8. Creativity and Culture
According to article 5 of the Greek Constitution, every person has the right to participate in the social, economic and political life of the Country, which is completely consistent with the right to participate in cultural life. In Greece, a number of cultural events, music festivals, contemporary music concerts, photo exhibitions, theatrical performances, art exhibitions are held every year, in which mainly young people participate. According to a Eurostat study, Greece ranks 26th out of 33 countries in the participation of young people, aged 16-29, in cultural activities such as cinema, theatre, concerts and visits to cultural monuments.
The main government authority responsible for creativity and culture is the Ministry of Culture and Sports. Policies are made at a national level, as decision-making responsibility rests with the central government. Local authorities are responsible for implementing the programs through the funding they receive from the government.
The General Secretariat of Vocational Education, Training, Lifelong Learning and Youth of Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, through the Department of Culture and Youth Artistic Creation of the Youth Directorate, informs young people about art and culture programs implemented between the members and BJCEM.
Although there is not a youth culture and creativity strategy in Greece, in accordance with the Ministerial Decision 30964/2022, an inter-ministerial working group was set up with the aim of planning, coordinating, monitoring, promoting and formulating policy proposals applied to youth, without discrimination and exclusion, to ensure rights and equal opportunities for all young people. The inter-ministerial working group aims at recording the existing policies of each Ministry concerning young people aged 15-29, with its continuous updating and the recording of the implementation of policies in order to achieve sustainable development goals in the areas related to the country’s youth.
Digital Culture is the digital platform of the Ministry of Culture and Sports. It is an updated portal aimed at informing the public about cultural actions, such as Music, Cinema, Theater, Book, Museums, Archaeological sites and Visual Arts. At the same time, it provides visitors with information about educational programs aimed, but not exclusively, at students and young people.
An important institution of the Ministry of Culture and Sports is the "All Greece One Culture" program. The institution's activities and events take place in the summer and include theatrical, musical, dance performances, visual art exhibitions/performances, as well as events for children and teenagers in ancient theaters in Greece. The events join together with the historical sites and create a connection between the past and today's modern culture. The cooperation with the local bodies in the actions contributes to the strengthening of the region and the development of its cultural identity, as one of the priorities of the Ministry of Culture and Sports.