Celebrating 25 years 1994–2019 HellenicCentre_REVISED_AW.indd 1 02/01/2020 14:54 Celebrating 25 years 1994–2019 HellenicCentre_REVISED_AW.indd 2-3 02/01/2020 14:54 Greetings History of the Hellenic Centre History of the building Our awards What’s happening at the Centre What our visitors say 25th anniversary celebrations Governing bodies and supporters 25 years of cultural events Celebrating 25 years l Page 1 HellenicCentre_REVISED_AW.indd 4-5 02/01/2020 14:54 Greetings rom its establishment in 1994, one of years ago, the Hellenic Centre Supporting them, and making a vital s the director of the Hellenic And still, after twenty-five years, there is wenty-five years ago my husband the Hellenic Centre’s main founding opened its doors to the public. contribution, are members of the Council, Centre for over twenty years, I am music. There is poetry. There are exhibitions and I were motivated to join the effort Fsponsors, the A. G. Leventis Foundation, 25 However, it was some five years the Executive Board and other volunteers Adelighted that we are celebrating and lectures. There are celebrations for the Tfor the establishment of the Hellenic continued providing core support annually earlier that a group of us met to explore the who give their time, expertise and experience our 25th Anniversary. The Centre has not New Year, Easter and Christmas. There are Centre in London by the conviction that as well as funding a number of the Centre’s possibility of creating a centre open to all, in supporting and promoting the Centre and only survived but it has thrived, with a Greek language courses. There are plays and Hellenic culture can bring together all who rich programmes of cultural events and to Hellenes, philhellenes and the wider drawing in the new generation upon whom rich cultural programme and hundreds films. There are social events and dancing share that culture, and the belief that our educational activities. Such events included English community, promoting Greek its ongoing viability depends. of visitors of all nationalities and ethnic events. The Centre is alive day and night. cultural heritage is an irreplaceable source exhibitions such as Cyprus the Holy Island, culture, the arts and sciences with lectures, groups coming to our events every week. of inspiration. During the last 25 years our dream became My thanks to all who have made the Hellenic Colours of Medieval Cyprus and Greek exhibitions, theatre and musical events. This would not have been possible without a reality and I am confident that The Hellenic Centre what it is today. The Hellenic Centre has been a true labour Embroidery from the 17th-19th century as The need for such a Centre was not in doubt, the many different elements that compose it: Centre will build on this success in the years of love for many people and it is with great well as concerts by the Oxford Philharmonic but where it should or could be located and the Founders, the Benefactors, the Governing It has been a privilege and a pleasure to be to come. emotion and gratification that we celebrate Orchestra and Martino Tirimo, other how the cost was to be covered provoked Bodies, the Staff, the Contributors, the part of it. these 25 years of its existence as a landmark performances, book presentations and some lively meetings. Costas Kleanthous Membership and the Visitors. Agatha Kalisperas B.E.M., JP for both Hellenes and Philhellenes; a focal children’s workshops. Since 2002, biennial Founder We never envisaged a Centre such as the Many things have changed since our Director point of attraction in the life of the Greek lectures have been held in the Centre in Chairman, The Hellenic Community Trust one The Hellenic Community Trust, as it foundation in 1994. Twenty-five years ago The Hellenic Centre and the Greek-Cypriot Communities in honour and memory of the late Andrew (2004-present) later became, now owns and occupies in the Marylebone was a rather unattractive London located in the heart of their city. David, first Chairman of the Hellenic ҉ heart of Marylebone. The Centre offers a rich ҉ place with empty and run-down buildings, Community Trust and Trustee of the To be given the opportunity to make a programme of cultural and social events in but with improvements in the High A. G. Leventis Foundation. difference to the things that one believes Greek and in English including celebration Street, this is now one of the best areas in in is a blessing from God and a great of important events in the Greek Orthodox London. Technology has also undergone In its 25 years of existence, the Hellenic privilege. It is one’s own responsibility tradition. The mix is carefully balanced to a transformation over the years. At first Centre has succeeded in establishing to make the best of that opportunity. itself