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Cultural Policy and Public Engagement with Modern Architectural Heritage in Greece: An Empirical Analysis

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Stelios LekakisORCiD

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Abstract

This article examines public engagement with cultural heritage in Greece, specifically focusing on modern architectural monuments dating from the post-1830s. These monuments, hastily and unplannedly added to Greece's monumental reserves since the 1950s, form the core of this study. I analyse the cultural policy that influenced public reception, reactions, and interactions with heritage preservation efforts in Greece from the 1970s to the 2010s. My empirical data is drawn from twenty years of work with the interested public and my involvement with national and local heritage management authorities across Greece. The conclusions indicate that the stringent legal framework for heritage protection has alienated the public from preservation efforts, fostering either passive attitudes or opportunistic engagement driven by economic gain. This multifaceted response to cultural policy has contributed to the precarious condition of modern heritage in contemporary Greece.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Lekakis S

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Cities

Year: 2024

Volume: 162

Print publication date: 01/07/2025

Online publication date: 28/03/2025

Acceptance date: 21/03/2025

Date deposited: 25/07/2024

ISSN (print): 0264-2751

ISSN (electronic): 1873-6084

Publisher: Elsevier Ltd

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2025.105925

DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2025.105925

Data Access Statement: Data will be made available on request.

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