The SNF Supports Projects Worldwide for the Promotion of the German-Greek Collaboration

A painting showing people coming out of a plane from Germany and being greeted by a Greek

On October 19th, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation is organizing the 11th event of the monthly DIALOGUES series dedicated to the Greek Oktoberfest. The event will present the relationship between Greece and Germany, the customs of the two countries, the prevailing stereotypes surrounding the two nations and their citizens, focusing on landmark historical moments, which have acted as milestones for the relationship between the two European countries, and explore the basis for cooperation, now and in the future.

As an international philanthropic organization, the SNF makes grants all over the world, including to organizations based in Germany as well as in support of projects promoting the German-Greek collaboration.

The SNF has expressed its commitment to support the development of the Holocaust Memorial Museum & Human Rights Educational Center of Greece, which is scheduled to be constructed in Thessaloniki, at the Baron-Hirsh neighborhood, which was the deportation point for the 50.000 Jews of Thessaloniki to Auschwitz-Birkenau. The scope of the museum is to present the history of this particular and other and Jewish Communities in Greece.

In addition to this, the SNF has supported a series of important projects stemming from a collaboration between German and Greek partners such as:

· The SNF has supported the establishment and operation of the Center for Modern Greece at the Freie Universität Berlin. In addition the SNF has supported the "Memorial Cultures of German-Greek History project", a bilateral oral history project, which was undertaken in collaboration with the National Kapodistrian University of Athens.

The Freie Universität Berlin was founded in 1948 by professors and students, in response to the persecution faced by students who took a critical eye of the system at Universität Unter den Linden, at that time located in the Soviet sector of the divided city. It is the only University in Germany offering a complete cycle of studies (undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate) in Modern Greek Studies.

· The SNF has supported the Jewish Museum of Greece for the implementation of training programs for educators, educational trips for students to the Auschwitz State Museum, as well as the digitization of the museum’s archival material. The mission of the Jewish Museum of Greece is to collect, preserve and exhibit all elements of the history, tradition and culture of the Greek Jewish community to research, study and record the heritage of the Greek Jews, and promote public dialogue about tolerance and respect for people of all religions, races, cultures, and ethnic backgrounds.

· The SNF has supported the Hellas Filmbox, the first Greek film festival in Berlin focusing on contemporary filmmaking. The festival is organized by the Greek German Cultural Association, founded by a team of German and Greek professionals active in the field of arts and film-making and aims to promote German-Greek links through cultural projects, discussions and academic exchanges.

· The SNF has supported the Molyvos International Music Festival, a four-day festival which brings together emerging and renowned soloists from all over the world and specially Germany to the island of Lesvos. The festival is an initiative of two young Greek-German rising-star pianists originating from Molyvos.