The Greek Festival of Sydney has continued its new initiative to focus on the artistic skill of the youth with numerous youngsters entering a wide variety of submissions in the second edition of the Greek Youth Creative and Performing Arts Competition.
The competition was first held last year and its success inspired the Festival to hold it again, this time with the added bonus of extending it to include performing arts.
The event has been met with a very positive reception with 17 youngsters submitting entries into this year’s competition, of which Neos Kosmos managed to speak with 15.
The talented youth have shown their skills in areas like painting, sculpture, music, writing and more, with all entries put into the relevant categories of their submission as well as then being fitted into three age groups (12-15, 16-18, 19-24).
The official awards ceremony will take place this coming Sunday 4 May at the Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney.
Before that takes place, let us delve into each of the youngsters as they elaborate on their pieces that fit into the competition theme of ‘Beyond Greek Borders’.
- 19-24 Age Group
Elaina Kazouris – Painting
Elaina Kazouris, a 22-year-old with roots from Kalymnos and southern Laconia, explained she utilised a major work from university titled “Self-concept” which speaks strongly on her identity.
The Australian Catholic University with a bachelor’s in visual arts and design stated the competition presented as a fantastic avenue to explore two strong passions of hers.
“I wanted to get involved in this competition as art and Greece are both major parts of my identity,” she said.
Speaking on her submission, she said that it acts as a reflection of the strongest parts of her identity – culture, hobbies and interests, and skills.
“During the making of this work, I simply wanted to show the best parts of my skill set, and reflect how art is a huge part of my identity,” she said.
Zoe Klapsis – Sculpture, Drawing
The 19-year-old with roots from Sparti, Mani, Mytilene and Koroni went ahead and submitted two entries, one being a sculpture and the other a drawing.
Zoe has a strong passion in the arts, having come first in her school last year in Photography and Visual Design, and she was keen to feature in the competition after learning about it at the annual Darling Harbour celebration.
“Initially I thought it was an art exhibition, so I looked further into it. I was excited when I found out that it was a competition,” she said.
Her sculpture entry is a set of clay columns she made for an assessment in her Visual Design class.
“We were required to design and create something which has a useful purpose. My design can be used as storage, and also as a stand for candles and pot plants,” she said.
“I was experimenting with using different mediums. This was my first time using clay and I’ve always felt very inspired by my own heritage and the Greek culture. I felt compelled to recreate the intricate details in Greek columns.”
Her drawing was made for another art assignment a few years ago, which required them to draw a picture based on photos of ancient sculptures.
“Everyone in my class had to choose one to use as a reference image. One photo stood out in particular, as it seemed to be Greek. To this day, I’m still unsure of the name of who I’ve drawn.”
Kosta Giitsidis – Painting
Kosta, a 19-year-old with roots from Patras, Athens, and Thessaloniki, is one of a few youngsters that participated in last year’s event and have come back with another entry.
He expressed his belief the competition has an important place in the Greek Festival.
“I think that not only is it a good way to get your art out into the community but also connect with our culture on a deeper level and I find pride in that,” he said.
Kosta explained that his submission for this year’s event is a landscape painting of a Volkswagen van with the Gulf of Patras behind it, which was inspired by his solo trip to Greece last year.
“I got to better connect with my culture and re-meet family who I’d only ever met as a shy 13-year-old so this time over I made a much stronger connection,” he said.
“This painting represents the trip I took to Greece in 2024. While I was staying in the town of Aigio I captured this scene and knew it had to be painted to immortalise the trip I took and what it represented to me.”
Alessandro Balaguer – Digital Artwork
Alesandro put his skills as a student studying graphic design and arts to good use as he submitted a digital artwork deeply inspired by the symbol of Hagia Sophia.
The 22-year-old with roots from Kalymnos and Kos on his mother’s side also participated in the event last year, and was keen to do so again this year.
The youngster stressed his passion for art, as well as Greek culture, which makes the competition a perfect avenue to celebrate both.
“As someone on the autism spectrum, I also see this as an opportunity to shine a light on neurodiversity and the creative talents that can come from it,” he said.
“I want to help promote inclusivity and show that people of all abilities and backgrounds can have a voice in the arts.”
Regarding his work, Alessandro represented Hagia Sophia as a phoenix rising – serving as a powerful symbol of rebirth, endurance, and transformation which honours the site’s own history as it has served as a cathedral, a mosque and a museum over the centuries.
