Visitor zones in the Acropolis, Acropolis, conversion of five state museums into NPDD, IEK casts, Parthenon Sculptures, interventions for truly equal access to every cultural asset and Culture projects that concern all of Greece. THE Minister of Culture and Sports, Lina Mendoni, in a comprehensive interview with APE – MEB, talks about cutting-edge issues such as, among others: 1) The traffic zones in the Acropolis: “Every visitor will be able, when issuing their electronic ticket, to see the traffic zones and define, in essence, with an accuracy of one or two hours, the exact time he will visit the monument”. 2) The conversion of five state museums into NPDD: “I estimate that all procedures will be completed within the year.” 3) The establishment of a School of Performing Arts, which “will be operational in 2025”. 4) Parthenon sculptures: “Talks with the British Museum will continue.”

The following is the interview of the Minister of Culture, Linas Mendoni, with the Athenian – Macedonian News Agency

Q. First of all, congratulations on your reassignment to YPPOA. How do you feel about this development?

A. Satisfaction and personal honor. Isn’t it human? The confidence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis strengthens me, in order to promote our great policies, old and new, with a stronger will. At the same time, I understand the very great responsibility to take Culture, as I said in the Parliament, many steps forward, but also the obligation to meet the expectations of the citizens. We picked up right where we left off, with renewed gusto and determination.

Q. What will be your first priorities?

Epigrammatically: The completion of projects that have already been launched or are maturing, which are already our commitment, as they are included in the Cultural Development and Prosperity Charter, which is part of the government’s overall development planning for each Region. But also new initiatives and new actions. The former include, indicatively, the expansion of the National Archaeological Museum, with the implementation of David Chipperfield’s excellent proposal, or the restoration and handing over for common use of the former royal estate in Tatoi.

Among the new initiatives, I propose the establishment of new bodies for audiovisuals, books, and the establishment of a School of Performing Arts, which will operate in 2025, as well as changes in the structure and structure of the archaeological services with the aim of the comprehensive protection of cultural heritage , in combination with the faster and more immediate treatment of projects and investments, through the simplification of procedures, the digital transformation of services, the modernization of the institutional framework for the execution of archaeological projects.

I limit myself to initiatives of, let’s say, large-scale and supra-local nature. Our projects and actions are permeated and permeated by the same philosophy: Culture for all, with a strong regional dimension and the goal of spreading it to every corner of the country. And this constitutes, if you like, if not a priority, then certainly a compass of cultural politics.

Q. As you said in Parliament during the government’s program statements, the Ministry of Culture implements more than 820 Culture projects, with a budget of over 1.2 billion euros, which will be gradually completed by 2027. Which of these projects are you particularly satisfied with? and why;

A. These hundreds of projects are spread all over Greece and compose a mosaic of large and small projects with independent radiation and inherent dynamics. If I were to distinguish between an iconic, hyperlocal project and another smaller in scope and more spatially focused, I would probably do the latter an injustice. I am satisfied that alongside, for example, the utilization of Tatoi or the new National Archaeological Museum, numerous interventions on a local scale, concerning both cultural heritage and modern creation, are progressing in every corner of Greece.

If I absolutely had to dwell on a specific action, it would be the multifaceted interventions for real and equal access by all to the infrastructures, projects and Culture actions. Even passionately fought actions, such as the Acropolis marches, won international praise and, above all, were embraced by the world. It is and will remain our primary concern that all our fellow human beings gain truly equal access to every cultural asset.

Q. Recently the Deputy Minister of Culture Christos Dimas performed an autopsy on the Acropolis which is intended to become a center of culture and technology for artists and creators. When will this happen, given that its renovation works have been completed in previous years?

A. The restoration project of the Acropolis, with a budget of over 9,000,000 euros, has been completed. However, the operation of the organization “Acropolis Akros”, which is housed in the building, after its establishment in 2020, was delayed a lot. Our immediate goal is to operate a modern hub of culture, technology and innovation. It is imperative that modern culture acquires a meeting place, in which synergies are cultivated and more opportunities and possibilities emerge for creators and artists. Christos Dimas is already working and promoting the agency’s operating plan.

Q. When and where will the public IEK for casts operate, which will be staffed by the Organization for the Management and Development of Cultural Resources with highly trained personnel?

A. I remind you that ODAP is endowed with 28 million euros from the Recovery Fund, in order to modernize its infrastructure, acquire modern workshops for the production of expensive copies, an exhibition space for its model gallery and high-tech equipment. This planning also includes the establishment of a public IEK for the training of mold makers, so that the ODAP stores, which we aspire to be the main source of its revenue, are supplied with high-quality and well-known products.

