Greek Culture Ministry Looks to Strengthen Tinos Marble Art Tradition

Students at Tinos’ Fine Arts school. Photo source: Ministry of Culture.

The Greek Culture Ministry is taking steps to strengthen the marble art tradition of Tinos, according to its recent announcement of a major investment in the Preparatory and Vocational School of Fine Arts Panormos Tinos and the house of coveted Greek sculptor Giannoulis Halepas.

The project, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Fund, is expected to finish by the end of 2025 and will include the upgrade of the current facilities of the Fine Arts school and the creation of a new building complex.

According to the ministry’s announcement, the new building complex will include workshops for processing large volumes of marble, a cutting room, a smithy-foundry, a carpentry workshop, a casting workshop, warehouses, sculpture and architectural design workshops, administrative offices, a library, and WC facilities.

The Halepas residence on Tinos. Photo source: Ministry of Culture.

“The new facilities of the Preparatory and Vocational School of Fine Arts on Tinos will offer a contemporary, international dynamic to the school and contribute to the training of young marble sculptors who can work on a variety of future projects,” said Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni.

In addition, the project will see the restoration and maintenance of the local Giannoulis Halepas residence and its transformation into a museum, as well as the upgrade of both the school’s and residence’s surrounding areas and the supply of tools, laboratory equipment, and materials necessary for the operation of Tinos’ Fine Arts school.

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni visiting the Halepas museum. Photo source: Ministry of Culture.

The implementation of both projects is the subject of a Cultural Development Program Agreement between the Culture Ministry, the South Aegean Region, the Municipality of Tinos, and the Preparatory and Vocational School of Fine Arts of Panormos Tinos.

The marble tradition of Tinos is registered in the National Index of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Greece and in the Representative List of UNESCO.