“Like the phoenix, which is reborn from its own ashes, Hagia Sophia embodies the resilience of Hellenism, carrying the spirit of Greek Orthodox faith, heritage and creativity across time and space.”
- 16-18 Age Group
Jacinda Papadopoulos – Painting
Jacinda, a Year 12 student at St Ursula’s College Kingsgrove, created a deeply personal painting that is a tribute to her pappou.
The 17-year-old with roots from villages near Larissa and Kalambaka explained that she was eager to honour her heritage and express her connection to her family’s history through art, which is what inspired her to participate in the competition.
“This competition gave me a meaningful platform to share my pappou’s migration story and reflect on the sacrifices and resilience that shaped who I am today,” she said.
“My artwork is a deeply personal tribute to my pappou and his migration journey from Greece to Australia in 1962 aboard the R.M.S Strathmore which took 40 days.”
The work is centred around multiple portraits of her pappou, weaving together visual elements that represent both his Greek heritage and his new life in Australia
“The artwork radiates warmth, nostalgia and reverence, serving not only as a celebration of my pappou’s story but also a broader reflection on the experiences of countless migrant families.”
Olga Giannikouris – Collage
In an effort to challenge herself and participate in more initiatives connected to her Hellenic background, Olga submitted a piece that honours her yiayia.
The 18-year-old with roots from Kalymnos, Mytilene and Samos, submitted her work titled ‘Yiayia’s Effect: the fear of being average’ which is a mix of textiles and fibre.
“My body of work is a vivid representation I use fashion as a form of self-expression, of the explosion of joyful emotions which come to mind when I think of my role model, my yiayia,” she said.
The work includes specific materials from her yiayia’s collection of fabrics, which go back to the 1950s during her career in fashion, while it also incorporates text from letters her yiayia has given her and poetry she has written.
“The intricate details throughout the work which have been hand sewn, machine sewn, painted and printed, allow me to present the way that I use fashion as a form of self-expression, honouring and mirroring my yiayia’s passion.”
Eleni Michael – Photography
Eleni, a Year 12 student at Australian Christian College in Marsden Park, submitted two photographs that signify the soul of the Greek persona.
The 17-year-old with roots from Kalamata, Sparta as well as Paphos in Cyprus explained she opted to participate in the competition due to her strong passion for her culture.
“I look for various ways to enrich and share the comprehension of my background. Sharing a part of my creative and musical journey, I have discovered, allows me to communicate more deeply with my ancestral culture,” she said.
The two photos titled ‘Dancing on the Rocks’ were taken at the Kiama Blowhole.
“For me they signify the soul of the Greek persona, and in this instance through the person of my father, a first-generation Greek Cypriot,” she said.
“Here he is captured doing the Rembetiko on the rocks. He is overlooking the ocean which in itself is so very resonant of our Greek history in terms of immigration and C.P. Cavafy’s Ithaka.”
Yorygios Filactos – Prose writing
Yorygios, a recent graduate from Newcastle High School, decided to enter a piece of prose writing as a means of expression with lots of free time on his hand.
The youngster with roots from Zakynthos, northwestern Messenia, Ioannina and Imbros stated the competition seemed a worthwhile pursuit given the free time he had after graduating.
“I believed that it would be a good way to reflect internally on how the Greek culture, traditions and way of life have not only influenced my thinking but also the world around us,” he said.
He explained that he wrote his submission “through my own experiences from going to Greece to the villages and towns my family roots are from and reflecting on how the cultures, traditions and way of life from those villages as well as many others have quite literally gone beyond Greek borders.”
Andrew Caramanis – Short story
Andrew, a current Year 12 student at St. Aloysius’ College, was motivated to submit his work out of an interest for the Hellenic culture.
The 17-year-old with roots from Laconia and Corinth added that the competition is a great platform for him to further develop his skills as a writer.
“It felt like the perfect platform to contribute to the celebration of Greek heritage while also allowing me to challenge myself creatively and grow as a writer,” he said.
His short story follows two university students, a boy from Greece and a girl from Serbia, who meet while studying abroad and engage in a cultural exchange that leads to a friendship.
“This story gave me the chance to express how unity and shared experiences can transcend borders,” Andrew said.
“It is a celebration of friendship, personal growth, and the idea that what connects us is far greater than what divides us.”
- 12-15 Age Group
Nicole Stratis – Painting
Nicole, a Year 10 student at Casimir Catholic College in Marrickville, submitted a painting that explores the competition theme with an image of a beautiful Greek island and a donkey.
