Section SOCIETY
TOPIC

Εταιρεία Προστασίας Σπαστικών/Πόρτα Ανοιχτή
«Persephone, Goddess of the Seasons». Production of a documentary film in collaboration with 9 organizations for people with disabilities from 5 European countries.

At Cerebral Palsy Greece, we believe that art is a definitive factor in everyone’s life, and not only does it not discriminate, but reflects the true image of society, whose main feature is diversity.

The goal of this artistic project, which was implemented in the framework of the Lighthouse Network of EASPD (European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities),  is to demonstrate how a common theme can be presented artistically in many different ways, regardless of culture, language, age or disability, and become a complete work of art. An important goal was also the cooperation of people with and without disabilities.

The documentary addresses everyone, without exception.

April 2021-February 2022

With the myth of Persephone as inspiration, Cerebral Palsy Greece/Open Door planned and coordinated the cooperation that led to the production of the documentary “Persephone, Goddess of the Seasons”.

The fear of primitive man that nothing will ever grow again after the dark winter months, finds its answer in the eternal Greek myth of Demeter and her daughter Persephone, who returns from the Underworld every spring.

Each of the ten participant organizations presented the myth or a section of the myth, in any form of art or combination of arts they wished (drama, music, dance, art, etc.), while adding elements from their own cultural heritage. The preparatory stages, as well as the final work of each group were filmed and edited, to create the final documentary, where the myth of Persephone is presented as a whole.

COPE FOUNDATION – Ireland

KoK - Sweden

ΕΤΑ – Hungary

COGAMI – Spain

Theotokos Foundation - Greece

VTC Margarita- Greece

ESTIA - Greece

Ploes EPSYME -Greece

To Ergastiri -Greece

20 members of staff, at least 15 volunteers, 92 participants with and without disabilities

Athens, Cork , Stockholm, Santiago, Budapest

The documentary has already invoked great international acclaim, and its most important result-impact so far is that it proves in action, the enormous artistic potential of people with disabilities.

With the evidence of ten organizations working so successfully toward a common goal, requests for cooperation from other organizations have begun , and prospects for the film to be shown at international festivals, and as part of the ELEVSIS 2023 celebration, multiply.