IRC 2022 Study Tour

Coordinated by the International Relations Committee (IRC), the 2022 ARLIS/NA Study Tour will provide participants with the opportunity to discover notable and hidden libraries and archives within museums, artists workshops, universities, and government bodies within Athens, Greece. A hallmark of IRC Study Tours is behind-the-scenes tours that offer special access to collections as well as generous hospitality by hosts, and this trip promises an abundance of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. The dates of the Study Tour are June 27-July 1, 2022. 

Itinerary

Group leaders are putting the final touches on the tour schedule. The following is our schedule as it currently stands and is subject to change: 

Sunday, June 26 (optional)

• 18:00 - Welcome drink at the rooftop of COCO-MAT Athens BC

Monday, June 27

• 09:00 - Athenian Agora and Ancient Libraries with John Camp, director of the Agora excavations
• 13:30 - ELIA (Hellenic Literature and Historic Archives)

Tuesday, June 28

• 13:00 - Athens School of Fine Arts Library 
• 15:00 - Mentis Passementerie

Wednesday, June 29

• 10:00 - National Library of Greece
• 14:00 - EMST (National Museum of Contemporary Art)
• 17:30 - Valsamakis Ceramics with an evening reception (included)
  

Thursday, June 30

• 10:00 - Library of the Hellenic Parliament 

• 12:30 - Library of the Byzantine Museum 

• 16:00 - Library of the Benaki Museum

Friday, July 1

• 10:00 - American School of Classical Studies 

  • Gennadius Library 

  • Wiener Laboratory 

• 17:00 - Acropolis Museum (followed by a reception at the museum's terrace)

Saturday, July 2 (optional)

• Visiting Hydra island
  • 12:00 - Tetsis House and Studio
  • 13:00 - Kountouriotis Mansion (Robert McCabe photography exhibition)

Tour Information

COVID-19

The group leaders have been optimistic in their planning of this study-tour but are cognizant of the challenges of planning travel during the pandemic. 

All participants are required to be fully vaccinated and will be expected to abide by the health and safety rules established by Greece and the countries they will be disembarking from and returning to. The US Embassy & Consulate in Greece’s COVID-19 and the Destination Greece. Health First! websites are great resources for information about current requirements.

Deposit

Your $350 deposit will be used toward group activities and local group transportation during the trip.

Cancellation Policy

A full refund of the deposit will be made for cancellations received before April 15, 2022. Contact the ARLIS/NA office to request cancellation of your registration and a refund if cancelling prior to April 15, 2022.

Cancellations received on or after April 15 are generally not eligible for a refund. If someone on a waiting list can take the place of a cancellation requested after the deadline, the deposit will be refunded, minus a $50 processing fee. Requests for refunds after April 15 must be made in writing to the Group Leaders, Spyros Koulouris, Olivia Piepmeier, and Isotta Poggi.

Lodging

You are responsible for booking and paying for your own lodging. Please note that you should not book your lodging until you receive an email from the groupo leaders that the minimum number of participants (10) have been reached. Participants will be staying at the COCO-MAT Athens Jumelle Hotel, a new hotel centrally located in the city and within walking distance of many of our planned tour locations. Room prices are €120 per night, breakfast included. If you book by March 30th with a code we’ll share after your registration, you’ll be guaranteed a balcony room with breakfast included as well as free cancellation up to 24 hours before your stay.

Flight Arrangements

You are responsible for booking and paying for your own flight. Please note that you should not purchase your ticket(s) until you receive an email from the group leader that the minimum number of participants (10) have been reached. Be sure to schedule your arrival on Sunday, June 26, 2022, at the latest.

ARLIS/NA and the Study Tour organizers are not responsible for travel to and from the Study Tour site and therefore are not able to issue any refunds for travel for any reason.

Considering the pandemic, the tour organizers recommend participants consider the airline’s no change fee policies in case one does need to cancel at the last minute. Scott’s Cheap Flights Coronavirus Resources page includes a regularly updated list of many airlines and their policies that may be helpful.

Guidelines

A Study Tour is a great opportunity to visit colleagues, their collections, and tour relevant cultural institutions while representing ARLIS/NA and your home institution. Past tours include library visits, business meetings, collections presentations, and are often in conjunction with conferences, symposiums, or colloquiums. Applications for ARLIS/NA Study Tours will be accepted for current ARLIS/NA members working or currently seeking employment as arts information professionals. Spouses, partners, or friends of Study Tour participants are welcome to travel with participants, however inclusion in tour activities or special events is at the discretion of the hosts.

An agenda is constructed by the tour leader in conjunction with hosts in the chosen location. All items on the agenda are by formal invitation of the hosts and the following guidelines are recommended for all scheduled activities:

• Participants are expected to participate in the agenda provided by the host(s) and plan to visit local sites either before or after the Study Tour.
• Study Tour schedules often begin early in the morning and include multiple visits throughout the entire day. Sometimes meals are included or time is allotted for meals on one’s own. It is important that all participants arrive at designated meeting points on time in order to keep the schedule accurate for all our hosts.
• Participants should wear comfortable shoes for extensive walking and standing.
• Please refrain from separating from the group while in transit between tour locations.
• Our hosts often include their supervising directors, or other VIP administrators, in our meetings and tours.
• Please be prepared to participate in discussions related to the arts information profession and follow all security rules provided by the host institution when invited to examine collections.
• Not all items on the agenda will be of interest to everyone in a group, however our hosts will expect the entire group to participate and will plan activities based on our full number.
• If a participant is unable to attend a scheduled part of the agenda, it is advised that the tour leader be informed before the activity. Participants are also recommended to send a note of regret to the host.
• Many countries and cultures that we visit are very generous with receptions and souvenir gifts. It is recommended that participants bring business cards, brochures, and/or small hostess gifts that represent their institution. Participants should also plan to send thank you notes or emails after the trip is complete.