The 15-year-old with roots from Kos, Mytilene, and Andros, explained that she was keen to feature in the competition as a way of engaging with her Hellenic heritage.
Speaking on her work, she explained it is an acrylic painting on canvas that depicts a joyful and prosperous Greek island with a donkey as the centre.
“The donkey being the focal point serves as a contrast to the natural colours of the island as well as being a satirical component that many Greeks can resonate with,” she said.
Nicole stated she wanted to capture the beauty of the island and the seas, while also drawing meaning from the “Beyond Greek Borders” theme by showing the sea meeting the shore.
Eleftherios Giannas – Instrument Performance
Eleftherios, a Year 10 student at Holy Spirit Catholic College in Lakemba, showcased his skills on the bouzouki with performances of two songs.
The 15-year-old with roots from Rhodes, Orestiada, Samos, and Ioannina was eager to feature after taking part in last year’s event, which he described as very fun and enjoyable.
“It gave me a way to showcase my talents to Australia and it showed areas where I can correct or improve on,” said the bouzouki player of seven years now.
Eleftherios submitted performances of two songs, them being ‘Φραγκοσυριανή’ and ‘Το ζεϊμπέκικο του Δράμαλη’.
“I played ‘Φραγκοσυριανή’ because, although it isn’t a very difficult song to play it still is a very beautiful song about love. I played ‘Το ζεϊμπέκικο του Δράμαλη’ because it is a difficult and fast ζεϊμπέκικο and I like to challenge myself.
Savina Konstandas – Poetry
Savina, a Year 10 student at PLC Sydney, submitted a thoughtful piece of poetry about her grandparents’ immigration journey and the challenges they face in a foreign land.
The 15-year-old with roots from Symi, Sparta, and Imbros was motivated to submit an entry as a means of cultural and artistic expression.
“I also saw it as a chance to grow, by stepping outside of my comfort zone and sharing something meaningful with others,” she said.
Regarding her work, Savina noted that it expresses aspects like identity, migration, and the idea of “home,” even when you’re far from the place your roots began.
“Writing it helped me reflect on where I come from and how that shapes who I am today. It was inspired by the deep connection I feel to my Greek heritage, especially the stories and traditions that have been passed down through my family.”
James Caramanis – Poetry
James, a Year 9 student at St. Aloysius’ College, put his poetry skills to the test with a piece inspired by his pappou.
The 15-year-old with roots from Laconia and Corinth stated the competition made him think of the bravery and strength of his grandparents which he wanted to capture in his entry.
“I think writing and the arts are a great way to express who we are and where we come from, and I wanted to be part of that,” he said.
He explained that he though about the journey of his pappou, not just the physical but also the emotional, as he migrated to Australia.
“The theme helped me realise that migration isn’t just about leaving one place and going to another—it’s about carrying your history, your culture, and your identity with you,” he said.
In my poem, I used images from my Pappou’s story to show the strong connection between Greece and Australia. I thought about the strength and courage it took for him to start over in a new country, and that inspired the words I chose.”
Zaharenya Filactos – Poetry
Zaharenya, a Year 8 student at Newcastle High School, created a poem delving into the experiences of the migrants that maintained their language, culture and traditions in their new home.
The 13-year-old with roots from Zakynthos, northwestern Messenia, Ioannina and Imbros said she opted to participate out of passion for her heritage.
Regarding her entry, she said that she was deeply inspired by the efforts of generations past to preserve their Hellenic identity.
“They were still able to maintain their language, culture and traditions in foreign countries, and pass it down from generation to generation, like my family.”
Olivia Lin – Review
Olivia, a Year 10 student at Abbotsleigh in Wahroonga, prepared a review that covered her love for the classics.
The 15-year-old has no roots to Greece but has the passion of many Hellenes with keen interest in Greek myths, history, Classical Greek (as introduced to by her brother who finished first in Classical Greek Extension and second in Continuers in the 2024 HSC).
Olivia explained that her entry into the competition was inspired by her participation in this year’s Medusa Mythology Exam, having competed in last year’s event in which she was awarded Silver.
“(The exam) focussed on geographical locations and landmarks both real and mythical that play an integral part in the adventures of heroes,” she said.
While the exam was tough, she was keen to use that experience and participate in the competition.
Olivia noted that her interest in Greece has only strengthened over time, saying:
“My dream now is to visit Greece after my HSC and then I can put the sights and names into perspectives.”
*Other entries were also submitted by Niko Tsiokos and Olympia Mournehis.
