An analytical mapping of the cultural wealth of Attica, using its European model Integrated Spatial Investment (ISP)jointly announces the Ministry of Culture and the Region of Attica. As the study is already in preparation, the two bodies preface this multi-complex program which aims at interventions to upgrade the monumental wealth of Lekanopedi and beyond.
According to Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, it is a strategic plan that can utilize funds of up to 170 million euros – of which 60 million will be drawn from the PEP Attica 2021-2027 while the rest of the NSRF Sectoral Programs 2021-2027.
The lion’s share in Attica
The reason for the preparation of the OCHE is the intense cultural movement recorded in Attica (taking into account the monuments and priority archaeological sites that the Attic land hosts) as well as the fact that ¾ of the gross added value of the cultural sector comes from Attica, in which 58% of businesses are based here, 60% of workers are employed here and, by extension, it gathers a large number of visitors; to be precise, 40% of the Greek territory.
The Alexandros Soutsou Mansion will host the Theater Museum at Stadium 47.
Crowd of tourists in the historic center
The study in the context of OHE also highlights the overconcentration of visitors in the historic metropolitan center, which creates spatial inequalities. To deal with this phenomenon, a cultural route with the title is already being planned “The Attica Trilogy”. This is an idea of his “DIAZOMA” Association and concerns the promotion of an integrated spatial intervention, organization and promotion of the thematic axis of culture in the areas of Athens, Elefsina and Lavrio with the aim of spreading the tourist movement throughout the Region.
“The starting point of the ministry is a new vision for the overall effective management of the natural and cultural Attica landscape as a major tourist destination and development capital with specific strategic objectives: Protection and safeguarding of the historical and cultural heritage based on viability, sustainability. Enrichment, improvement of the quality and attractiveness of infrastructure and services. Reorganization, decentralization, diffusion, dispersion and targeted and balanced redistribution of tourist traffic and attendance throughout the Region with the aim of de-saturating and mitigating the seasonality of tourism through the emergence of new decentralized poles of attraction and the organized networking of points of interest” , explains Mrs. Mendoni.
Nikos Hardalias and Lina Mendoni at the Museum of Modern Greek Culture in Monastiraki, where the relevant announcements were made.
Which projects will be funded?
Although the detailed list of the sites – buildings of the interventions has not been shared, it is clarified that the resources will be allocated equally to Contemporary Culture and Cultural Heritage in both the historical Metropolitan Center (i.e. the historical center), Eastern, Western Attica, the zone of the coastal front, the islands of Argosaronicos and Kythira – Antikthyra.
However, among the projects of the “Attiki” Program are included the building on Stadium 47 (near Omonia Square) that will host the Theater Museum (10.5 million euros), the projects at Those (30 million euros), at Temple of Hephaestus (2.5 million euros), at temple of Olympian Zeus (4.2 million euros), the projects in National Archaeological Museum (30 million euros) to archaeological site of Ramnouda in Marathon (5 million euros).
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Also, the program is expected to fuel projects for the re-operation of the old one Acropolis Museum which will get a new use (4 million euros) as well as actions to strengthen Contemporary Culture such as the pilot implementation program of Performing Arts Medicine in the Athens Conservatory and its pilot function Center for Culture and Creation “Acropolis”.
Model of the Museum of Maritime Antiquities in Piraeus by Tsolakis architects, which is working on the conversion of the old silos into the harbor port.
They are already implemented
The Minister of Culture did not fail to emphasize that the above projects must be added to those already implemented in the context of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0”. To date, 206 projects with a total public expenditure of 610 million euros have been included in the Territory, with 50 of them with a budget of more than 240 million euros located in the Region of Attica.
Mrs. Mendoni referred emphatically to “complex projects” in former royal estate in Tatoi (50 million euros), in the restoration and promotion of its monuments Acropolis, the Ancient Agora and the Kerameikos (14 million euros), at Museum of Maritime Antiquities in Piraeus (93 million euros), in its roof Polyandriou in the “Esplanade” of the SNFCC (6.5 million euros), at REX of the National Theatreworks in the archaeological sites of Elefsina and Aegina (4.5 million euros).
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Restoration of the Acropolis monument. @Patrick/Unsplash
The plans of the Attica Region
In addition, the new Regional Governor of Attica, Nikos Hardalias pointed out that the Region of Attica is the only Region of the country, which is currently applying the OHE tool in the field of Culture while announcing that, in the next period, it will present the overall plan of the new Regional Authority for the tourism development and promotion of Attica which also concerns the strengthening of its cultural product.
