#Sesaspoumasakoute

After the Decree was signed into power on 17 December 2022, an aftermath of protests and resistance started in the art world in Greece, as well as at an international level. The fight is still ongoing. Several of the major drama schools of Greece had been squatted for almost three months by their students, including, for example, the National Theater, the National Theater of Northern Greece, and the Municipal Theater of Patras, as a symbol of protest. Students were not allowing the schools to function as normal, but at the same time, multiple cultural and artistic activities were taking place in the squatted schools, showing that art is alive and is extremely related to its students , its teachers, and its people. The subject also got international attention with the ETC (European Theatre Convention) standing with the artists’ demands and publicly denouncing the devaluation of Arts education in Greece.
 

Some of the demands of the artists included: 

-The amendment of Decree 85/2022, with the inclusion of all artists in the tertiary education level.

-The provision of food, accommodation, free textbooks, state scholarships, and financial support to the Student Body of the Schools supervised by the Ministry of Culture and Sports.

-The proper staffing of the Public Schools of Performing Arts with the necessary personnel and equipment for the correct conduct of the studies.

-The immediate establishment of a Public and Free University and new University Departments of Performing Arts throughout Greece. [6]

On 20 March 2023,  the student assemblies of drama schools announced that they would no longer be squatting their Drama schools and that they would keep revendicating the withdrawal of the Decree with the Drama Schools open, up, and running. In their official statement, the student assemblies declared, “we, as the student body, desire to reconnect with the essence of our studies, and we will do so while simultaneously advocating for their improvement. [..] We believe in the power of the struggle and the momentum of the unified and grassroots movement that has been created. Our response to those in power is that you have not succeeded in defeating us, as our lives will not be sacrificed for your sake as you demand. We will be on the streets, in the occupied theatres, among the people fighting against murderous policies of all kinds, against privatization, and against the violent impoverishment of the people”.

It is likely that this decision was related to the February 28, 2023, train crash in Greece and the aftermath of demonstrations and violence that followed it. Amidst the ongoing events, the student artistic movement and associations united against state violence. Occupations and demonstrations faced extreme repression. The student body of public art schools decided to end occupations while still opposing the downgrading caused by Decree 85/22. Negotiations with the Greek authorities had been futile, revealing a lack of political will. The targeted degradation faced at all levels seemed to have left no room for dialogue. To this day, the Presidential Decree stands steadfast,  with no modifications or removals enacted.