MATINA AGIO
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MATINA AGIO IS A GREEK CANADIAN CULTURAL ENTREPRENEUR, INTERIOR DESIGNER, PSYCHOTHERAPIST AND CURATOR, APPLYING HER CONSULTING SKILLS TO HERITAGE-BASED PROJECTS. THE 1960’S DICTATORSHIP IN GREECE, LED HER FAMILY INTO EXILE TO NORTH AMERICA. THROUGH HER PARENTS’ POLITICAL ACTIVISM, PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS AND LIFE PHILOSOPHY, SHE GAINED A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE AND APPRECIATION OF HELLENIC CULTURE. SHE STUDIED IN MONTREAL, PARIS AND LONDON BUSINESS, FASHION AND HERITAGE INTERIOR DESIGN. AT THE AGE OF 24, SHE STARTED HER FIRST SUCCESSFUL COMPANY- IN PROPERTY RESTORATION & SALE OF TRADITIONAL HOMES ON THE GREEK ISLANDS. IN THE 90’S SHE BECAME A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE NEU-BAUHUTTE INITIATIVE, ACTIVE IN AUSTRIA, SWITZERLAND AND GERMANY- A REVIVAL INITIATIVE, BRIDGING CONTEMPORARY DESIGN PROFESSIONALS WITH ANTIQUE EUROPEAN ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICES. IN 2009 SHE INITIATED THE ATHENIAN MUSE- A CREATIVE AGENCY IN ATHENS, SPECIALIZING IN ITS OWN GREEK HERITAGE-RELATED CULTURAL ENTERPRISE, AS WELL AS CONSULTING OTHER CULTURAL ENTERPRISE, HISTORIC HOMES AND PRIVATE MUSEUMS. MATINA IS CURATOR OF THE AGIO COLLECTION & AGIORGITI HISTORIC RESIDENCE. SHE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN VARIOUS CROWDFUNDING CULTURAL PRESERVATION PROJECTS, AS THE 13TH CENTURY CHÂTEAU DE LA MOTHE-CHANDENIERS IN THE LOIRE AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE PRESERVATION PROJECTS WHICH SHE IS ACTIVE OR PART-OWNER. MATINA'S WIDE PERSPECTIVE ON HERITAGE AND EXPERIENCE OF LIVING & WORKING IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, ITALY, US, CANADA AND GREECE, ALLOWS HER TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS AND VARYING BACKGROUNDS OF HER CLIENTS. THE STORY BEHIND THE ATHENIAN MUSE
THE ATHENIAN MUSE, WAS MAINLY INSPIRED BY NIKOLAOS & KALLIRHOE AGIORGITI, WHO FOSTERED THE GREEK CULTURAL FLAME, AS THEIR WAY OF LIFE. DURING THE 1960'S MILITARY REGIME, THEY ESCAPED TO NORTH AMERICA AND REMAINED THERE IN EXILE UNTIL 1974 AND AFTER. THEIR UNIQUE HOME IN MONTREAL, SERVED THE ANTI-DICTATORSHIP MOVEMENT AND WAS A HUB FOR GREEK ARTISTIC & CULTURAL INTELLIGENTSIA VISITING ABROAD. UP TO THE 1990'S, BANKER NICHOLAS AGIORGITIS (WHO HAD ALSO SERVED ACTIVELY IN THE 1940'S GREEK RESISTANCE MOVEMENT) SUCCESSFULLY MENTORED AND FINANCED MANY ENTERPRISES OF THE GREEK DIASPORA. BY HIS SIDE, KALLIRHOE AGIORGITI-PIPERIGOU, SWISS-TRAINED ARTIST, COLLECTOR & AESTHETE INTRODUCED AUTHENTIC GREEK-DESIGN ELEMENTS TO THEIR BRAND IDENTITIES- BEING HERSELF PART OF THE GREEK MODERNIST ART MOVEMENT OF THE 50'S. |
