Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni emphasized the crucial role of culture in economic development and social cohesion during her speech at the “Athens Talks” symposium organized by the Attica Region. She highlighted the productive collaboration between the Ministry of Culture and the Attica Region, which has enabled the implementation of an extensive and ambitious program of cultural projects.

“Culture has been proven to more than triple the return on investment in the national product. It significantly boosts employment and entrepreneurship in other sectors of the economy linked to culture, while it emerges as a strategic factor for recovery and growth, serving as a strong comparative advantage for the country,” the Minister stated.

Mendoni added, “Since 2019, the Ministry of Culture has developed and implemented a dynamic and continuously updated tool, the ‘Cultural Development and Prosperity Charter,’ which applies to all 13 Regions of Greece. It represents a coherent, realistic, and flexible set of policies for cultural management, as well as a roadmap for structural reforms and targeted investments in cultural infrastructure and activities, with a horizon extending to 2027. Today, the Ministry of Culture is implementing the largest investment program ever. This includes more than 825 projects and actions—excluding those agreed upon with the Regions for inclusion in the 2021-2027 NSRF—with a total budget of €1.2 billion. The Ministry has never before managed resources or implemented projects of this scale. These initiatives are transforming the cultural landscape of the country, encompassing every aspect of culture: heritage from all forms and historical periods, contemporary creation, and digital transformation, employing thousands of workers across various specialties.”

Focus on Attica’s Cultural and Natural Assets

Regarding the comprehensive management of Attica’s cultural and natural resources, Mendoni remarked, “Our strategic objectives are:

1. Protecting and safeguarding historical and cultural heritage with a focus on sustainability.
2. Enriching and improving the quality and appeal of cultural infrastructure and services.
3. Reorganizing, decentralizing, and redistributing visitor flows across the region to alleviate congestion and mitigate tourism seasonality. This will involve highlighting new decentralized attractions and networking points of interest.
4. Utilizing cultural routes to link monuments and cultural sites with other natural attractions and tourism points of interest under a unified thematic framework.”

The Minister emphasized that cultural routes are the optimal tool for promoting cultural tourism and encouraging organized and holistic visits as part of an integrated experience. For the current NSRF programming period (2021-2027), in collaboration with the Attica Region and Regional Governor Nikos Hardalias, an Integrated Spatial Investment (ISI) initiative is being developed. This “trilogy” intervention focuses on Athens, Elefsina, and Lavrio.

Goals of the Initiative:

• Distributing tourist activity spatially across the region by connecting Athens’ historic center with archaeological sites and monuments in Elefsina and Lavrio.
• Extending visitors’ stays by enhancing their experiences.
• Transforming Athens from a transit hub into a destination.

“These projects, now included in the ISI, complement completed initiatives under the 2014-2020 NSRF and those ongoing with Recovery Fund support. They align with our strategic objective of protecting and showcasing Attica’s cultural assets, elevating the region into a premier cultural destination by increasing visitor numbers and spatially dispersing tourism activity.”

Key Cultural Projects of the ISI:

Mendoni outlined several important projects among the 19+1 initiatives under the ISI:

• Preparatory work for expanding the National Archaeological Museum.
• Reopening the Old Acropolis Museum.
• Restoring Aristotle’s Lyceum and connecting it with the Athens Conservatory.
• A pilot program for integrating medical performance arts at the Athens Conservatory.
• Establishing and piloting the operation of the “Akropol” Cultural and Creative Center.
• Restoring Alexandros Soutzos’ residence to host part of the Theatrical Museum Collections.
• Transforming the building at 7 Dioskouron Street in Plaka into a Karolos Koun Museum.
• Converting the “Kokkovi House” in Plaka at 32 Tripodon Street into a venue for screenings and events.
• Showcasing the archaeological site of Elefsina.
• Protecting and highlighting the archaeological site of Rhamnous.
• Preserving and restoring the Fortress of Aigosthena.
• Showcasing the archaeological site of Thorikos.
• Completing work at Daphni Monastery and the Church of St. George and Christ the Savior in Eleonas, Megara.
• Finalizing the third phase of restoration for historical buildings and monuments on the Tatoi Estate.