$240,000 has been pledged to the Hellenic Museum by the Victorian Government for the housing of the Benaki Museum collection in Victoria. At an event at the Hellenic Museum last night, to welcome Greece’s Minister for Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni, the Victorian Premier, Denis Napthine made the announcement.
In his speech, Mr Napthine said the funds would “assist with the housing of the Benaki collection here at the Hellenic museum, and to assist with the appropriate developments here to appropriately house and display this magnificent priceless unique collection”.
“This is something that we see as a government that is so important to recognise the importance of Greek culture and history,” Mr Napthine said.
He started his speech by welcoming Ms Kefalogianni home, because “here in Melbourne we are proudly as Geek as Athens or Thessaloniki”
“We are the largest and I would say the proudest Greek community outside Greece itself and some would argue that the Greeks here are larger, louder and more proud of their Greek heritage than many Greek citizens themselves.
On the night, the Hellenic Museum’s CEO John Tatoulis also announced that the directors of Bardot, Basil Artemides and Carol Skoufis, have come on board as Hellenic Museum benefactors contributing an amount of $50,000
“Preparing the Museum for the arrival of the Benaki collection is challenging because we are acutely cognisant of the fact that the Greek Treasures must sit within this living, breathing magnificent Australian treasure that is the former Royal Mint,” Mr Tatoulis said in his speech.
“Both cultural treasures must co-exist in a way ensuring they’re sympathetic of, and complimentary to each-other.”
The permanent Benaki collection is set to be displayed in the museum mid-year for a ten year duration. The Hellenic Museum is also set to exhibit additional short term, theme specific mini exhibitions.