The Enamel Factory of Kea
History, Memories, Objects
August 1 – September 30, 2025
Korissia
The Municipality of Kea is organizing this year’s exhibition titled “The Enamel Factory of Kea – History, Memories, Objects” accompanied by parallel activities dedicated to this historic site, which has long been a landmark for the island. The aim of this initiative is to highlight Kea’s unique industrial heritage, as well as the pivotal role the factory played for decades in the island’s economic and social life.
Visitors will have the opportunity to explore up close the factory’s production objects, tools and components used in the manufacturing process, archival photographs, construction plans, and other important records. A special place is held by the oral testimonies of people whose stories bring to life events, personal experiences, everyday moments, and emotions centered around the factory.
The goal of this year’s exhibition is to offer an immersive experience, inviting visitors not only to see, but to feel, discover, and connect with this important chapter of Kea’s history, architecture, and industrial heritage.
Exhibition Opening
1 August 2025 | Stylianos Restis Cultural Centre | 20:00
The exhibition will be presented in Korissia, at two locations:
- Outdoor exhibition | 1 August – 30 September 2025 | Iroon Square & Faro Square
- Exhibition of objects and oral testimonies | 1 – 20 August 2025 | 19:00 – 23:00 | Stylianos Restis Cultural Center
The exhibition is complemented by parallel activities:
- Art workshops for children | Monday, 4 & 11 August
- Architectural tour at the factory grounds led by Anna Psylla, Architect Engineer specializing in Cultural Heritage | Sunday, 10 August
This summer, the factory comes alive once again and emerges as an integral part of Kea’s identity and collective memory.
Free entrance
We express our heartfelt gratitude to:
– Nikos Dalaretos, collector and publisher, who generously donated to the Municipality of Kea a collection of objects and an archive of documents from the factory, while also sharing his valuable memories. The exhibition also features material from the book “The Enamel Factory on Kea (1927–1957)” by V. Theodorou, published by Vourkariani Editions, which was kindly provided by him.
– Giorgos Evyenikos, for the generous contribution of photographic material from his archive, as well as precious objects and heirlooms, and for his essential support and contribution.
– The Friends of the Enamel Factory Association, and in particular the late President Giannis Evyenikos and the Vice President Stefanos Lepouras, who generously handed over to the Municipality of Kea the collection of designs, documents, tools, and factory items, taking great care over the years to preserve them with love for Kea’s industrial past.
– The Worldwide Keans Association, and especially Katerina Baltazani, for providing articles from the archive of the magazine “Our Island Kea”. The articles are presented in the exhibition and narrate the factory’s story since 1952, the year the magazine was first published.
– Giannis Vamvakouris, the current owner of the factory, for granting access to the site for documentation and the architectural walk-through.
The exhibition also presents material from the archives of: Nikos Alexandrou, Nikos Moraitis, Rita Kolia, Giannis Rallis, Georgios Chartofylakidis, Pamela Jerome, and Andrea Ieromnimon.
Moreover, the exhibition features oral testimonies by:
– Markos Andreou, researcher, President of the WWII 1940 Reenactment Group
– Giannis Vamvakouris, current owner of the factory
– Irini Velissaropoulou, Mayor of Kea
– Nikos Dalaretos, collector and publisher of Vourkariani Editions
– Giannis Evyenikos, former worker & President of the Friends of the Enamel
Factory Association
– Stefanos Lepouras, Vice President of the Friends of the Enamel Factory Association
– Lefteris Paouris, former worker at the factory
– Giannis Rallis, son of a former worker and folk artist
– Giannis Sofianopoulos, grandson of the factory’s founder G. Gleoudis
– Giannis Stogiannidis, Associate Professor in the Department of Archives,
Library Science and Information Systems, specialist in Industrial Archaeology
– Anna Psylla, exhibition curator
to whom we extend our special thanks for their valuable contribution.
Organization: Municipality of Kea Exhibition
Curator: Anna Psylla, Tiny Projects IKE
Oral Testimony Recording & Sound Design: Fanis Maragos
Printing: Kappa Publishing