as a social and intellectual hub for appeal across the generations. The extensive we had overhead projectors, then slide the Greek community in London and, programme of Greek language classes for adults projectors, then video presentations on a I would like to thank the Director, Agathi through its creative and contemporary given by qualified teachers is ever popular. TV screen; now we have data projectors, Kalispera, for her dedicated service and cultural programme, in engaging the Greek None of this would have been possible without power point, internet and Wi-Fi, and email the successive Councils and Executive Boards community’s younger generation as well as the generous support of the governments of has replaced the fax. Social media has been of the Hellenic Centre, whose “true labour attracting the wider London Hellenic-linked Cyprus and Greece, philanthropic foundations an important recent development which of love” has made our original dream into community. We are proud that we have been and individual donors. impacts positively on our ability to reach a reality. I wish the Hellenic Centre every the younger generation. The Centre now future success and a long life! part of this journey and we wish the Hellenic The Centre has greatly benefited from the has a website and a presence on Facebook, Centre a successful future. devoted service and loyalty of all who work Edmée Leventis O.B.E Twitter, Instagram and many more. there in whatever capacity. The Board of Chairman, The Hellenic Centre Anastasios P. Leventis CBE, OFR Trustees values their contributions and owes As an independent body there have Executive Board (1997-2001) Chairman, The A. G. Leventis Foundation them an enormous debt of gratitude. Thanks inevitably been difficulties in keeping the ҉ ҉ go to our Director for her tireless work in Centre going, especially after the global ensuring the smooth running of the Centre financial crash of 2008. Contrary to what and its financial good health, which has been many people believe, despite the generosity key to our reaching this 25th Anniversary. of our founders and original benefactors, we have only a very small annual income from donations so we constantly need to raise money to keep up the high standard of our building and our events. Indeed, over eighty per cent of our budget comes from venue hire and fund raising events. Page 2 l Celebrating 25 years Celebrating 25 years l Page 3 HellenicCentre_REVISED_AW.indd 6-7 02/01/2020 14:54 t was astonishing! Early 75, London, ith the creation of the Hellenic Hellenic Centre was awarded a special thousands of Greeks from Greece and Centre fifteen years ago, a dream prize by the Academy of Athens. from Cyprus and not one place for all of the Hellenic Community became I W I am proud to have been associated with together, to meet, exchange ideas, continue a reality. Over the years the Hellenic Centre this wonderful project and I wish it many their culture and transmit to the young, has become a natural home for first class happy anniversaries in the future. much less show it off to our host city London. social and cultural events, not only for Hellenes but for the public in general. Filios Grammenopoulos All relied on the church. I was and am deeply Founder grateful to our Church. Pater Dositheos Today we reap the benefit of the hard Chairman, The Hellenic Centre Executive taught us Greek in the afternoon after school work and financial generosity of all those Board (1993-1994) and mythology and what we would hear on individuals, past and present, involved church on Sunday. Then came the building of in creating the Centre and ensuring its Written in 2013 the Cathedral, the Hall, the Greek school, the continuation and smooth running. We are ҉ sports fields. There were of course the various grateful to all of them, and we look to the cozy island fellowships but they bonded as the future with hope and confidence, especially Greek community and it was strong and highly as more and more people of the younger he twenty-fifth anniversary of the respected. This was Rhodesia in the 1950s. generation attend our events and gatherings. Hellenic Centre is a truly wonderful The fact that the Greeks from Greece and those Koula Lemos Toccasion that the Hellenic community from Cyprus did not mingle in London was Founder of the United Kingdom can be justly proud of. galling! Where did my Greek Cypriot family, Chairman, The Hellenic Centre Executive The Centre is now established and recognised second generation away from Cyprus fit in? Board (2005-2009) as a cultural venue of the highest standards When I broached the matter to my husband Written in 2009 with impressive annual programmes and, Andreas and the determination to create a equally significantly, impressive attendances.