- What is SNF Nostos?
SNF Nostos is an annual open event hosted by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) in Athens, bursting with scintillating conversation, daring ideas, timely food for thought, electrifying music, and activities for visitors of all ages. SNF Nostos 2023, taking place from June 20-23, is dedicated to mental health.
It includes the SNF Nostos Conference, SNF Dialogues, the popular evening SNF Nostos Run, and concerts featuring acclaimed musical artists on two stages: at Plateia Nerou and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) Great Lawn, presented for the first time through the game-changing Release Athens Χ SNF Nostos collaboration.
SNF Nostos is organized and made possible with exclusive support from SNF.
- What is the SNF Nostos Conference and where does it take place?
The SNF Nostos Conference is one of the central pillars of SNF Nostos. It is a participatory event, open to all, held June 21-23, 2023, in collaboration with the journalism nonprofit iMEdD (incubator for Media Education and Development). It includes SNF Dialogues, discussions, talks, as well as parallel happenings. A global SNF Nostos Youth Advisory Committee helps make sure perspectives from all ages are represented.
The SNF Nostos Conference takes place at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) in Athens, with discussions held in the Greek National Opera’s (GNO) Stavros Niarchos Hall, the GNO Alternative Stage, and the National Library of Greece (NLG) Lobby.
In the Schedule section of the SNF Nostos Conference resources, which can be viewed by tapping the second tab from the left at the bottom of the screen when you open the SNF Nostos app, you can find detailed information about the location and the time of each discussion.
Similarly, you can consult the Recoup section to find out where the parallel happenings are taking place.
- How can I attend the SNF Nostos Conference?
In order to attend the sessions, free online registration is required. Please note that admission to each session will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Please see question 4 for more information on attending the discussion between President Barack Obama and Andreas Dracopoulos.
The seating capacity of each venue is as follows:
- GNO Stavros Niarchos Hall: 1,250 seats
- GNO Alternative Stage: 350 seats
- NLG Lobby: 300 seats
The SNF Nostos Conference will also be broadcast live via snfnostos.org.
- How can I attend the discussion between President Barack Obama and Andreas Dracopoulos?
Given the very high interest in attending the conversation between President Barack Obama and SNF Co-President Andreas Dracopoulos on June 22 and the finite capacity of the venue—and in light of required security and safety considerations—registered SNF Nostos Conference attendees have received an email with details on how to secure a seat in the Stavros Niarchos Hall. If you were not able to secure a seat in the Stavros Niarchos Hall, where the discussion will take place, as well as at the Greek National Opera (GNO) Alternative Stage or the National Library of Greece (NLG) Lobby (both within the SNFCC), where the discussion will be livestreamed, you are welcome to join us at the SNFCC Great Lawn, where we will be watching the discussion on a central stage screen.
All other sessions at the SNF Nostos Conference offer admission on a first-come, first-served basis.
4. In what language do the SNF Nostos Conference discussions take place?
Almost all SNF Nostos Conference discussions are held in English, with interpretation into Greek available via headset. The following sessions will be held in whole or in part in Greek with interpretation available: 1. Listening to stakeholders to create sustainable change for children and adolescents: The CAMHI experience in Greece (22/06, 09:20, GNO Stavros Niarchos Hall) will be held in both Greek and English, 2. Tasos Bakasetas: Mental health challenges at the top (22/06, 14:30, GNO Alternative Stage) will be held in Greek, and 3. Symptoms of a new era: Dysfunctional use of Technology and worsening adolescent mental health (22/06, 16:10, NLG Lobby) will be held in Greek.
Simultaneous onsite interpretation in Greek Sign Language will accompany each session and live captioning in English will be available on attendees’ mobile devices during the sessions held in English.
- Is the SNF Nostos Conference accessible for people with disabilities?
The SNF Nostos Conference is intended to be an event open and accessible to all participants. Simultaneous onsite interpretation in Greek Sign Language will accompany each session, and live captioning in English will be available on attendees’ mobile devices during the sessions held in English.
True to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation’s (SNF) vision in creating it as a space open to all, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), which hosts the SNF Nostos Conference, was designed to be fully accessible to people with disabilities. All of the venues where the SNF Nostos Conference discussions take place feature wheelchair spaces and lifts for wheelchair access. The SNFCC shuttle bus service is accessible to visitors with wheelchairs upon request. Visitors with wheelchairs who wish to use the service are kindly requested to inform us via telephone at +30 216 8091000 of the bus they wish to board per the timetable.
Guide dogs are welcome in all areas of the SNFCC, as are emotional support dogs.
- Is there parking available nearby?
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) has a closed parking garage with 1,000 spots, open 24/7. For more information on other transit options, please consult the SNFCC website.
- How can I get to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) to attend the SNF Nostos Conference?
