From March 31st-April 1st, Palestinian event brand Exist Festival held its long-awaited sophomore event at PTX in Athens. Event staff now claim that the venue still owes payment to more than 20 contributing artists over two months after the fact.
A statement posted to Exist Festival’s Instagram account alleges that PTX has hosted around 18 other events and paid other artists with the money owed to them. “Respectfully asking our friends/community to not take bookings at PTX Athens until the contributing artists of Exist Festival have been paid and/or reimbursed,” it reads.
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Exist Festival co-director and Modular Mind label boss Kujo (pictured) shared the statement on his social media channels. New York City-based artist Hiro Kone, who performed on the first day of the event, also spoke out. “Friends, please do not take bookings at PTX Athens until myself and the rest of the artists of Exist Festival have been paid,” she tweeted.
Exist Festival debuted in 2019 in Amman, Jordan. The 2020 and 2021 events did not take place on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 lineup included acts such as Renata, Jay Glass Dubs, Sainte Marina, and Odai Masri.
PTX opened in December of 2021. The multi-level club fitted with L’Acoustics speakers on each floor has shared event lineups featuring the likes of Madam X, Surgeon, Oliver Torr, and Katra in the months since Exist Festival took place.
A spokesperson on behalf of PTX did not immediately respond to Selector’s request for comment.
