Tessie Giannakina
Tessie Giannakina is a cultural producer and co-founder of olipoli, a non-profit cultural organization based in Thessaloniki, Greece. Her work focuses on the conception, development, production, and communication of cultural projects that connect music with public space, local communities, and the natural environment.
She holds a BA in English Language and Literature from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, studied Foreign Languages and Literature at the University of Bologna, and earned an MA in Arts and Cultural Management from the International University of Catalonia in Barcelona. She has worked in Greece, Spain, the Netherlands, Turkey, Argentina, and Bolivia, implementing projects in the cultural, social, and technology sectors.
Since 2021, she has been co-responsible for the design and responsible for the production and communication of the Anopolis World Music Festival, an annual festival dedicated to contemporary musical creations inspired by musical traditions from around the world and presented in public spaces and historic monuments of Ano Poli, Thessaloniki.
Since 2022, she has also worked with Callisto Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society, a Greek environmental NGO, providing administrative and financial support for European-funded projects.
Selected Projects
- Anopolis World Music Festival (2021–present) – Co-design, production, and communications.
- From Asia Minor to North Evia (2022) – Concept development and production direction.
- North Evia Festival (2022, 2024) – Concept development and production management.
- Home Concerts (2023, 2024) – Concept, design, and coordination.
- Art Studio Concerts (2024) – Concept, design, and coordination.
- How Many People Can Fit on My Balcony? (2025–2026) – Concept development and production direction.
- Songs of Shame (2025–2026) – Concept development and programme coordination.
Among other collaborations, she has worked with PERA NGO as coordinator of the Neighbourhood Room initiative of Thessaloniki’s 4th Municipal District; the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival; Thessaloniki Science Festival; and the Local Alliance for Integration programme in Thessaloniki. Internationally, she has collaborated with the Antoni Tàpies Museum and Sónar Barcelona – Music, Creativity & Technology; the Cultural Emergency Response programme of the Prince Claus Fund in Amsterdam; and the Tophane Heritage Project of the Netherlands Institute in Turkey in Istanbul.