We therefore have the necessary resources. We also have the space, as all the activities and the new structures of ODAP are scheduled to be housed in the facilities at 260 Piraeus Street. The establishment of the specific IEK is progressing in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, so that the new vocational school can welcome as soon as possible her first students. Our target is the spring semester of 2024.

Q. What is your answer to those who worry that the conversion of the five major state museums (National Archaeological, Byzantine and Christian Museum of Athens, Archaeological Museums of Thessaloniki and Heraklion and Museum of Byzantine Culture of Thessaloniki) into NPDD will lead to their “commodification”? When will the secondary legislation be completed (and what will it include) so that, as you noted in the Parliament, “the specific Organizations not only participate, but co-shape the cultural development”?

A. These “concerns” are unjustified, if they do not hide other purposes. Because it has been repeatedly emphasized that these museums cease to be regional services of the Ministry and turn into legal entities under public law. They gain autonomy, organizational and financial, new possibilities of attracting resources, they will have a say on the issues that concern them directly. Otherwise, they remain passive spectators, not participants in cultural becoming. They are freed from the suffocating control of the Ministry’s political leadership. I remind you that in France, for example, dozens of museums, including the most emblematic ones, have had similar status for decades. Therefore, the unfounded complaints about “commercialization” are rather a trade in inaccuracies. NPDD Museums are under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture and strictly apply the archaeological legislation.

Regarding the legislative work that needs to be done, in particular, the Museums will have to acquire new organizations, which are in the process of being processed. The Organizations, the internal operating regulations, should take the form of a Presidential Decree. Also, some ministerial decisions should be issued within specific deadlines. I estimate that all procedures will be completed within the year.

Q. How will the “traffic zone” system that you recently mentioned will be implemented in July to reduce queues at the Acropolis archaeological site?

We are called upon to solve a demanding equation. To manage the increasing flow of visitors to the archaeological site of the Acropolis, so that everyone can admire the monument and their visit turns into a positive experience. I remind you that the Acropolis attracts more and more tourists and the queues are, to a certain extent, inevitable, as they are in other monuments of global influence around the world.

However, the Ministry of Culture is also responsible for the protection of the monument. The increasing number of visitors obliges us to take measures to protect it by setting a maximum number of visitors per day. Every visitor will be able, when issuing their electronic ticket, to see the traffic zones and define, in essence, with an accuracy of one or two hours, the exact time they will visit the monument. That is, to see which times of the day there is a large attendance, so that he can avoid waiting. This is, of course, an important innovation, which will be tested in practice and adapted, like any new measure. For some time the application will be pilot. Already, the competent ODAP has contacted all the tourism businesses to adapt, where possible, its requirements. After a final consultation with them, we will decide when the measure will start.

Q. On the issue of the Parthenon Sculptures, in your previous tenure there were some very important developments, such as the return and reunification of the Fagan fragment from Sicily and the Parthenon fragments from the Vatican Museums to the Acropolis Museum. Should we expect more pleasant developments?

A. As you also know, as you have been covering the field of Culture for years, that movements to repatriate priceless parts of our cultural heritage are multiplying, creating a very favorable climate for the return of illegally exported cultural goods, which remains at the top of our priorities. The main goal is the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures in the Acropolis Museum. A national request, a national goal, for which we have proven that we are working hard, methodically, systematically.

Q. At what stage are the direct talks between Greece and Britain, given the refusal to return the Parthenon Sculptures that are in the British Museum from official British lips (in March by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak)?

A. We are not surprised by the refusal of the British Prime Minister. It subscribes to the now monotonous rejection of the request for the reunification of the Sculptures by the British Museum. What has completely changed in recent years is the impressive shift in public opinion, both internationally and in Britain itself, in favor of the return of the Sculptors to Greece. Our request is gaining more and more voices around the world. And I remind you that for the first time, two years ago, UNESCO called on the British government to change its attitude on the subject of the Sculptures. Talks with the British Museum will continue. It goes without saying that we always make sure to set our “red lines” clearly.

Q. Do you have anything to add?

A. The, banality perhaps, that Culture is intertwined with everyday life and our common experience. It is not closed neither in the offices of the Ministry and its services, nor in monuments or art galleries. Culture, city and citizen have a common root, they can only be seen in constant communication and interaction. There is no Culture for culture, there is Culture for the citizen and his community, the city.