The University of Western Macedonia (UOWM) is a modern, regional University, in a trajectory of rapid growth and extroversion, steadily rising in the international university rankings, in terms of academic and research work.

Investing in the knowledge triangle “education-research-innovation”, the 7 Schools and 21 Departments operating in 5 cities – Kozani, Kastoria, Florina, Grevena and Ptolemaida – offer high-quality academic education on undergraduate and postgraduate level. In a constantly enhanced environment, the ambitious construction plan of UOWM constitutes the spearhead, with the new Campus in Kozani, the new complex of the School of Fine Arts in Florina, as well as the upgrade and expansion of all existing infrastructure .

The national venture of changing the production model of the Region of Western Macedonia, offers the University and its students the competitive advantage of gaining knowledge and experience in the actual area where the transition is taking place, providing them with multiple benefits for their future career. As a strategic partner in the Just Transition Development Plan in the post-lignite era, the University of Western Macedonia constitutes a pivotal pillar in the development of a complete ecosystem of research and innovation, welcoming technology companies and drawing in science and research staff. UOWM actively participates in the energy and digital transformation of the country.

Visual March to Prespa is a process that is been realized since 2007 in the area of Prespa.  Visual March to Prespa organizes, on a yearly basis, visual activities that explore the landscape, the culture and the ecological dimension of the area. At the same time, Visual March to Prespes has established networks of exchange between the instructors, and the students the Department of Visual and Applied Arts of the School of Fine Arts (EETF) of the University of Western Macedonia (UOWM), the local community, and the broader Greek, Balkan and international artistic and scientific community.  

A thematic is introduced every year, as a study of field research. The thematic areas of the previous years were: Παγκόσμια Τοπία/Global Landscapes (2009), Extended/Absolute Fields (2010), Political Topographies (2011), Beyond the borders/walkers in the Borders of contemplation (2012), Survival Processes (2013-2014), The flows of Reality/the dominance of water as spiritual material (2015-2016), Imaginary and Actual Monuments (2017-2018). The activities of Visual March have been presented in national and international exhibitions and conferences, in six books and conference proceedings. In 2014 the activities of Visual March were presented in a four-month exhibition in the Museum of Contemporary Art in Thessaloniki. 

Since 2029 there were organized three International Encounters/Conferences: Walking Practices/Walking Art/Walking Bodies (2019), Walking as a Question (2021), Walking Visions/Visions for Walking (2023) that transformed the area into an open workshop of ideas. During the fifteen years of the implementation of Visual March to Prespa, more than 2000 artists, scholars, students, and amateurs of art have participated in introducing the area of Prespa as a place of international cultural exchange. From 2024 to 2027 Visual March to Prespes/UOWM is the leader partner of Walk and Local Communities (WALC) a project co-funded from European Union/Creative Europe that will establish an International Center of Walking Art in Prespes.

The organizing entity of the Visual March to Prespes is the 1^st Painting Workshop of EETF. Coordinator of the process is Yannis Ziogas, painter, Professor of the 1^st Painting Workshop, EETF. 

More information about the University of Western Macedonia and Visual March to Prespa is available on the Websites: https://www.uowm.gr/, http://visualmarch.eetf.uowm.gr/