5 archeological museums in Greece have closed to the general public this week in protest of a brand new legislation that reassigns the management of their operations to government-appointed boards. The Affiliation of Greek Archeologists (AGA) organized the rolling network-wide protests, stating that the federal government’s resolution “dismembers the Archaeological Service and fragments the unified safety of cultural heritage.” Beforehand, the museums have been managed by the Archeological Providers, a sector of the Greek Ministry of Tradition and Sport.
The Nationwide Archeological Museum, the Museum of Byzantine Tradition, the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, and the Byzantine and Christian Museum have been impacted by the invoice’s passing. The laws apparently affords the 5 museums extra operational autonomy, particularly with efforts abroad, however subsequently leaves them in command of independently managing different avenues equivalent to fundraising and producing income.
The AGA assertion additionally famous that the government-appointed boards can be entrusted with the destiny of crucial collections of antiquities and may even determine to completely export them. This “export” clause within the new legislation might permit looted antiquities to stay overseas for longer intervals earlier than they’re returned to Greece, sparking considerations surrounding the nation’s bid to have the Parthenon marbles repatriated from the British Museum who has held out for many years.
In an announcement supporting a petition for repeal, AGA President Despina Koutsoumba mentioned that the brand new managing boards will method museum management with industrial success in thoughts, aiming for “monetary revenue, growing ticket costs, abolishing all free providers for the general public, whereas they are going to have the authority to ascertain branches overseas, completely exporting antiquities from Greece.”
Previous to the brand new movement, archeologist managers who’re thought of civil servants cared for the 5 museums and regarded the collections as property of the Greek folks. When the brand new legislation handed on Monday, over 1,000 museum employees abstained from their work duties to march outdoors of the Parliament. The museums remained closed by Wednesday as the employees and AGA continued to protest the choice.
Tradition Minister Lina Mendoni mentioned in her speech that the “modernization” efforts have been lengthy overdue, and that point within the 5 museums “was frozen for some many years.”
“Fast social and cultural developments and fast technological growth have formed a brand new public with elevated calls for and totally different cultural, instructional and social wants, pursuits and expectations,” Mendoni continued.
Former Greek prime minister and present chief of the left-wing Syriza occasion Alexis Tspiras blasted the choice the day it was handed, lamenting that “tradition and its folks have been persecuted for a very long time in Greece and in probably the most brutal means.”
The AGA acknowledged that they are going to goal to have the federal government’s “despicable and damaging legislation on Museums” repealed by submitting an enchantment to the Council of State. “Till the choice of the Supreme Court docket, we don’t acknowledge the validity of this legislation,” the assertion concludes.