Main trends in youth creativity and cultural participation

In the framework of National Strategy for young people, Youth ′17-′27 the goal is to ensure access of young people to Arts and Culture. The access of young people to Arts and Culture is considered to be a fundamental right but also an essential condition for the full participation of young people in social and democratic life. 

As highlighted in the strategy, cultural participation is linked to the development of young people’s autonomy, the strengthening of creativity, and the cultivation of active citizenship.

Within this framework, the following are promoted:

• Measures to facilitate young people’s access to both traditional and classical forms of art and culture, as well as to contemporary and alternative forms of cultural expression
• Targeted initiatives to support young creators and the creative industries
• Promotion of the mobility of young artists and intercultural exchanges
• Ensuring access to cultural activities for specific groups of young people
• Development of cultural activities addressed to schools and students

There are no regular, specialized national statistical surveys that exclusively record young people’s participation in cultural activities. However, data concerning the cultural sector are published annually by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) and include, among other things:

• Rooms of Works of Art

• Museums and Archaeological Sites (Visits-Proceeds)

• State Municipal Theatres and Orchestras

At the same time, Eurostat publishes comparative statistical data on the participation of the population – including young people aged 16–29 – in cultural activities such as cinema, theatre, concerts and visits to cultural sites, based on the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC). These data allow for a comparative overview of youth participation in Greece in relation to other EU Member States and highlight differences in the intensity and patterns of cultural participation.

Recent Eurostat publications also include indicators related to digital cultural participation, such as:

• the use of the internet to access cultural content (e.g. watching concerts, theatre performances or exhibitions through digital platforms)
• the downloading or streaming of digital cultural material (e.g. films, music, podcasts or visual art exhibitions)
• participation in digital creative communities and artistic networks

The recording of digital cultural participation highlights that young people’s engagement with culture is no longer limited only to physical visits, but increasingly extends to the use of digital media, offering new ways of access, expression and participation.

Basic concepts

In Greek legislation, Cultural Heritage is defined by Law 4858/2021, "Sanction of the Code of Legislation for the Protection of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage in General". Specifically, it consists of the cultural goods located within the borders of the Greek Territory, including territorial waters, as well as within other maritime zones in which Greece exercises relevant jurisdiction in accordance with international law. Cultural Heritage also includes intangible cultural goods. 

Article 2 of the same law defines precisely the concepts: 

• Cultural goods 

• Monuments 

o Ancient Monuments 

o Newer Monuments 

o Immovable Monuments 

o Movable Monuments 

• Archaeological sites 

• Historical places

• Intangible cultural goods 

• Services 

• Council 

The Greek State is responsible for the protection of the cultural goods that come from the Greek Territory at any time, even if they are removed from it, as well as caters for the cultural goods that are historically connected to Greece. 

Since the founding of the recently established Greek State, which arose from the Greek Revolution of 1821, the State has attached great importance to the protection and promotion of cultural heritage. Monuments and collections, with an emphasis on the time period of classical antiquity, connected the new State with history and traditions shrouded in the mists of centuries and in territorial limits much wider than its borders. Museums, art galleries and archaeological sites were established which observe in their statutes the universal access of citizens and the perpetuation of the cultural heritage. 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.