Video Recap
The Challenge
Dry stone walls are central to Cycladic identity and sustainability: they prevent erosion, collect rainwater, stabilize slopes, and create habitats for flora and fauna, recognized by UNESCO as features of Intangible Heritage.
However, abandoned agricultural practices and the lack of knowledge sharing between generations threaten their preservation, leading to soil erosion and landscape degradation. There is a pressing need to restore and share this traditional knowledge among island communities to maintain environmental and cultural sustainability.
The Solution
CPF continues to invest in the cycladic knowledge and expertise of traditional dry stone building techniques. Through this grant the Mitato of Amorgos will develop a standardized dry stone workshop framework, contributing research, analysis, and synthesis of the final framework. They will also implement a dry stone workshop on the island of Iraklia in collaboration with local initiatives. Similar workshops will be done in Tinos and Sifnos.
The project aims to design a standardised workshop framework to train dry stone craftsmanship throughout the Cycladic islands, based on Mitato’s years of experience hosting previous workshops and exchanges with other groups. This will create a solid, replicable educational scheme, including a pilot workshop on Iraklia island, promoting awareness and preserving traditional building techniques while fostering local cooperation and skill building.
Activities
The Mitato of Amorgos, with the support of CPF, will:
- Investigate existing dry stone training schemes in Greece and internationally, and collaborate with partners such as Boulouki and local island organisations to identify best practices relevant to Cycladic contexts (Research and Analysis).
- Meet with citizen initiatives and groups across the Cycladic islands to exchange experiences and collaboratively refine the workshop framework. (Communication with Other Groups)
- Develop a detailed 10–12 page draft handbook outlining aims, methodology, timeline, key stakeholders, and expected outcomes of the training model. (Workshop Framework Preparation)
- Organise the logistics, site selection, and necessary arrangements for implementing a pilot workshop on the island of Iraklia. (Pilot Workshop Preparation)
- Deliver an apprenticeship-based pilot program and public workshop focused on restoring dry stone structures on Iraklia, while testing the training framework in practice. (Pilot Dry Stone Workshop)
- Gather and analyse feedback from participants and partners; revise the handbook and publish final reports and manuals to guide future workshops throughout the Cyclades. (Synthesis and Reporting)
About the Grantee
The Mitato of Amorgos was established in 2020 and is registered as an AMKE. It is dedicated to environmental and cultural preservation in Amorgos and the Cyclades, with a focus on raising awareness, conserving traditional crafts, and promoting local knowledge. The team has experience organizing path clearing and dry stone workshops, collaborating with local groups and receiving grants from multiple cultural and environmental foundations.
What You Can Do
- If you live in Amorgos, Iraklia, Tinos, Sifnos follow Mitato and CPF to participate in the local workshops and restoration efforts.
- When you visit any of the islands of the Cyclades or the rest of the Aegean, take a minute to appreciate the dry stone features. Take a photo and tag CPF, promoting awareness about the environmental importance of dry stone structures.
- Make a donation to CPF to continue support the maintenance of dry stones in Cyclades
