomes path.
Philosophy of the Program
The Art of Perception
Nature and Perception unfolds as a ten-day field of attention — a journey through landscape, silence, and creation.
It is not a workshop in the conventional sense, but a process of unlearning and returning: slowing down vision to rediscover perception as an act of life itself.
In this space, the artist is invited to listen before seeing, to perceive before defining — to let nature become mirror and measure.
Structure
Morning: Guided walks through the landscape. Sensory exercises of observation, sound, and light. The day begins with silence, movement, and an openness to what the environment reveals.
Afternoon: Individual time for creation. Artists return to their rooms or workspaces to continue their projects — writing, photographing, composing, or simply reflecting. The mentor remains available for discussion and feedback.
Evening: Group meetings — open dialogues around artistic practice, perception, and the philosophy of seeing. Occasional silent walks or readings close the day, under the sound of the river and the evening light.
Artistic Approach — The Practice of Attention
There are no predefined goals, only an invitation to explore how perception becomes creation.
Each participant follows their own rhythm, responding to place, time, and inner state.
The process is guided by principles of presence, simplicity, and respect for environment — dissolving boundaries between the observer and the observed, the self and the landscape.
Art emerges not from production, but from awareness.
The Role of the Mentor — Guidance Through Presence
The guiding mentor accompanies participants throughout the seminar — not to instruct, but to curate experience.
Through gentle prompts, conversations, and shared walks, the mentor supports each artist’s process, cultivating trust in observation and authenticity of response. The focus is on exchange, listening, and the shared act of perceiving together.
Outcome — From Observation to Offering
By the end of the seminar, each participant shapes an individual body of work — visual, textual, or ephemeral — as a reflection of their encounter with nature and perception. The program concludes with a collective presentation within the monastery or its surrounding landscape:
a quiet moment of sharing, where process becomes offering and perception becomes form.
Meet your curator Pano Labrou
Panayiotis Lamprou (Pano Lamprou) is a Greek visual artist whose work explores perception, intimacy, and the silent relationship between the self and the world.
His photography reveals the unseen — moments where light, texture, and thought converge into stillness.
Recipient of the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize (National Portrait Gallery, London), Lamprou has developed a practice rooted in attention and authenticity, often working within landscapes of isolation and reflection such as the Cycladic islands.
As curator of Nature and Perception, he guides participants through a process of awareness — not by instruction, but by presence.
For Lamprou, art begins where observation deepens: when the surface becomes threshold, and seeing becomes being.
Curated and directed by: Eutopia Art Residency
In collaboration with: Pano Labrou
Location: Kalavryta, Greece
Dates: June 1–10, 2026
Language: English / Greek
Participants: 12
Deadline: 30 of November 2025
Coordination
Housing and Workspace
The seminar takes place within the grounds of Poretsou Monastery, a place of quiet rhythm and natural harmony.
Poretsou Monastery
Participants are accommodated in double rooms inside the monastery complex — simple, luminous spaces that open toward the forest and the sound of running water.
Each room retains its monastic clarity: stone, wood, and light.
There are shared indoor and outdoor areas for reading, writing, and reflection, as well as open spaces under the pine trees that serve as natural studios.
Artists are invited to work individually or in silence, allowing their practice to unfold through presence and observation rather than production.
The landscape itself becomes the workspace — paths, riversides, and courtyards offering sites for walking, photographing, drawing, or contemplation.
Meals are shared in the monastery’s dining area, prepared with local ingredients and seasonal produce.
The rhythm of the day — movement, creation, rest — follows the natural flow of light, encouraging a deep sense of connection between body, space, and perception.
In this environment, living and working are not separate: the act of inhabiting becomes part of the creative process.
Program Fees
1480 euros Duration - 10 Days (9 overnight stays)
1-10 of June 2026
Includes
- Accommodation in a double room (two single beds) with private bathroom.
- Food from the Chef for Vegetarians (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Transportation by bus from Athens to Monastir and return to Athens.
- Full-day excursion by bus to "Ancient Olympia" a UNESCO monument (transportation and entrance ticket).
- Daily activities with walking, meditation, breathing, river bathing, etc.
- Workshop space
- Curator who will be next to you in all activities daily
Deadline: 30 November 2025
How to you get there
Participants will travel together from Athens to Kalavryta by private bus arranged by Eutopia.
The group will meet in central Athens on the morning of June 1, 2026, and depart together for Poretsou Monastery, located on the slopes of Mount Erymanthos in the region of Arkadia.
The journey takes approximately three and a half hours, passing through landscapes of mountains, forests, and river valleys.
This shared travel marks the beginning of the seminar — a slow transition from the urban to the natural, from movement to stillness.
At the end of the program, the group will return to Athens together by the same route.
Further details regarding meeting point, schedule, and packing recommendations will be sent to selected participants prior to departur
FAQs
Is there funding available?
At this time, Eutopia Art Residency cannot provide scholarships. We can issue an invitation letter confirming your acceptance to the program, which you may use to apply for funding from organizations in your country.
Are there any requirements for artists?
Since the program focuses on research, sensory awareness, and shared experience, there are no required outcomes. Participants are encouraged to explore and create at their own pace.
What is included in the participation cost?
The participation fee (1480 €) covers:
Accommodation double rooms at Poretsou Monastery
All meals prepared on-site during the program
Access to seminar activities, guided walks, group reflections, and discussions
Travel to and from the monastery, see “How to Get There”
What is not included in the participation cost?
Travel or medical insurance
Personal materials or equipment needed for your practice (participants bring their own)
Optional excursions beyond the program
Can I bring a visitor?
Accommodation is strictly individual. If you wish to bring a friend to share your room, please contact us in advance, and arrangements may be possible.
How are meals organized?
All meals during the seminar are prepared and included. The monastery provides fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients to nourish participants through the program.
Do I need to bring materials or equipment?
Yes — participants are expected to bring the materials, tools, or equipment they need for their artistic practice. The program encourages a personal, self-directed approach to creation.
Are group activities mandatory?
While attendance is flexible, the guided walks, group reflections, and shared discussions form the core of the residency. Participation is strongly encouraged to fully benefit from the experience.
How do I get to the monastery?
All participants travel together from Athens by private bus arranged by Eutopia. Departure will be on the morning of June 1, 2026, and the journey takes approximately 3.5 hours. The return trip at the end of the seminar will follow the same route. Detailed instructions, meeting points, and travel tips will be provided to all participants.
What is the cancellation policy?
If the program is canceled by Eutopia, all advance payments are refunded.
If a participant cancels, advance payments are non-refundable, unless the spot is filled by another artist from the waiting list.