Ministry to Fund Hub for the Promotion of Greek Culture, Creative Industries

Taking advantage of the 2014-2020 National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) funds for competitiveness, entrepreneurship and innovation (known as ESPA in Greek), the Greek Culture Ministry announced the allocation of 3.7 million euros for the creation of the so-called “Acropole Palace Creative Hub” to support entrepreneurship, particularly in the visual and performing arts, applied arts and new technologies.

The hub, to run out of the recently renovated Acropolis Palace Hotel in the center of Athens, will initially operate as a pilot program for the Greek capital and the Attica Region, offering information on business opportunities and funding; the organization of exhibitions, events and promotional activities; networking opportunities with relevant agencies active in culture; as well as serve as a breeding ground for creativity. Teleconferencing sessions will also be arranged with relevant hubs across Greece on issues regarding the creative industry in efforts to strengthen its growth.

The center will focus on the visual and performing arts (painting, sculpture, printmaking, music, dance, opera, theatre); the applied arts (design, graphic design, typography, photography, crafts, architecture, design), and on new technologies/cultural content (digital arts, gaming, e-books, 3D reconstructions, virtual reality, augmented reality, 3D animation) and aims to offer guidance to young professionals working in these areas.

The total sum of NSRF funds budgeted for the culture and creative industries sector comes to 57.2 million euros and also includes the protection, renovation and maintenance of UNESCO monuments.