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About Us

Exploring Identity Through Art

  • Who Are We?

  • Why are we here?

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  • People

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Athena Syntax is an in-school programme which gives students a chance to explore creative self-expression and shape their own philosophical, religious and scientific thinking through intercultural dialogue.

Addressing notions of identity creatively, Athena-syntax runs open-ended workshops which give pupils room to experience their own and each other’s identities through the medium of art and creativity.

The programme is based on evidence that the arts have a valuable role to play in providing positive, alternative perspectives to the kind of simplified narratives which can lead young people into dangerous territory. Athena-syntax aims to empower pupils to operate in a pluralist society where science, art and religious and philosophical paradoxes can co-exist.

Why are we here?

We believe creative expression is a human right, and that the experience of different art forms, when handled with tact and delicacy, gives an individual an opportunity to learn about themselves and those around them.

Art is a unique form of communication: it follows none of the usual rules and it operates through the unexpected. It expresses itself in a diversity of forms, languages, colours, lines, sounds, movement and improvisations which, like society, can often not be contained by absolute definitions.

The socio-economic and cultural backgrounds of many of our students however, may mean they feel detached from the world of art – a problem exacerbated by the fact that art does not have a place on the curriculum beyond the first two years of secondary education.

Athena-syntax provides an unthreatening artistic environment which allows for uninhibited creativity, encouraging students to activate capacities they haven’t used before and giving them a chance to express themselves in a context of advanced intercultural dialogue.

Partnerships

Athena-syntax interacts with Antwerp’s thriving art scene, collaborating with Antwerp’s Museum of Contemporary Art, as well as with other partners in the city, to attract outstanding, professional artists to work with students on contemporary art projects.

Lawrence Weiner
Professional Artist
Ricardo Brey
Professional Artist
Pavel Buchler
Professional Artist
Wim Cuyvers
Architect
HELD
SOFAM
copyright association for visual artists
  • All

  • Artists

Luc Tuymans

Lawrence Weiner

Ricardo Brey

Pavel Buchler

Wim Cuyvers

HELD

SOFAM

Luc Tuymans

Lawrence Weiner

Ricardo Brey

Pavel Buchler

Wim Cuyvers

HELD

SOFAM

People

While teaching at the Go! Athenaeum of Antwerp school, science teacher Rudi Audiens and Islam teacher Mohamed Filali noticed that their lessons were leaving pupils with mixed messages around evolution and religion. So they worked together to devise a form of horizontal dialogue in which these narratives could co-exist. The school’s principal Karin Heremans, a former art teacher, immediately supported the project, involving professional artists like Luc Tuymans, Ricardo Brey, Pavel Büchler and Wim Cuyvers, and adopting it as good educational practice e.g. in the RAN-collection.

Islam Teacher

Mohammed Aouami Filali

Principal, GO! Royal Atheneum Antwerp

Karin Heremans

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Science Teacher at Rest

Rudi Audiens

Board of Directors

CONTACT US

We Love To Talk

So don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or suggestions. We especially want to hear from you if you’re interested in collaborating, offer us financial support, or want to launch your own Athena-syntax programme.

PARTNERS Go Go
+32 497 44 78 37
+32 476 21 94 53
hello@athenasyntax.org
Franklin Rooseveltplaats 11
2060 Antwerp, 03/2327099
  • About Us
  • Updates
  • Art Gallery
    • Out of sight
    • Out of the ordinary
    • Out of all times
    • Out of remembrance
    • Out Of My Roots
    • Out Of Conflict
    • Out Of
    • Outside The Box
    • Out of the Box II
    • Out Of The Box I
  • Contact Us