The New York Public Library’s Hellenic Festival, presented in association with the Queens Library and other New York City arts organizations, offers a unique opportunity to explore the profound impact of ancient and classical Greek culture on contemporary thought and art.

Beginning in October 2004 and continuing through April 2005, the Festival will present a variety of compelling exhibitions and public programs at multiple locations throughout the city. Designed for audiences of all ages, the Festival includes exhibitions, dance, theater, and music performances, films, workshops, lectures, and a host of other events.

The astonishing invention and accomplishments of Hellenic culture -- ranging from philosophy, literature, music, and theater to architecture, sculpture, and vase painting to the first Olympic games and the birth of the city-state -- represent humanity at its most exalted, an earthly embodiment of the divine in which individualism and its inherent contradictions were embraced. No wonder artists have long looked to Greece for inspiration.

The Hellenic Festival will give audiences a rare opportunity to experience ancient, traditional, and contemporary art forms from Greece, and the powerful influence of Hellenic culture across disciplines.