September 2011
J. Paul Getty Trust and the Hellenic Republic sign agreement creating framework for cultural cooperation
The agreement builds on principles already established between the Getty and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and strengthens the opportunities for joint scientific research, exchange of cultural objects and the promotion of Greek cultural heritage. The agreement also reconfirms the commitment of both parties to deterring the illicit traffic in antiquities. more >
November 2009
Greek film awards axed
Greek industryites who pulled their pics from the Thessaloniki Film Festival in a dispute over the country's outdated film funding laws have forced the cancellation of next Monday's Greek State Film Awards. more >
World's oldest submerged town, 5,000 years old
Archeologists say the world's oldest submerged town, located off the southern Laconia coast of Greece, dates back to 5,000 years ago. Final Neolithic ceramics found during the five-year study project showed that the city of Pavlopetri was at least 1,200 years earlier than previously thought. more >
October 2009
World's oldest submerged town dates back 5,000 years
Archaeologists surveying the world’s oldest submerged town have found ceramics dating back to the Final Neolithic. more >
July 2009
Ministry of Culture decides to cut disputable scenes at Acropolis Museum
The Greek Orthodox Church has protested fiercely against a scene depicting angry priests in robes, destroying the Parthenon’s ornaments in the VIII century A.D. The Holy Synod has successfully urged the Minister of Culture - Antonis Samaras – to cut the above mentioned scenes from the film. more >
June 2009
New Acropolis Museum the perfect home for Elgin Marbles
Workmen were putting the finishing touches yesterday to Ancient Greece’s newest and most extravagant showcase, the New Acropolis Museum, due for a fanfare-filled inauguration today. But conspicuously absent are the very relics which the €130m futurist building was expressly designed for: the Elgin Marbles. more >
All is set for the opening of the New Acropolis museum
A frenzy of preparations are taking place in Athens where in two weeks the new Acropolis museum is going to have its inauguration. more >
May 2009
Race to preserve the World’s oldest submerged town: Pavlopetri, Greece
The oldest submerged town in the world is about to give up its secrets — with the help of equipment that could revolutionise underwater archaeology. more >
Greek government unveils new home for Elgin Marbles
Fresh demands for the return of the Elgin Marbles are accompanying the launch next month of the £115 million Acropolis Museum, which has a reserved space for the world's most famous piece of classical statuary. more >
April 2009
Annual meeting of the Southeastern Europe Culture Ministers Council
The main focus of the meeting is the utilisation of culture as a means for viable development in the region and the creation of a discussion forum among the Culture Ministers and other governmental and non-governmental structures. more >
January 2009
Threats to Greek Culture Minister with death
Greece’s newly appointed Minister of Culture Antonis Samaras has been receiving death threats since the moment he joined the new Greek government, Antena TV informs. There is a record distributed on the Internet, which says “You will die soon”. more >
Farewell to Liapis as Hellenic Minister of Culture
Mihalis Liapis stepped down as the Hellenic Minister of Culture on January 8, 2009 after 16 months in office (press release). The incoming minister is Antonis Samaras. The speeches for the ceremony have been released. more >
November 2008
Attacks on publishers and book-burnings in Athens
A letter addressed to Ms Ana Maria Cabanellas, President of the International Publishers Association draws attention to the fact that there has been a series of attacks on book publishers and their bookstores in Athens, Greece. more >
October 2008
Report from Thessaloniki: 2008 Europe Theatre Prize
Backstage drama because winning artists must personally pick up the European Union Commission-funded prize, if they expect to take home the hefty money (about 20,000 euros) attached to it. Wouldn't the prize money be more meaningful to an artist who has recently taken ill? more >
August 2008
August Full Moon
The Culture Ministry will open 72 museums and cultural sites for free admission on Saturday, the night of the August full moon. more >
July 2008
The Greek cultural industry is bankrupt
Greece has great potential in cultural industries: with minimal investment its performance would be very good. But the Ministry won’t be able to negotiate the acquisition of the necessary resources. more >
A ministry’s artless posturing
The repeated cancellation of big arts productions gives an indication of the Culture Ministry’s future course. more >
Orchestra funding hits bad note
Composer Stavros Xarchakos yesterday launched a strong attack on the government and the way that Greece funds the arts as he revealed that the State Orchestra for Greek Music (KOEM), which he conducts, is on the verge of financial ruin. more >
May 2008
Culture Ministers discuss creation of a joint Euro-Mediterranean cultural strategy
Culture ministers and civil society representatives from the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership are meeting in Athens on to exchange views on the cultural dimension of the partnership and to explore the substance and scope of a joint cultural strategy. more >
March 2008
PM briefed by Culture Minister
The Minister for Culture has indicated that his ministry is formulating a new strategy to rationalise expenditure, and that ministry subsidies will be founded on cultural criteria, not on petty political party expediencies. more >
February 2008
Greek minister: Greek-Sino relationship enters golden period
The relationship between Greece and China has entered a golden period, Greek Culture Minister Michalis Liapis said in an interview with Xinhua Saturday before he embarks on a four-day visit to China.
