Rolex has revealed it will hold its first Arts Festival this year, which will celebrate two decades of support and mentoring of emerging artists.
It is the 20th anniversary of the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative and the event — taking place in Athens, Greece, from May 22 to 28 — will bring together dozens of the world’s most talented artists who have benefited from the programme.
The mentoring activities are part of a wider commitment to support artists and cultural institutions across music, architecture, cinema and art that the brand has been pursuing for over 50 years through its Rolex Perpetual Arts Initiative.
Visitors to Athens during the festival will have access to performances, exhibitions, readings, screenings, installations and discussions in the company of 60 Rolex protégés and mentors.
It will fill stages, galleries and public spaces at nine venues across the historic Greek capital.
“To bring the public just some of the wealth of multidisciplinary achievements that have been fostered by the Rolex mentoring programme, we issued an open call to all Rolex fellows to participate by presenting works,” says Rebecca Irvin, head of the mentoring programme at Rolex.
“The response was overwhelming and unanimous. We at Rolex are moved and excited by the outpouring of creative energy and the spirit of communal engagement that the fellows will be offering in Athens.”
Among the highlight of the Rolex Arts Festival will be a gala evening at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center with performances by David Aaron Carpenter, Vasco Mendonça and Susan Platts.
Josep Caballé Domenech will be conducting the El Sistema Greece Youth Orchestra with participation of the Greek women’s a capella ensemble Chores.
