Greeting

The Hellenic Foundation for Culture was established during the Presidency of Konstanti- nos Karamanlis. Its main aim was to be the outreach-oriented institution for the dissemi- nation of the Greek language and culture. This is the vision that guides our actions today; after making all the necessary provisions for adjusting to the new digital environment we have the potential to address a wider audience without the constraint of space. Our ambition is to renew the cultural actions of the HFC, to form constructive relations in cooperation with important cultural institutions and to become a center of dialogue offering imaginative choices, that will reach out and affect both Greeks and philhellenes from all over the world. Our points of reference are the schools, the Chairs of Modern Greek Studies, the expatriate communities. Our natural allies are all the Greeks that would like to contribute to the dissemination of every aspect of the Greek culture.

Equally important is our objective to support the world of books and to highlight its value. That is the reason why the HFC is the institution through which Greece participates in a number of international book fairs, organizes the Thessaloniki International Book Fair, and by means of the translation program, www.greeklit.gr, the Greek book production finds its way to the demanding foreign markets. Furthermore, Biblionet is being upgraded and turns into a reliable and valid tool. We hope to reach our goals and accomplish our mission.

Nikos A. Koukis
The President of the
Hellenic Foundation for Culture

History and purpose

The Hellenic Foundation of Culture (HFC) was established in 1992 with the unanimous consent of the Greek Parliament. It is based in the house of the late Greek businessman Prodromos Bodossakis. Professor Ioannis Georgakis was its first President. Its primary aim is the dissemination of the Greek language and culture around the world.

By planning the organization of cultural events, the promotion of the Greek book, music and the arts, the dissemination of the Greek cinema, theater and the teaching of the Greek language at the core of its action, the Hellenic Foundation for Culture has proved that it possesses the necessary knowledge, experience, prestige and vision to promote the Greek culture both in Greece and abroad.

To this end, the HFC has established a network outside Greece, which includes branches in Alexandria, Belgrade, Berlin, Bucharest, Moscow, Nicosia, Odessa, Sarajevo, Tirana and Trieste. The HFC will soon be present in more countries through its cooperation with our embassies and distinguished personalities living abroad who aligns their efforts with our mission to disseminate the Greek culture.

The HFC is a member of two important European cultural networks; namely, the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) and the Anna Lindh Foundation.

It co-operates with university departments of Greek Studies, Greek language schools, embassies, cultural centers, museums and libraries all over the world.

Executive Board

President

Nikos A. Koukis, Philologist – Professor of History

Vice President

Andreas Sideris, Publisher – Political Scientist

Board Treasurer

Ilias Polymenidis, Financial Manager

Members

Phoibos Georgios Angeletos
Minister Plenipotentiary Second Class, Director of Ε1 Directorate for Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Maria Efthymiou
Professor of History at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Georgios Kaloudis
Communications Consultant, General Director of the Association of “Alliance for Greece”

Louisa Karapidaki
Archaeologist-Art Historian, Hellenic Folklore Research Center of the Academy of Athens

Alexandros Mallias
Ambassador ad Honorem

Andreas Markantonatos
Professor of Ancient Greek Literature at the Department of Philology, University of the Peloponnese

Charalambos Meletiadis
Professor of History at the Sociology Department of Panteion University

Ioannis Polychronopoulos
Businessman

Dionysios Tselentis
Greek language and literature Teacher

Fani Chatziathanasiadou
Lawyer

Collaborations - Synergies