The Lakkos Artist Residency is a multidisciplinary space for all creative activities. It opened in 2016. The residency has relocated to a new house and location still within Heraklion City's Old Town walls, just a five-minute walk from the previous venue and Lakkos area. Its new location is closer to the city centre and is just a short walk away from all the shops you would expect to find in a small city. The mural project, which began in 2016 in the Lakkos area, continues to this day.
The residency is artist-run and survives solely on the fees artists contribute to keep the project running.
There is no dedicated exhibition space, but when the downstairs apartment is booked a one-night pop-up show is possible in the original living room space.
The residency doesn't provide any equipment for ceramic artists, but there is a wonderful ceramics studio and workshop nearby. The lady who runs it often opens her studio for ceramicists to use her equipment or take lessons. There is a charge to use her space, which can be explained via her on application.
After many years of living with the artists at the residency, Mathew Halpin, who runs it, has stepped back to focus also on his own visual art career. Mathew normally pops in a couple of times a week to get to know the guests and to offer help with projects if needed. Guests get a more hands-off place to create, research, and explore Heraklion city and the island. Generally, the residency is a lovely place to meet other artists. There is no expectation to leave work behind or put on an exhibition.
In 2019, the residency also acquired a second location in a beautiful Cretan village only 30-minutes from Heraklion city. anoasitesartistsresidency.weebly.com/
In the summer of 2023, we were fortunate to have Josephine Mead, who is the Communication and Programs Coordinator for Res Artis, come to stay. She did a short interview with Mathew about running the residency. (Notes the new residency can host three artists at one time and the village project has resumed). www.youtube.com/watch?v=WafcdzMiSv0
Mathew, who runs the residency, also published a book in December 2021, which gives a light hearted/satirical look into what it's like to live in the residency in a Greek city.
www.amazon.com/AIR-Residence-Mr-Mathew-Halpin/dp/B09MCJ9DL5/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1638720174&sr=1-12
Here is a short film about the project.
vimeo.com/402751777?fbclid=IwAR0o_0T3Wr2-bIT64XBOo42b70tNCdmeZQxwtyNY1NP94plWEBiFF8P8r3g
Here is another short film capturing a moment in the summer of 2022. Thank you, Edward Zhang! (This is the previous residency house).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRWr_JVhAXs
Here is an article written by a previous guest artist from 2020. The residency house is smaller these days but the writing about the Lakkos area still rings true. www.newlynartschool.co.uk/blog/the-lakkos-art-residency-in-crete-by-jesse-leroy-smith?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=New%20Blog%20Post%20-%20Jesse%20Leroy%20Smith%20%20Crete%20Residency&utm_content=New%20Blog%20Post%20-%20Jesse%20Leroy%20Smith%20%20Crete%20Residency+CID_cf72c94efbe2ffbdccd6ae48cb05582e&utm_source=MailAway%20Email%20Marketing&utm_term=READ%20MORE
The residency is artist-run and survives solely on the fees artists contribute to keep the project running.
There is no dedicated exhibition space, but when the downstairs apartment is booked a one-night pop-up show is possible in the original living room space.
The residency doesn't provide any equipment for ceramic artists, but there is a wonderful ceramics studio and workshop nearby. The lady who runs it often opens her studio for ceramicists to use her equipment or take lessons. There is a charge to use her space, which can be explained via her on application.
After many years of living with the artists at the residency, Mathew Halpin, who runs it, has stepped back to focus also on his own visual art career. Mathew normally pops in a couple of times a week to get to know the guests and to offer help with projects if needed. Guests get a more hands-off place to create, research, and explore Heraklion city and the island. Generally, the residency is a lovely place to meet other artists. There is no expectation to leave work behind or put on an exhibition.
