An open community of citizens of Athens who love their city and believe that compromise with its most problematic sides perpetuates a vicious circle of irrationality, stagnation, defamation, underdevelopment and ultimately self-hypocrisy of its prospects.
For the Atenistas, Athens is not only a "finished story" but a vast field of inventive and effective actions that will help us realize its enormous potential.
Drawing power and energy from civil society - the thousands of defenseless Athenians who want to do something for their city and have not found a channel of creative participation in the open affairs of Athens, the Atenistas:
- brighten up schoolyards
- brush away offensive graffiti
- clean out neglected alleys
- bring a fresh look and feel to the city through a variety of volunteer-led activities
- organize cultural events or guided tours in historic areas and unpopular neighborhoods
- announce theaters offering cheap tickets
- organized citizen-action group activities across the city of Athens.
The Atenistas are not a party organization, nor a municipal party, but a living community that wants to share its beliefs for a much better Athens, by believing in the rejuvenating power of action. They are tired of grumbling and blaming "the others" or the "state" for all mistakes and for everything that is wrong.
"We are here only to act. Seven days a week, 365 days a year."
A few of the Atenistas actions
- Rearranging and redeeming the pedestrians a battered pavement:
Where Kolokotroni Street meets Lekka Str. there was a sidewalk corner with a tree, fighting for survival between parked vehicles, scooters, trash.
A team of Atenistas decided to demonstrate how a small neglected public space, could mutate into a "place" that could be "inhabited" by pedestrians and city walkers, that could offer the possibility of passive leisure, pausing for a moment and perceiving the city, provide a space for socialization. In a self-defensible space against cars, motorcycles, garbage.
- Flying bubbles in the Alexandra's avenue abandoned playground:
That was a colorless, left out, with toys in terrible condition, benches dirty and nearly broken, deficient lighting, trees and flora without any care. A place without a trace of children's voices. 
Thus, on Saturday 1/11 with brushes and rollers in hand, about 40 Athenians revived and restored the scene in this abandoned place, inspired by flying bubbles. With pleasure we have witnessed children already playing and having fun.
- The neglected walkway off Syndagma square:
That was an open space so central but in the same time, so neglected and derelict. The pedestrian walkway (part of Perikleous Str.), two blocks down from Syndagma Sq., had been left in a miserable state for years. Atenistas's Green team decided to act and improve its appearance, give identity and some kind of public function. Our artists gave "wings" to air conditioners in order to create a surreal and out of the ordinary feeling and an element of surprise. Placemaking at its best, a public void city space with no other function than being a passage and , during nights, a public WC, was transformed to an amazing, functional, urban place. It only took 3 weeks of design preparation and material gathering, 11 hours of hard work and 40 people dedicated to look at the bright side of life and of the city they live in.
- 2 new pocket parks in Kolonos
Our Green team managed to complete two pocket parks in the Kolonos area and hand them over to the people of the neighbourhood along with a history lesson and a great message. The inspiration for our first park on Dramas 11 was Sophocles who was born in Kolonos. In all our actions we try to find a connection between the place and its history.
The park's plan looks like an ancient theater, the plants and trees used are Mediterranean and the main wall of this small park was dedicated to the great ancient writer. We contacted Fikos, a great muralist, and proposed our idea. He then created a wonderfull graffiti where one can view Sophocles in modest style facing the heroes of his tragedies who come to salute him and give him the most important item of their story (i.e Hercules offers the mantle he used to end his life, Oedipus offered the needles he used to drive hiself blind etc). The heroes pictured on the mural are Oedipus, Aias, Antigoni, Ismini, Polinikis, Filoktitis, Hercules, Orestis, Helektra.
- Piano-steps in Eratosthenous Street, Pagrati, Athens!
Giving an artistic touch to one of Athens' beautiful secret corners. Under the spell of music from the nearby Conservatoire Attico, we swept, cleaned and painted piano keys on a set of steps in this Athenian neighbourhood.
