The Ministry of Culture is backing the new Gaïtis-Simossi Museum, which was inaugurated last year on Ios, both institutionally and financially. This support is detailed in the Memorandum of Cooperation signed by Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni and Charilaos Antonopoulos, the President of the Board of the non-profit organization “Gaïtis-Simossi Museum.”

Specifically, funding of €180,000 is allocated, along with the provision of specialized expertise for the development and enhancement of the museum’s activities, as well as collaboration to promote and highlight the artistic heritage of Giannis Gaïtis and Gabriella Simossi, while also strengthening Ios’s cultural identity.

In this context, periodic exhibitions of artists whose work is connected to the museum’s permanent collection will be organized, creating a rich framework for analysis, interpretation, and deeper understanding. Artists and their works will be selected based on specific criteria, such as their personal relationship with the artists in the permanent collection, common historical or geographical contexts, proximity to the technique or art form, thematic connections regardless of style or chronological closeness, and the interaction or dialogue arising from each curatorial direction.

At the same time, emphasis will be placed on collaboration with educational institutions and cultural organizations to broaden young people’s access to art and create a strong cultural legacy for future generations, while also enhancing the broader development of the island.

After signing the Memorandum, Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stated: “The Gaïtis-Simossi Museum is an important cultural and artistic hub in the Cyclades. Through this cooperation, we ensure the preservation of the artistic heritage of Gaïtis and Simossi, but, above all, we create a vibrant cultural space open to society. The support from the Ministry of Culture is essential and aims to promote Ios as a dynamic cultural destination. At the same time, we reinforce contemporary cultural creation, providing young artists the opportunity to engage with the works of these two great visual artists. Our goal is to make the museum a living hub of art and education that connects cultural heritage with both the present and the future of art in Greece and internationally. This collaboration opens new prospects and boosts artistic creation, strengthening the cultural identity of Ios and contributing to the sustainable development of the island.”

The President of the Museum’s Board, Mr. Charilaos Antonopoulos, remarked, “The Museum’s Board sincerely thanks Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni for her decision to fund the museum’s activities during its first five years of operation. At the beginning of this initial period of regular operation, the Gaïtis-Simossi Museum lays the groundwork for achieving its primary goal, which is the promotion and showcasing of the works of Giannis Gaïtis and Gabriella Simossi at both national and international levels. The museum aspires to be a modern and sustainable cultural organization, serving as a pillar of development for Ios and the Cyclades. In this context, it aims to offer a wide range of activities and experiences, such as periodic exhibitions, events, and educational programs, creating a rich framework for analysis, interpretation, and deeper understanding of the museum’s permanent collection.”

The Gaïtis-Simossi Museum (GSM) was established on January 25, 2017, as a non-profit organization named “GAÏTIS SIMOSSI MUSEUM” and is based on Ios. Having the fundamental goal of establishing and operating a permanent museum that will display part of the diverse artistic production of Giannis Gaïtis and Gabriella Simossi, the Gaïtis-Simossi Museum focuses on promoting and highlighting the work of the represented artists at the domestic and international levels, utilizing their archives and conducting studies on related subjects. The museum harmoniously integrates into the natural landscape of Ios, thanks to its architectural design, which creatively transforms all the characteristics of traditional Cycladic architecture into a modern building while incorporating relevant elements of the works of Gaïtis and Simossi, encompassing a clear experiential dimension that connects it intrinsically to Ios, inspired by the creator Giannis Gaïtis’s love for the island.