"FARIS" Public Benefit Enterprise of the Municipality of Kalamata

The Public Benefit Enterprise of the Municipality of Kalamata, "Faris", is the official policy body of the Municipality in the axis of culture and social policy and is contracted to the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Kalamata. The cultural axis includes music, dance, theatre, visual arts and artistic events. In contrast, the social policy axis consists of the area of ​​social solidarity (Municipal Grocery Store, Municipal Clinic, and the "Help at Home" programme).

According to Greek mythology, Faris was a demigod, the son of Hermes and Philodameia, who founded the ancient Homeric city of Pharai on the site of today's Kalamata. His daughter was Telegony.

The artistic structures included in the Faris Public Benefit Enterprise are:

- the Municipal Regional Theatre of Kalamata

- the Municipal Conservatory

- the Municipal Dance School

- the Art Workshop

- the Kalamata Art Center (KTK)

- the Municipal Gallery of Kalamata "A. Tassos" and

- the International Dance Centre.

A series of Faris actions and events are held annually, such as the Kalamata Carnival, the March 23rd reenactment, the Kalamata Cultural Summer etc. Finally, various festivals are organised, such as the "Kalamata International Dance Festival", the "Kalamata Guitar Festival", the "Kalamata International Music Days" and the "Kalamata International Choir Competition and Festival", with large numbers of visitors not only from all over Greece but also from many foreign countries.