more >
January 2008
Commentaries: Controversial Funding
An editorial in Kathimerini, Greece's International English language newspaper on the allocation of the culture ministry's funds. more >
December 2007
China, Greece sign protocol of cultural exchanges
Both countries will increase cooperation in the protection of cultural relics as well as exchanges in fine art, theater, cinema, music and traditional culture, according to the protocol. more >
November 2007
Greek culture minister supports European agenda
Greek Culture Minister has said that Athens was in favour of creating a common European agenda for culture during his participation in a meeting of EU culture ministers held in Brussels. more >
August 2007
Authorities to start restoration of Ancient Olympia
Greek Minister of Culture Giorgos Voulgarakis has announced that the restoration of the fire-ravaged archeological site of Ancient Olympia will be immediate. more >
July 2007
Greece, Cyprus agree to boost cultural co-op
Top officials from Greece and Cyprus on Monday signed a memorandum of cultural cooperation between their nations and discussed protection of cultural heritage, an area they said was vitally important to both nations. more >
February 2006
Parthenon fragment returned to Greece
A fairly nondescript piece of stone could have an impact on the future of the Parthenon Marbles dispute. Last month Heidelberg University decided to return its small fragment of the frieze to Greece. more >
July 2004
Rich Olympic cultural agenda
The entire city will be a celebration — this is the motto for the cultural events that the Municipality of Athens has planned for the duration of the Olympics and Paralympics, aiming at strengthening the festive spirit in the city centre. more >
March 2004
Greeks Put Stop To 'Elgin Marbles' Museum
The new Greek government has stopped work on a £700 million museum being built to house the Elgin Marbles and legal action has begun against those who authorised the project. more >
May 2003
Greek museum plans 'thwarted'
Greece highest court has ruled against the government's plans on a new museum at the Acropolis in Athens, according to court officials. more >
December 2002
A severe dearth of museums
One by one, Greece's major archaeological museums are closing down for refurbishment ahead of the 2004 Olympic Games. more >
Prize for translators
Greek and international translators may be interested in an award on offer from the Greek Government. more >
November 2002
Museum sinks hope of marbles deal
Evangelos Venizelos, the Greek minister of culture, came to London this week, looking for the return of the Elgin Marbles in time for the 2004 Olympics. After a polite conversation over tea, the answer was 'no'. more >
October 2002
Poll shows support for Marbles return
British people would strongly back the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece under certain conditions, according to a survey. more >
September 2002
Greece to honour 25th anniversary of Callas' death
Greece is preparing to honour the memory of the New York-born opera diva Maria Callas, with a series of concerts and exhibitions marking the 25th anniversary of her death. more >
November 2007
Greek Cultural Policy after the 2004 Summer Olympics
A look at Greek cultural policies in the wake of the Summer Olympics held in Athens in 2004. more >
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