ERKET promotes the study and scientific research of greek art of singing. This is done through research programmes and field research aiming the way people sing in greek communities on local, regional, national or international level. The creation of several greek singing archives such as: discography, library, sound and video recordings and photos is also included in its objectives. ERKET directs its research work to the recording and study of the local singing expression not only for its conservation, promotion and dissemination as element of I.C.H. (eg: The Polyphonic singing of Epirus prefecture, the Female diphonies of Drama and Serres region, Female lament), but for its inscription on the National Inventory of Greece as well eg: the “Karpathiko Glendi”.
A major part among ERKET’s educational activities is the organizing of educational programmes, seminars, masterclasses and lectures on greek singing. Special educators, music teachers and well-known singers from all over Greece form ERKET’s teaching team. The educational objectives of the activities focus on:
a) the development of vocal ensembles who study, preserve and promote the different types of greek communal singing,
b) the instruction and further training of individual singers and/or groups in order to fully acquire singing skills,
c) the acquisition of ethnomusicological knowledge (scales, rhythm e.t.c),
d) the way vocal techniques are put in practice.
ERKET organizes festivals, music/drama performances, ethnographic documentary film screenings, exhibitions of musical editions, books and photos. In addition, musical and ethnographic documentary films are produced focusing on singing expression. ERKET also promotes all the above activities online. Organizing meetings and conferences is the basic way followed for the development of an interdisciplinary dialogue, the dissemination of knowledge and the promotion of singing elements as well as everything related to them (music, dance, clothes, musical instrument making etc.).
The intercultural interaction and collaboration with educational and cultural organizations work towards the above aim. ERKET uses the internet to promote its work especially through its official website and its social networks but also through the websites that ERKET designs, administers and supervises (“FolCalFest” archive,”En Logois” discourse library, “The street musicians of Hermou street”, research programme.
Year of accreditation: 2022
Main domain(s) of the ngo’s activities: oral traditions and expressions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
Main country where the NGO works: Greece
Local, national or international level of the NGO: Local, National, International
