elc team
Tilos: an island laboratory for circular creativity
The Tilos Artist Residency program continues for the fourth consecutive year on the island of Tilos. For 2025, the Polygreen Culture & Art Initiative (PCAI) extends its collaboration with the British Council within the framework of the Circular Cultures (Making Matters) program, welcoming the British collective STORE to lead this year’s residency. From September 29 to October 8, STORE will be on the island with the aim of exploring possible environmental solutions through the lens of artistic creation.
STORE is a socially engaged collective of creative professionals. Their mission is to support more young people from socially underrepresented groups in accessing creative study programs, thus addressing social inequality in arts, design, and architecture education. STORE will be represented by Kevin Green (Project Manager, Program Lead), Oyin Falade (Young Trustee, working in sculpture and performance), Elisa Heath (Project Manager), Yusuf Uddin (Young Trustee, visual effects artist working in creative outreach) and Ella Markes (Project Manager, architect and educator).
The Tilos Artist Residency program aims to explore how the principles of the circular economy can inspire creativity, collaboration, and innovative thinking in architecture, design, materials, and urban planning. Specifically, during their residency the artists will have the opportunity to engage directly with the island’s circular economy program, which has been implemented since 2022. In collaboration with the Municipality, the schools of Tilos, and local residents, the artists will create a collective artwork with the community, serving as a legacy of their research on the island. Similar artistic “footprints” were created in previous residencies by Hypercomf, The New Raw, Resolve and POor, many of which are presented at the Just Go Zero Tilos info point.
The Tilos Artist Residency is organized within the framework of Polygreen’s collaboration with the Municipality of Tilos. Just Go Zero Tilos is an innovative environmental project, launched in 2022 with the support of Polygreen, aiming to develop solutions that promote circular economy and sustainability. It established Tilos as the first zero-waste island in Greece.
About STORE
STORE is a collective of artists, architects, and designers working between London and Rotterdam with a common mission: to support more young people from underrepresented groups in accessing creative study programs, thereby addressing social inequality in arts, design, and architecture education. Their projects are built on three main pillars: educational programs, socially engaged practice, and public events.
Through their educational initiatives, young people work alongside artists and designers to discover and develop their creative talents, practical skills, build confidence, and create portfolios in art and design. They also organize a wide range of public events. STORE exists to facilitate the exchange of skills and knowledge between experienced professionals, aspiring students, and the wider public. Their work ensures that the next generation of architects, artists, and designers better reflects the communities they live and work in. As a Community Interest Company, STORE members apply their expertise to projects that directly address current socio-economic challenges.
About the Polygreen Culture & Art Initiative (PCAI) and the Tilos Artist Residency
PCAI was founded by Athanasios Polychronopoulos, CEO of the environmental company Polygreen, with a mission to raise environmental awareness through an annual program of artistic commissions, contemporary art exhibitions, artist residencies, workshops, and conferences. The PCAI Art Collection focuses on commissions and works of contemporary art and moving image, while providing artists with the resources to create works in dialogue with environmental, sociological, and philosophical issues-ensuring full freedom of expression and critical inquiry.
Over the years, PCAI has collaborated with major institutions, biennials, and cultural organizations such as the British Council, London’s Serpentine, the Venice Biennale, the São Paulo Biennial, the Sharjah Biennial, and KW Berlin. It has been repeatedly recognized for its cultural work and collaborations. Since 2021, PCAI has been an official nominator for the prestigious environmental Earthshot Prize, established by the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales. PCAI is also a member of the International Association of Corporate Collections of Contemporary Art (IACCCA), while its artistic director, Kika Kyriakakou, serves as an elected member of the board.
The Tilos Artist Residency takes place as part of Polygreen’s collaboration with the Municipality of Tilos and the innovative Just Go Zero Tilos project. Launched in 2022, the initiative transformed Tilos into a significant case study for a zero-waste island. Through Just Go Zero, it is now the only island worldwide-and the only place in Greece-to have been awarded the international Zero Waste City certification. The first Tilos Artist Residency within the initiative featured the artistic duo Hypercomf and the design duo The New Raw.