It was a simple idea, a simple move, but one which necessitated a desire for action and an optimistic look at things.So, on the spur of the moment, we created a landmark for this neighborhood, an artistic intervention in an urban space, which was enhanced by the element of surprise, the sense of "spot" which offered a playful and optimistic note on a grey urban scene.
- Touching, listening and smelling a museum
In cooperation with the Industrial Gas Museum in Technopolis, Gazi, the event included a visit to the Museum and a special guided tour for people with partial or complete loss of vision.
The vision-impaired guests touched the retorts (ovens), the gas pipelines and the purification equipment, they listened to the history of the factory as well as the working conditions during its time of operation, and smelled the tar and naphthalene that still prevail today inside the old factory..
- Planting trees and various plants in bare flower beds
For various reasons the flower beds were left empty and drivers used the pedestrian area to park their vehicles.
The 30-35 determined brave Atenistas were divided into two groups.
The access group walked through the Commercial Centre pedestrian area which they found to have become a road network. They left brochures on the cars or talked with the drivers. The other team started work immediately, initially locating the intervention points, namely eight abandoned flower beds which were now plain holes with dried soil. In two cases, in order to be able to do the job, the drivers who had parked on the empty bed had to be found and the cars removed.
- A magical ride to Philopappos hill
The Atenistas had a big reunion on Sunday afternoon and they climbed onto Philopappos. Mrs. Olga Vogiatzoglou, an archaeologist at the 1st Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, who from the first moment was thrilled with the idea, guided them to unknown paths of the hill, explained the use of the hill over time and and the meaning of many of the ancient remains to date.
At the end of the walk George Christodoulou was waiting with his musicians and while the lights of the city were turning on everyone was left to enjoy his melodies.
- Athens' third pocket park a reality
Atenistas's Green Team decided to revisit a vacant lot at the corner of Feron & Fylis Streets in downtown Athens, put an end to decades of abandonment, drug abuse and littering, with a derelict building and tons of garbage in an otherwise promising plot of land with new elements: colorful murals on the surrounding walls, new DIY playground toys, more plants and trees for more shading and aroma, additional benches for resting, better soil and gravel, and a new plan for circulation with pallet paths in the pocket park.
Fifty kids helped in the construction of the pocket park, painted the walls and learned how to plant flowers and herbs. In an herculean effort to transform this open space, another Atenistas's sub-team, Creativa, came to our aid and was responsible for the creation of the colorful murals to brighten the children's smiles. Also, a plethora of volunteers and local residents, who believed in the project and helped beyond expectations, also deserve a big thank you!
- Kotzia square, our own elections
The idea was Tasos' - get to Kotzia Square with candles one day before the elections. Send the Atenistas message to anyone who would be mayor of the city. Amalia threw out the idea of ??a "parade" on the streets and squares and in 48 hours all were ready. Vanessa brought her friends, street artists, Alexandros his saxophone, Amalia sent a drum, some wine from home, Tasos thousands of tealights.
The square was covered by a lovely bright carpet. More and more friends were arriving with their candles - you did not need to do anything. The image was coming into you and warmed your heart.
The first music began warming up even more the atmosphere and finally, the signal to start was given. The instruments led the "parade" through Athena street, Sofokleous, then at the Theatre Square. In Geraniou str. the residents got out on the balconies, surprised at the beginning, then smiling, applauding.
Outside the National Theatre, spectators who are waiting to enter the building were asking what is going on. A lady shouted "Well done guys!" At Marni street and Vathi Square a real feast was set, spectacular dancing on the center of the square, then also at Omonia.
When everything was over, left-overs had to be collected in cooperation with the Cleaners of the Municipality who had do the hardest work, remove the splashed candle wax from the soil...
Despite the lonely landscape, the feeling of abandonment, a melancholy that the scenery is spreading, we keep cheerful and happy to be sharing each other's company:
