Gala 2021 Goes Virtual
This year, the American School of Classical Studies at Athens will host a Virtual Gala to honor Professor Curtis Runnels for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of knowledge of post-antique Greece. Please join us on Thursday, May 6, 2021, at 6:30 PM EDT for an extraordinary evening of culture, education, and inspiration—from the comfort of your own home! Celebrate Greece's rich heritage with influential leaders and scholars of the Hellenic world and help support the essential mission of the American School.
The Gala provides an important source of funding for the School and its academic programming, excavations, outreach, publications, research, and a wide range of free public lectures, exhibitions, and concerts. To purchase tickets for the School's premier event of the year, please click the link below. If you cannot attend, we hope you will consider supporting the School with a monetary or auction item donation at gala.ascsa.org.
About the Honoree
Curtis Runnels, Recipient of the Gennadius Prize: Curtis Runnels is Professor of Archaeology, Anthropology, and Classical Studies at Boston University. He has been a pioneer in the promotion of long-term studies of landscapes through the integration of geological and archaeological approaches, and his fieldwork and publications on the very earliest periods of Greek history (Paleolithic through Neolithic) were recognized in 2019 when he was given the Archaeological Institute of America’s highest award—its Gold Medal for Distinguished Archaeological Achievement. His work on Greek prehistory has also resulted in publications on 19th-century pioneers in that field, notably George Finlay and Heinrich Schliemann. In the course of that work, he has become a prolific collector of early books, diaries, maps, and drawings, which he has been donating to the Gennadius Library and the Archives of the American School. An alumnus of the American School (Associate Member 1977–78), he has been a member of the Managing Committee since 2006 and was elected an Overseer of the Gennadius Library in 2019.
Schedule of Events
Virtual Cocktail Hour: 5:30–6:30 PM EDT
Program: 6:30–7:30 PM EDT
Breakout Rooms: 7:30–8:30 PM EDT
Highlights
- Virtual Cocktail Hour: Join Dr. John Camp and Dr. Stéphanie-Anne Ruatta, Historian at Ubisoft Québec, on a journey of Ancient Greece through Assassin's Creed Odyssey, a video game featuring a virtual world created using the American School's research among others.
- Gennadius Prize Presentation: Celebrate Professor Runnels’s outstanding contributions to the advancement of knowledge of post-antique Greece.
- World Premiere of the School’s New Short Film: Follow Professor Runnels’s passionate pursuit and acquisition of rare Greek books, manuscripts, and artifacts.
- Sneak Peek of the Upcoming Gennadius Library Exhibition: Enjoy a preview of The Free and the Brave: American Philhellenes and the Glorious Struggle of the Greeks (1776–1866).
- Conservation of Paintings at Corinth: Witness the major restoration of Roman wall paintings discovered by the American School in Corinth.
- Innovative Technology: Learn how innovations in technology are helping bring Greece’s past to life.
- Breakout Rooms: Interact online with renowned scholars, including Professor Runnels, and special guests.
Silent Auction
Our Gala will feature a silent auction at which you can bid on unique and exciting items. We are currently soliciting in-kind donations of unique items such as travel experiences, fine jewelry, art, restaurant gift certificates, designer accessories, memorabilia, artisanal handicrafts, and gourmet food items. 100% of the silent auction proceeds will benefit the work of the American School. The auction will be open for bidding a few weeks before the Gala, so look out for announcements. For more information or to donate an auction item, please contact Nancy Savaides at nsavaides@ascsa.org or 609-454-6810.
Sponsorship and Tickets
Sponsoring the Gala is a wonderful opportunity to invest in the future of the School while also ensuring the evening’s success. You are invited to review the sponsorship opportunities and join the friends and businesses that support the work of the School in this significant way. For more information, please contact Nancy Savaides at nsavaides@ascsa.org or 609-454-6810. To register or purchase tickets online, please visit gala.ascsa.org.
Support the School
The Gala provides an important source of funding for the American School. If you cannot attend this virtual event, please consider supporting us with a monetary or auction item donation. To offer an in-kind gift, please click this link, or contact Nancy Savaides at nsavaides@ascsa.org or 609-454-6810. Thank you for supporting the American School.
