ABOUT THE PROJECT

http://www.austhistmuseum.mq.edu.au/greek/intro.htm

Instigated by photographer Effy Alexakis and historian Leonard Janiszewski in 1982, the In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians project is attempting a detailed documentation of the historical and contemporary presence of Greek-Australians in both Australia and Greece.

The project's archives on Greek-Australians is one of the largest such collections held within Australia, and is both nationally and internationally recognised. The unique collection features a diverse range of material covering visual (preserved as negatives, video, film), oral (audio cassettes and CD) and literary aspects (paper based research material).

Various research publications (including two major books) together with national and international touring exhibitions, have been produced.

Directed by film-maker Michael Karris, an SBS documentary on the project, in association with the Australia Council, has been produced and televised. Karris is responsible for the project's film collection.

Three major social history exhibitions have been produced - In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians, Mavri Xenitia: Black Foreign Land and Generations. All are nationally touring displays and share a marriage of contemporary and historical perspectives on Greek-Australians in Australia and Greece.

The principal of these, In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians, has been in partnership with the State Library of New South Wales and funded by Visions Australia.


In Their Own Image. Greek Australians. Exhibition - State Library of NSW, exterior.


In Their Own Image. Greek Australians. Exhibition - State Lib, NSW, interior.

It has also toured extensively both nationally and internationally at major cultural venues:

Australia -

Western Australian Museum;
Northern Territory Library;
State Library of South Australia;
Canberra Museum & Gallery;
State Library of New South Wales;
Immigration Museum of Victoria;
Ipswich City Library & Art Gallery.

Greece -

The Arts Centre, Eleftherias Park, Athens;
Art Gallery of the Polytechnic School, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki.


Exhibition in Greece
Clockwise from top:
Michael Karris, Leonard Janiszewski and Effy Alexakis

In 2001 a partnership between the In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians National Project and Macquarie University's Department of Modern History and Australian History Museum was created. The Project's office is located at

Building W6A, Room 231;
Phone: 02 9850 6886;
e-mail: greekoz@hmn.mq.edu.au