In 2019, the residency also acquired a second location in a beautiful Cretan village only 30-minutes from Heraklion city. anoasitesartistsresidency.weebly.com/
In the summer of 2023, we were fortunate to have Josephine Mead, who is the Communication and Programs Coordinator for Res Artis, come to stay. She did a short interview with Mathew about running the residency. (Notes the new residency can host three artists at one time and the village project has resumed). www.youtube.com/watch?v=WafcdzMiSv0
Mathew, who runs the residency, also published a book in December 2021, which gives a light hearted/satirical look into what it's like to live in the residency in a Greek city.
www.amazon.com/AIR-Residence-Mr-Mathew-Halpin/dp/B09MCJ9DL5/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1638720174&sr=1-12
Here is a short film about the project.
vimeo.com/402751777?fbclid=IwAR0o_0T3Wr2-bIT64XBOo42b70tNCdmeZQxwtyNY1NP94plWEBiFF8P8r3g
Here is another short film capturing a moment in the summer of 2022. Thank you, Edward Zhang! (This is the previous residency house).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRWr_JVhAXs
Here is an article written by a previous guest artist from 2020. The residency house is smaller these days but the writing about the Lakkos area still rings true. www.newlynartschool.co.uk/blog/the-lakkos-art-residency-in-crete-by-jesse-leroy-smith?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=New%20Blog%20Post%20-%20Jesse%20Leroy%20Smith%20%20Crete%20Residency&utm_content=New%20Blog%20Post%20-%20Jesse%20Leroy%20Smith%20%20Crete%20Residency+CID_cf72c94efbe2ffbdccd6ae48cb05582e&utm_source=MailAway%20Email%20Marketing&utm_term=READ%20MORE
Heraklion city
Heraklion is the largest city on the Greek island of Crete. Crete itself is the largest Greek island and is closest to Africa. The city hosts the main airport and ferry transportation routes to Athens and other Greek islands. Although the city of Heraklion, devastated during World War 2 bombings, has seen much thoughtless development, there are pockets of the original old town, like Lakkos and Pediados Street, which is where the new residency is. Heraklion is one of Greece’s major urban centres. Its development began in the wake of the 9th century AD (in antiquity, Knossos was the island’s most important centre, followed by Gortyn). In later times, Heraklion came under Arabic, Venetian, and Ottoman rule; its conquerors initially gave it the name Khandaq or Handak, which evolved to Candia. Among the most outstanding sights of Heraklion are the fortification walls or 'old Venetian walls' that demark the “old city”. The first fortifications were built by the Arabs and were later reinforced by the Venetians (15th century). From the seven bastions, only the Martinengo bastion survives to this day; there, visitors will find the tomb of the renowned writer N. Kazantzakis, overlooking the city. From the four gates to the city, only Chanioporta (1570) with the characteristic winged Lion of Saint Marc and the New Gate (1587) at the southern side survive today.
In the old (Venetian) port, next to the modern facilities, one can see the vaulted tarsanades where ships used to be built, while the western side is dominated by the Koule fortress (16th century).
In the heart of the city there are many monuments dating to the Middle Ages, a period in which Heraklion witnessed great prosperity. From the port, ascending 25 Avgoustou (August) street, one reaches a square where the church of Agios Titos is found (built in 1872 at the site where a Byzantine church once stood), while next to it lies the Venetian Loggia (16thcentury), a magnificent, ornate arcaded Venetian building decorated with blazons, trophies, etc., which served as a meeting place for the Duke and other noblemen during the Venetian period.
A typical feature of Heraklion is its Venetian and Turkish fountains, scattered all around the city. The most famous one is the Venetian-style Μorozinifountain, also known as the Lions(1628), a landmark for local inhabitants and visitors alike. Other noteworthy Venetian fountains are the Bembo fountain (1552-1554) on Kornaros Square, the Sagredo fountain (1602-1604) built in the northwestern corner of the Loggia, and Priuli fountain (1666) located near the port.
The most interesting Turkish fountains are the Charity fountain (1776), next to the Bembo fountain, which today functions as a café, the “Idomeneas fountain” (behind the Historical Museum of Crete), the “Genitsar Aga Fountain” (on Ikarou street), etc.
Among the churches of Heraklion, the one that stands out is the imposing and sizeable Metropolis of Agios Minas (on Agia Ekaterini Square), built between 1862 and 1895. Adjacent to it stands the chapel of Mikros Agios Minas, and on the northeast is situated the church of Agia Ekaterini (16th century), which functions as a museum housing exhibits from the Cretan Renaissance. The church of Agios Markos (13th century) towers over Venizelou Square, while other important churches in the city are the Monastery of Agios Petros and Pavlos, the Panagia Akrotiriani, the Panagia ton Stavroforon, etc.
