Cycladic Identity – The initiative that highlights and protects the uniqueness of the Cyclades

Do you know about the traditions of Amorgos, the traditional instrumentalists of Kea? Have you heard about the art of dry stone in Mykonos, water management in Andros, the inhabitants of Donousa talking about its history? Have you visited the ancient quarries of Paros and followed the cultural trails in Sikinos? The known and unknown elements of tradition, culture and nature of the Cyclades that make up its unique identity are the “protagonists” in the new initiative of the Museum of Cycladic Art.

 

Traditional panigiri in Sifnos/ Traditional “panigiri “in Sifnos

 

The cultural and natural heritage of the Cyclades, which make up its unique identity, has undertaken to strengthen, highlight, restore and protect the Museum of Cycladic Art through its new initiative, Cycladic Identity, inviting local institutions to submit proposals for funding projects.

 

Fisherman in Amorgos/ Fisherman in Amorgos

 

The initiative acts as a platform for attracting and allocating resources to programmes implemented by bodies active on the islands. Based on the pillars of Culture, Biodiversity and Intangible Cultural Heritage, as building blocks of the Cycladic identity, the initiative seeks to create a lively dialogue with the local communities of the islands in order to map their needs and support the programmes of institutions that aim to preserve this identity.

As the President and CEO of the Museum of Cycladic Art Sandra Marinopoulou says: “The Museum of Cycladic Art would not exist without the Cycladic islands and the Cycladic Culture. Our Museum must and can offer to the Cyclades, in a sustainable and meaningful way. That’s how we created the Cycladic Identity initiative. We feel the obligation to be part of the Cyclades, to protect them, to preserve their Cycladic identity.”

 

Nine Cycladic Identity projects are already underway in Amorgos, Andros, Andros, Donousa, Ios, Kea, Mykonos, Paros and Sikinos, where local organisations, among other things, are recording traditions, promoting the cultural elements of the areas and carrying out restoration and conservation work on monuments.

 

Amorgos/ Amorgos

 

Organic farming in Sifnos/ OrganicfarminginSifnos

 

Art of dry stone walling/ Art of dry stone walling

Traditional cuisine in a Cycladic panigiri/Traditional food in a Cycladic “panigiri”

 

Monument of Episkopi, Sikinos

Elementary school in Amorgos/ Elementary school in Amorgos

Apollo’s sanctuary in Despotiko/Apollo’s sanctuary in Despotiko

 

Fisherman in Amorgos/ Fisherman in Amorgos

 

These programmes are:


  • “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Amorgos – Inventory of Traditions”
    of the Municipal Public Benefit Enterprise of Amorgos,

 


  • “Traditional water management practices in the central massif of Andros: actions of recording, preservation, interpretation and promotion”
    of the Andros Research Centre (EKA),

  • “Creation of a website for the hosting, maintenance and promotion of the oral history archive of Donoussa”
    of the Cultural Environmental Association of Donousa Poseidon,

  • “The look of youth in the Cyclades”
    by Cinemathesis (Ios),

  • “Recording of traditional instrumentalists of Kea for the rescue, preservation and promotion of traditional music as intangible cultural heritage”
    of the Public Benefit Enterprise of the Municipality of Kea,

  • “Listen to the story…”
    of the Centre for the Study and Dissemination of Myths and Fairy Tales (Kea),



  • Recounting and recording the art of dry stone”
    of the Public Benefit Municipal Enterprise for Environment, Education and Development of Mykonos,

  • “Ancient Quarries of Paros – Stability and accessibility of underground galleries”
    of the body AMKE “Ancient Marble Quarries Park of Paros” and

  • “Cultural Paths in Sikinos: Creating a navigation and information application”
    of the Hellenic Society for Environment and Culture.

The evaluation of proposals for funding is carried out by the The Scientific Committee of Cycladic Identity is composed of four members with deep knowledge and understanding of the unique characteristics and needs of the Cyclades, due to their long professional activity in the field: the Dr Dimitris Athanasoulis, Director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Cyclades, Dr after welcoming the participants Boyd, Senior Research Affiliate, Science and Technology in Archaeology and Culture Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, Dimitris Karavella, Director General of WWF Hellas and Dr. Angeliki Kosmopoulou, Archaeologist, Executive Director of the Public Benefit Foundation Athanasios K. Laskaridis. The final selection of proposals is made by the initiative’s Advisory Committee , which, from its conception as an idea, provides significant funding and helps to shape the strategy.

The next funding period covers the year 2024 and concerns proposals submitted under the second call for proposals sent to operators in September. The selected programmes will be announced early in the new year.