The Odysseas Elytis Museum comes to life thanks to the support of the Qualco Foundation, 28 years after the poet’s death and 45 years after he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. The Foundation, recognizing the importance of preserving Greek cultural heritage, contributed to the establishment of the new museum, making it a dedicated space for the memory and work of Odysseas Elytis. The inauguration ceremony, held in the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, highlighted the significance of this new cultural institution for contemporary Greek culture.
The museum, housed in a building provided by the Ministry of Culture and supported by it, has become a point of reference for lovers of Greek poetry and art. The Qualco Foundation, led by its President Orestis Tsakalotos, has offered a steady donation to support the museum for its first three years of operation and is exploring its involvement in educational programs and activities in the future. “Our foundation fully embraces the ethos and spirit of the great poet. Supporting the museum was a natural decision,” said Tsakalotos.
The creation of the Odysseas Elytis Museum is the result of the long-standing efforts of Ioulita Iliopoulou, the holder of the poet’s intellectual rights and curator of the exhibited collection. She has worked diligently to protect and promote Elytis’ work and archival materials. The museum aims to serve as a space for educational experience and reflection, providing visitors with an opportunity to discover the simple aesthetic and poetic richness that characterizes Elytis’ work.
With the support of the A.I. Martinos Foundation and Qualco Foundation, the “Elytis House – Museum” aims to function as a living institution for safeguarding and promoting the poet’s work, inviting students, scholars, and any interested citizens to enter the magical world he created with his words and symbols. With his distinguished work, honored by the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1979, Odysseas Elytis remains an inexhaustible source of inspiration for both Greek and international cultural scenes.
For more information about the Qualco Foundation’s activities, please visit the official website at https://qualcofoundation.com/.