PNEVMATIKA KENTRA Greece
The cultural centres are multifunctional institutions, designed to provide a great variety of cultural and
artistic activities to as broad a public as possible. They aim at extensive and active popular participation by
motivating the public and utilising "latent" artistic talent. They constitute a fundamental element of
cultural and social development and a means of cultural decentralisation.
For younger adults the aim is to provide a means of self-expression and communication, and to develop
awareness in those who belong to the less privileged socio-professional groups who have never had
the interest, knowledge or means to access cultural events. The most common activities of the cultural
centres are lectures, seminars, conferences, exhibitions, concerts, plays, film showss etc. A number of
cultural centres run artistic workshops (music, theatre, plastic arts, folk dance etc.), have a library or a
small popular art collection. The workshops attract a significant number of young people and promote
amateur artistic creativity in their area.
The cultural centres showed a considerable expansion during the eighties. According to figures from
the Ministry of Culture, they increased from 200 in 1979 to 1,486 in 1989. Their geographical distribution
shows considerable regional differences which, of course, reflect population distribution through the
country. Most of them were established on the initiative of local government or belong to cultural associations.
They operate under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture and receive financial support. Their
contribution to cultural development is considerable, but they suffer from serious deficiencies in specialised
managerial staff.
Magda Trantallidi
Reference
Konsola, D. (1990) Politistiki drastiriotita ke kratiki politiki stin Ellada (Cultural activities and cultural
policies in Greece) in Greek
