The Ministry of Culture announces the provision of patronage and approval of grants totalling 1,750,000 euros under the programme "Creative Greece - Modern Culture Grants 2026". The grants concern five targeted policy axes: Digital actions, universal accessibility for people with disabilities, Museums, Pinakothies and Collections, actions in the field of Book, Letters and Philanagnosia, actions of visual arts, architecture, photography and design.

The "Creative Greece" programme has steadily boosted modern cultural production in recent years, offering a dynamic and flexible tool for grants aimed at operators and creators, in every corner of the country. Its aim is to encourage cultural pluralism, promote innovation, support extroversion and strengthen the structures and initiatives that contribute to the renewal of the cultural map of Greece.

Culture Minister Lena Mendoni said: "The Creative Greece programme is an essential tool of cultural policy, which enhances creativity, extroversion and innovation, throughout the country. Through these grants we support bodies and initiatives that broaden citizens' access to modern culture, empower local communities and contribute to the formation of a dynamic and multi-faceted cultural ecosystem. The response of cultural bodies to the Ministry's invitations confirms the vitality and creative dynamics that are developing in every region of the country. We attach particular importance to actions that make use of new technologies, promote universal accessibility and strengthen the participation of all citizens in cultural life.

Our goal is to create stable conditions for the development of modern culture, investing in creative actions that produce added value for society, encourage cooperation and highlight the creative potential of Greece, within and outside borders.".

Undersecretary of Culture Jason Fotelas stated: "For another year, we present the first cycle of results of the invitations of the "Creative Greece", which Minister Lina Mendoni created and supports consistently. This is a programme of the Ministry of Culture which, with transparency and methodicality, opens up essential paths for the development of cultural actions and creative initiatives, in a clear way, throughout Greece. In particular, in the fields that we present today, the programme makes it possible for free and unobstructed communication through culture -- inclusive age, origin or disability. The right to culture is a high social asset, which we must defend and strengthen.".

As the Ministry of Culture announcement states, hundreds of proposals from all over Greece were submitted in the context of the Ministry's open invitation. Their evaluation was carried out by five working committees, consisting of officials of the Ministry and experts, each thematic field, based on institutional and objective criteria. A total of 257 proposals were adopted by cultural bodies, to which the sum of EUR 1,750,000 is allocated.

In the field of 'Digital Culture Actions' 96 proposals were submitted, of which 54 were approved, with the total amount to be granted EUR 450,000. Four proposals have been positively evaluated, only in terms of providing patronage.

The evaluation committee consisted of:

* Dimitrios Haritos, Professor at the Department of Communication and Media and Director of the Department of Digital Arts and Cinema of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

* Renia Papathanasiou, Creative Hub at the Hellenic Centre for Audiovisual Media & Communication Film

* Ayatis Benardou, Director of the DARIAH European Infrastructure (Digital Research Infrastructure for the Arts and Humanities), working with Athena Research Centre

* Nikos Papanagnos, Journalist, Associate at the Hellenic Film Centre for Audiovisual Media

* Anastasia Gadju, Head of the Department of Cultural Activities and Supervision of the Ministry of Culture.

In the field "Cultural actions to promote the universal accessibility of people with disabilities to Culture", 62 applications were submitted from which 53 were approved, with the total grant amount of EUR 300,000. The provision of patronage received 38 proposals.

The evaluation committee consisted of:

* Dimitrios Logaras, scientific director of National Confederation of People with Disabilities (E.S.A. with A.)

* Wisdom-White Hamonicolaou, Commander and Chairman of the Board of Directors Centre for the Education and Rehabilitation of Blinds (K.E.A.T.)

* Dimitrios Nikolski, Head of Department of Child Support with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family

* Agriculture Dremetica, Associate at the Office of the Minister of Social Cohesion and Family

* Niki-Monika Tsilimberdi, Head of the Organization for the Development of Modern Creation of the Ministry of Culture.

In the field of "Museums, Tables and Collections", 24 requests were submitted, including 14 requests for patronage. 22 requests supported with the total amount of EUR 150,000 were approved. The provision of patronage received all 14 requests.

The members of the working group were the following:

* Spyridon Makkas, Deputy Head of the Directorate for Visual, Architecture, Photography and Museums of Contemporary Culture of the Ministry of Culture, as coordinator

* Thouli Misirloglou, art historian, Artistic Director of MoMus - Museum of Contemporary Art, Collections of MST and KMST

* Happiness (Efi) Agathonikos, art historian, Head of the Directorate of Collections, Artistic and Museum Planning of the National Gallery - Alexander Soutsos Museum

* Stamatia (Tetis) Hatzinikolaou, Honorary Director of Ministry of Culture, Secretary of Directors ICOM EUROPE, President of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Department ICOM

* Maria Chantsanoglu, art historian, Artistic Director of MoMus - Museum of Modern Art, Kostakis Collection.

In the field Actions in the field of Book, Letters and Philadelphia, the requests for 86 bodies were examined in detail. 43 applications supported with the total amount of EUR 350,000 were approved. The provision of patronage received 25 proposals.

The working group was composed of:

* Anastasia Venetouli, Author, President of PEN GREICE

* Evangelos Avdimos, Pesographer, Professor Emeritus University of Thessaly

* Anna Afadoulidou, Author, General Secretary of the Society of Writers

* Despina Papagiannopoulou, Editor of ELIBIP Publications

* Immortality Papathanasiou, Head of the Department of Letters.

In the field of visual arts, architecture, photography and design, a total of 90 requests were submitted. The working group approved the 85 bodies grant with a total amount of EUR 500,000, as well as 48 requests for patronage.

The evaluation was made by a committee consisting of:

* Konstantinos Spyropoulos, Art teacher, University of Patras

* Ioanna Grammatopoulou, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Panhellenic Association of Art Chambers

* Minas Maurikakis, Artist

* Anthony Kourkulos, Director ART ATHINA and Director of Production NEON

* Spyridon Makkas, Deputy Head of the Directorate for Visual, Architecture, Photography and Museums of Contemporary Culture of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, as coordinator.

Source? RES-AE