PRESS RELEASE

The opening of the exhibition "Cycladic Art: the Leonard N. Stern Collection on Loan from the Hellenic Republic" of the 161 Early Cycladic antiquities of the Leonard Stern Collection, were held on January 24th at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, in the presence of the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni,  the Ambassador of Greece to the United States, Ekaterini Nasika, the Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations Evangelos Sekeris, the Consul General of Greece in New York Dinos Konstantinou, representatives of the Greek American  community, and distinguished guests from the artistic and academic world of New York.

The exhibition of Cycladic antiquities at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) took place following the historic agreement between the Greek Ministry of Culture and the Museum of Cycladic Art and the Met, which provides for the long-term loan of the antiquities from the Hellenic Republic to the Met.

In the imposing opening hall of the exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and adjacent to the exhibition hall of the Cycladic Antiquities, a video was shown with the greeting of the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The Prime Minister thanked Leonard Stern for assembling this exceptional collection, and underlined  that this agreement marks the beginning of a 50-year partnership that recognises Greek ownership of the antiquities in the exhibition, without recourse to the courts, and ensures that the phrase "Loan of the Hellenic Republic - Ministry of Culture" is adopted as part of such an agreement for the first time internationally.

The Greek Prime Minister also made a special reference to the issue of the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Athens, stressing that for two years consultations have been held with the President of the British Museum for a possible cooperation for the return of the Sculptures to Athens. "Only if they are reunited in the shadow of the Acropolis will we realize their immense importance for Western civilization," the Prime Minister said in his video message.

For her part, Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, stressing that the repatriation of Greek antiquities currently abroad is a matter of national importance and high political priority for the Ministry of Culture, expressed her satisfaction to the executives of the Met for the achievement of the historic and mutually beneficial cooperation agreement.

Stressing that Greece claims the repatriation of all antiquities that have been illegally exported and trafficked, based on international conventions, Ms Mendoni referred to the claim for the return and reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures in Athens, specifying that the issue of the Sculptures in particular constitutes a completely unique case as, unlike other stolen works of art and monuments that exist autonomously and independently of their immediate environment, the Parthenon Sculptures are organic and integral parts of a solid architectural structure, a single and unbroken artistic creation.

The CEO of MET, Max Hollein, as well as the head of the exhibition, Seán Hemingway, also addressed the audience, and expressed their appreciation to the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni. Finally, the collector Leonard Stern said in his greeting that he felt most excited as his collection will be admired by millions of visitors in the future.

On January 25th, in the context of the inauguration of the Cycladic Antiquities Exhibition at the Met, the Greek Consul General of Greece in New York, Ambassador Dinos Konstantinou, hosted a reception at the consular residence, honoring President and CEO of the Museum of Cycladic Art, Ms. Sandra Marinopoulou.

In his address to the distinguished guests from the artistic and intellectual world of New York, Mr. Konstantinou praised the importance and underlined the priority he gives to cultural diplomacy, describing it as a powerful tool for the promotion of development, education, and peace.

Also characterizing the Museum of Cycladic Art as a real gem of Athens, he presented the President of the Board of Directors of the Museum of Cycladic Art Sandra Marinopoulou who, with the assistance of video footage, described in detail to the attendees the history, operation, and role of the Museum.