ATHENS – The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) announced on April 1 that SNF Nostos events will take place, in person, August 25-29. The SNF statement follows: 

Dear Friends,

It has certainly been a very tough year for humanity. Of the twin focal points of this year’s SNF Nostos events, humanity and artificial intelligence, AI has had the much better year. *

With the help of scientists and the vaccines they have produced, humanity is trying desperately to make a comeback. And with all due respect to the potential of AI, it will never replace the true spirit of humanity.

As such, we have reluctantly decided not to proceed with holding the SNF Nostos celebration this coming June 23-27. Based on the latest health guidance, it is unlikely that it would be possible to do so in person, and it is in person that we would like to celebrate with you all.

We honor the victims of the pandemic, and we stand by people around the world who are mourning the loss of loved ones. We offer our deepest condolences. Even in the difficult times we continue to live through, we are committed to finding ways for the things that matter to humanity to continue and improve, and we remain optimistic that the outlook on the health front will improve significantly in the near future.

We hold out hope, then, that it will be possible to host our SNF Nostos events in late August (Wednesday, August 25 to Sunday, August 29) at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) in Athens. Hopefully, by then humanity will be in a better position to stand tall next to AI and demonstrate that, no matter what, our shared humanity is at the core of who we all are.

We would like to sincerely thank the whole SNF Nostos team, internal and external, all of our collaborators and conference and festival presenters, and all of you for your understanding and flexibility in patiently working together to make this happen in person!

Looking forward to seeing you in Athens in late August—at the end of the summer, but hopefully also at the start of a comeback for humanity.

With much appreciation from all of us at SNF

* “Humanity and Artificial Intelligence” is the theme of this year’s SNF Nostos Conference, which resonates throughout the full range of SNF Nostos.