Art Meets Tourism Futures at HMU
[58s read]
The Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU) hosts a curated visual arts exhibition titled “The Country You Create” from 20 to 26 September, bringing contemporary artistic expression into direct dialogue with international academic research on island and coastal destinations. The exhibition is presented by the Association of Visual Artists of Crete and forms part of the official cultural program of the international conference Island and Coastal Tourism Futures 2026, co organized by HMU’s Department of Business Administration and Tourism, Ningbo University (China), the University of Angers (France) and the Tourism Geography Committee of the Geographical Society of China.
The exhibition features twenty contemporary artworks, curated by Evi Michelaki, each inspired by the core themes of the conference: insularity, coastal identity and the evolving relationship between place, culture and tourism. The works explore how individuals — residents, visitors, creators — shape and reinterpret the spaces they inhabit, offering a visual counterpart to the scientific discussions taking place during the conference.
Hosted at the Markos Karanastasis Indoor Hall foyer, the exhibition creates a meeting point between artistic practice and academic inquiry. Its presence within HMU underscores the university’s commitment to integrating cultural production with international research, highlighting how creative perspectives can enrich debates on the future of island and coastal tourism.
The opening event will take place on Sunday, 20 September 2026, at 19:30, welcoming conference participants, students and the wider public. The exhibition will remain open until 26 September, offering an opportunity for international delegates and visitors to engage with contemporary Cretan art within a framework of global academic collaboration.