One should not miss out on a visit to the Archaeological Museum, one of the most important museums in Greece; it contains almost all the unique treasures of the Minoan civilization unearthed at Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, and other sites. Other museums that are worth visiting are the Historical Museum, the Museum of Natural History, and the Acquarium “Cretaquarium” (in the area of Gournes).
Being on the coast there are many beaches nearby. There are a couple that are not far to walk to or local buses give many more options.
Practical Information
Shops opening hours.
Monday 8.30 until 14.30
Tuesday 8.30 until 2.30 then 17.30 until 20.30
Wednesday 8.30 until 14.30
Thursday 8.30 until 2.30 then 17.30 until 20.30
Friday 8.30 until 2.30 then 17.30 until 20.30
Saturday 8.30 until 14.30
Sunday closed
Most supermarkets are open all day except Sundays.
Art materials
There are two main art materials shops and many smaller ones. The better one is across from the one in the link.
www.google.com/maps/place/%CE%91%CE%A0%CE%9B%CE%91%CE%94%CE%91+%CE%95%CE%A5%CE%93%CE%95%CE%9D%CE%99%CE%91/@35.3356183,25.1338425,20z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x149a5a2998c24107:0x54dcf50d3d0f1b83!8m2!3d35.3356887!4d25.1341733
In the old (Venetian) port, next to the modern facilities, one can see the vaulted tarsanades where ships used to be built, while the western side is dominated by the Koule fortress (16th century).
In the heart of the city there are many monuments dating to the Middle Ages, a period in which Heraklion witnessed great prosperity. From the port, ascending 25 Avgoustou (August) street, one reaches a square where the church of Agios Titos is found (built in 1872 at the site where a Byzantine church once stood), while next to it lies the Venetian Loggia (16thcentury), a magnificent, ornate arcaded Venetian building decorated with blazons, trophies, etc., which served as a meeting place for the Duke and other noblemen during the Venetian period.
A typical feature of Heraklion is its Venetian and Turkish fountains, scattered all around the city. The most famous one is the Venetian-style Μorozinifountain, also known as the Lions(1628), a landmark for local inhabitants and visitors alike. Other noteworthy Venetian fountains are the Bembo fountain (1552-1554) on Kornaros Square, the Sagredo fountain (1602-1604) built in the northwestern corner of the Loggia, and Priuli fountain (1666) located near the port.
The most interesting Turkish fountains are the Charity fountain (1776), next to the Bembo fountain, which today functions as a café, the “Idomeneas fountain” (behind the Historical Museum of Crete), the “Genitsar Aga Fountain” (on Ikarou street), etc.
Among the churches of Heraklion, the one that stands out is the imposing and sizeable Metropolis of Agios Minas (on Agia Ekaterini Square), built between 1862 and 1895. Adjacent to it stands the chapel of Mikros Agios Minas, and on the northeast is situated the church of Agia Ekaterini (16th century), which functions as a museum housing exhibits from the Cretan Renaissance. The church of Agios Markos (13th century) towers over Venizelou Square, while other important churches in the city are the Monastery of Agios Petros and Pavlos, the Panagia Akrotiriani, the Panagia ton Stavroforon, etc.
One should not miss out on a visit to the Archaeological Museum, one of the most important museums in Greece; it contains almost all the unique treasures of the Minoan civilization unearthed at Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, and other sites. Other museums that are worth visiting are the Historical Museum, the Museum of Natural History, and the Acquarium “Cretaquarium” (in the area of Gournes).
Being on the coast there are many beaches nearby. There are a couple that are not far to walk to or local buses give many more options.
Practical Information
Shops opening hours.
Monday 8.30 until 14.30
Tuesday 8.30 until 2.30 then 17.30 until 20.30
Wednesday 8.30 until 14.30
Thursday 8.30 until 2.30 then 17.30 until 20.30
Friday 8.30 until 2.30 then 17.30 until 20.30
Saturday 8.30 until 14.30
Sunday closed
Most supermarkets are open all day except Sundays.
Art materials
There are two main art materials shops and many smaller ones. The better one is across from the one in the link.
www.google.com/maps/place/%CE%91%CE%A0%CE%9B%CE%91%CE%94%CE%91+%CE%95%CE%A5%CE%93%CE%95%CE%9D%CE%99%CE%91/@35.3356183,25.1338425,20z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x149a5a2998c24107:0x54dcf50d3d0f1b83!8m2!3d35.3356887!4d25.1341733
