The Onassis Cultural Center New York Announces the Second Annual Onassis Festival of Arts and Ideas

The Onassis Cultural Center New York launches its fall season with the second annual Onassis Festival of Arts and Ideas. Antigone Now will be presented October 13-16 at the Onassis Cultural Center New York, in the Olympic Tower in mid-town Manhattan. The story of Sophocles' Antigone, an ancient Greek tragedy about personal conviction is the central theme for this year's Festival. With bold and innovative programming, Antigone Now explores the myth through visual and performing arts, family programs, and digital media. The Festival will also introduce a galvanizing digital initiative, #iSTANDfor. Drawing from Antigone's famed courage in standing for what she believed, #iSTANDfor will encourage young people around the world to share stories of inspiration and change via their social media channels and a dedicated web site. #iSTANDfor shines a spotlight on, and celebrates the young women and men around the globe whose individual and collective acts of heroism and bravery are changing our world for the better. Free and open to the public, Antigone Now at the Onassis Cultural Center New York (645 5th Avenue, New York, NY), will include over 30 events for participants of all ages and interests-on site and online.

"Focusing on the story of Antigone to promote a deeper understanding of how ancient Greek culture has shaped and enriched our modern value systems, Antigone Now will foster a dialogue among people from the United States and around the globe about many of the problems we face in the world today," says Anthony Papadimitriou, President, Onassis Foundation. "Antigone's love for her brother, her sense of duty and her courage to challenge powerful forces, especially as a woman, makes her an admirable figure. Her heroic story applies to many of today's topical issues such as power struggles, women's rights, societal laws and immigration - only a few examples."

"Sophocles' Antigone speaks to the values and perils of our democratic culture. In organizing this Festival, it has been extremely inspiring to see how artists and thinkers have responded so passionately to this Greek tragedy and the questions it raises for our fractious times, by creating works that call for positive action and unity." -Amalia Cosmetatou, Executive and Cultural Director of the Onassis Foundation USA.

Through exclusive commissions and by building surprising connections, the Antigone Now program explores Sophocles' play across an extensive and diverse range of artistic disciplines, presented by both Greek and American artists. The Festival's #iSTANDfor digital platform will augment the program globally.