You can find detailed information on getting to the SNFCC here.
- How can I connect with other SNF Nostos Conference attendees via the SNF Nostos app?
At the top of the app’s homepage, you will see four tabs. Tap on the third one (Attendees), select the name of the attendee with whom you wish to connect, and tap Connect. Once your request is accepted, select the middle tab (the icon depicting four people) at the bottom of the screen to send them a message.
- How can I receive notifications from the SNF Nostos app?
The first time you open the SNF Nostos app, you will see a notification asking if you want to receive notifications. Select “allow notifications.” Alternatively, you may navigate to your profile tab (the icon with the person inside a circle) at the bottom of the screen. Tap Settings, then Notifications, and select “allow notifications.”
- How can I change the language of the SNF Nostos app?
To change the language of the app, select the profile tab (the icon with the person inside a circle) at the bottom of the screen, then select Settings and choose the language you want, either Greek or English.
- What else can I do during the SNF Nostos Conference?
A series of activities complement the SNF Nostos Conference program and offer relaxation, decompression, and creative fun. All activities are free, though some require registration. You can learn more about each of the activities through the Recoup section, which can be accessed through the homepage of the SNF Nostos app.
You can also run for fun, for a good cause, and for your physical and mental health at the SNF Nostos Run, the popular evening race that takes place on June 22, refreshed this year with a new seaside route. Starting and finishing at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), the run includes 10K and 5K routes, as well as a 1K route for Special Olympics athletes. Registration closes on June 15 at 12 noon. Register here.
Early in the evening of the same day, as part of the SNF Nostos Run, a DJ set by Steve Onemanshow and broadcast of the run will take place at the SNFCC Agora, followed by an impressive laser show and a party soundtracked by Laternative.
At the same time, on June 20, 21, and 23, Release Athens X SNF Nostos is presenting an impressive lineup of acclaimed musical artists on two stages, at Plateia Nerou and the SNFCC Great Lawn. Find out more here.
- Is there a participation fee for SNF Nostos?
SNF Nostos includes the SNF Nostos Conference, the SNF Dialogues, the SNF Nostos Run, and concerts as part of the Release Athens Χ SNF Nostos collaboration. Admission to the SNF Nostos Conference and the SNF Dialogues is free with online registration, and admission to the sessions will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Participation in the parallel happenings is also free, though some require registration. You can find a schedule of these activities in the Recoup section of the SNF Nostos app.
As part of its charitable mission, the SNF Nostos Run invites runners to contribute a nominal participation fee of €5 (or more, for anyone who wishes to do so), to support the work of nonprofit organizations Ionas and Kinitiko Ergastiri, whose mission is to help people with disabilities get moving through competitive sports and therapeutic programs.
Through support from SNF, Release Athens X SNF Nostos offers affordable tickets that ensure access to both stages: at Plateia Nerou and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) Great Lawn.
- Does my registration for the SNF Nostos Conference automatically guarantee admission to the Release Athens X SNF Nostos concerts?
No, your SNF Nostos Conference registration exclusively covers the SNF Nostos Conference and SNF Dialogues discussions. To attend the Release Athens X SNF Nostos concerts, you will need to purchase a ticket. Please see question 15.
- Where can I buy tickets for the Release Athens X SNF Nostos concerts?
To attend the concerts taking place as part of Release Athens Χ SNF Nostos on June 20, 21, and 23 at Plateia Nerou and the SNFCC Great Lawn, you will need to purchase a ticket. Find out more at releaseathens.gr.
In addition, a point of sale on the SNFCC Esplanade will be open οn June 20, 21, 22, and 23. On June 20, 21, and 23, the ticket counter will be open from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. On June 22, it will be open from 10 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
*Ticket proceeds go exclusively to Release Athens. In parallel, SNF is making €500,000 in additional grants under the name SNF X Release Athens to nonprofit organizations whose mission is to support mental health, in line with the wider mental health theme of this year’s SNF Nostos.
- What is the distance between the two Release Athens X SNF Nostos stages?
The two stages, at Plateia Nerou and the SNFCC Great Lawn, are approximately a 15-minute walk apart. For your convenience, there will be signs along the route linking the two venues.
Clicking on the icon with three horizontal bars located at the bottom of the screen to the right allows you to view venue floorplans.
Special areas for people with unobstructed views of each stage will be available to with disabilities, as will support for moving safely from one stage to the other. For more information, please email support@releaseathens.gr.
- Will photography or videography be taking place at SNF Nostos?
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) may take photos and record videos of SNF Nostos events taking place at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), as well as of the events taking place at Plateia Nerou and the SNFCC Great Lawn as part of Release Athens X SNF Nostos. This material, in its entirety or embedded in other audiovisual media, may be published by SNF Nostos in order to promote SNF Nostos events on its official websites and social media platforms.