The Cultural Society of Vlatos “New Horizons” (Ο Πολιτιστικός Σύλλογος Βλάτου «Νέοι Ορίζοντες») was officially founded on December 31, 1972, making it one of the oldest continuously active cultural associations on the island of Crete.
In a small mountain village like Vlatos — where time moves gently and traditions run deep — this entirely volunteer-run organization has been the quiet guardian of our community’s soul for more than 50 years. Through good seasons, hard winters, and everything in between, the society has kept the flame of peace, culture, and village life alive.
Elections are held every four years. A five-member board is chosen. The mission has always remained simple and pure: to promote Peace (through the creation and care of the Park of Peace), Culture (via the Folklore Museum, local events, and later the Vlatos Jazz Festival), and the everyday heartbeat of Vlatos.
For decades the society endured quietly. Board members aged gracefully, the same families often passed the torch, meetings took place in familiar homes or the old schoolhouse, and the work stayed humble — maintaining paths, organizing small gatherings, preserving stories and objects from the past.
Then came Martin Vlatos.
A Dutchman who fell deeply in love with Crete and chose Vlatos as his home, Martin arrived with fresh energy, digital know-how, and the passion of someone who sees the magic in what locals sometimes take for granted. He didn’t just become a member — he got to work for free: building and maintaining the website vlatos.gr, handling online promotion, launching and growing the Vlatos Jazz Festival (from its very first season in 2018 to today’s 9th), digitizing museum content, creating multilingual guides, and giving the society’s quiet efforts a voice that now reaches people around the world.
Thanks to Martin’s dedication — and the trust placed in him by the board and villagers — the society has modernized without ever losing its soul. Jazz concerts now bring music lovers from across Europe to our historic stone church, museum tours share centuries of Cretan rural life in Greek, English, Dutch, and German, and the Park of Peace trails invite visitors to walk and breathe with the mountain.
The current board (elected in 2022) consists of strong, honorable young men from Vlatos itself: Giorgios Makrakis (Chairman), Giorgios Deroukakis (Finance), Andreas Papoutsakis, Rafail Makrakis, and Markos Litsardakis. Together with Martin’s energy, they represent a beautiful new generation carrying forward traditions that have lasted half a century.
Over the years the society has achieved so much:
- Built the Park of Peace in close cooperation with the villagers and the Bavarian Forestry Ministry, with the dream of turning it into a living arboretum of local trees and plants.
- Repaired the roof of the historic stone church that now hosts the Vlatos Jazz Festival.
- Helped modernize the old schoolhouse, transforming it into the beautiful Folklore Museum we have today.
- Opened a house in the village for the Greek Fire Department, ensuring two firefighters and a large vehicle are stationed here during the high-risk summer months.
- Keeps the village roads in good condition year after year.
- Created a lovely rose garden and is currently building a children’s playground next to the museum.
Every day, in small and big ways, the Cultural Society of Vlatos “New Horizons” makes life in our village more beautiful, safer, and more connected.
This is more than an association — it’s living proof that even in the smallest mountain village, a group of dedicated people can preserve what matters, renew what’s fading, and welcome new energy to carry the story forward.If you’ve ever felt the peace of Vlatos, heard jazz under the stars, walked the trails, or visited the museum, you’ve felt the quiet work of this society.
We’re proud of our past, grateful for our present, and excited for whatever new horizons come next — together.
