for Books and Culture
The foundation aims to promote Greek literature in Greece and abroad and focuses on books as an educational, cultural and recreational medium.
Background
The “Hellenic Foundation for Books and Culture“ (HFBC) is a Legal Entity under Private Law, based in Athens and supervised by the Minister of Culture. HFBC is the universal successor to the abolished legal entity “Hellenic Foundation for Culture“ (HFC).
The “Hellenic Foundation for Culture’ (HFC) was founded in 1997 as a Legal Entity under Private Law, supervised by the Ministry of Culture and Sports. It was the continuation of the “Foundation for Hellenic Culture (FHC) which was established in 1992, with professor Ioannis Georgakis as its first president and its main aim the dissemination of the Greek language and culture across the world by establishing a network of branches outside Greece. In 2014, HFC took over part of the responsibilities as well as the assets of the abolished “National Book Center“ (EKEBI).
Our mission
(a) the implementation of the national policy, as set out in Article 1 of Law no. 2557/1997 (Government Gazette A’ 271) and formulated by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministries concerned, for the promotion of Greek literature in Greece and abroad, focusing on books as an educational, cultural and recreational medium
(b) the promotion of reading practices among all population groups, with special emphasis on children and adolescents, as well as vulnerable groups, through our own action and in cooperation with Ministries concerned or through partnerships with domestic or foreign organizations
(c ) the development and reinforcing of the book industry in Greece, through our own action, as well as through partnerships with domestic or foreign organizations
(d) the promotion and dissemination of Greek literature and publications, as well as of Greek books as a means of education, recreation and cultural product, in Greece and abroad, both through our own actions, activities, programmes and fairs and through partnerships with domestic or foreign organizations
(e) the implementation of actions for the coordination and development of synergies between domestic organizations operating in the Greek book industry on issues concerning the entire ecosystem and the chain of production, distribution and marketing of books, in particular authors, illustrators, translators, publishers, booksellers, libraries,
(f) the management, operation and development of the database for the Greek book production “BIBLIONET” (www.biblionet.gr), containing at least title, author and publisher details, year of publication, original language, number of pages, International Unique Book Number (ISBN) and price, as well as generally the development, operation and coordination of interoperable database systems, data, statistics, digital and audiovisual archives and catalogues related to books, the book chain and the professionals in the Greek book industry, utilizing them effectively for the benefit of the industry
(g) the improvement of the skills of the professionals in the Greek book industry
(h) the operation and further development of the grants programme for the translation into foreign languages of works already published in the Greek language (GreekLit)
(i) the coordination of the relevant Ministries in the implementation of actions related to books, the publishing industry, libraries and the broader book sector
(j) the promotion of knowledge of and the approach of Greek culture abroad, the wider knowledge of the Greek contribution to letters, sciences and arts and cultural creation in general
(k) the dissemination and promotion of the Greek language and cultivation of the Greek language among the Greek Diaspora
(l) the reinforcement of cultural, educational and scientific cooperation with other countries
(m) contributing to the cultivation and exploitation of intercultural and multicultural relations, with the aim of developing creative dialogue between peoples for mutual understanding and their creative and peaceful coexistence
(n) the implementation of any other action aiming at the promotion and enhancement of the Greek literature field as well as the support of the professionals in the Greek book industry
Pillars of strategy
OUTREACH
Promotion and dissemination of Greek literature in Greece and abroad.
COOPERATION & COORDINATION
Sharing of resources, economies of scale, models of sustainable cooperation with public and private organizations, coordination of the Ministries concerned with regard to the implementations of actions relating to books, the publishing sector, libraries and the wider field of literature.
NETWORK
Networks based on books, reading, culture and the written word in Greece and abroad. HFBC as a communication and information dissemination hub for the Greek books ecosystem.
EMPOWERMENT
Supporting and developing the skills of professionals in the Greek book industry.
RESEARCH & DOCUMENTATION
Gathering and organising information, statistics and data on the field with a holistic perspective and scientific methodology, conducting research and preserving the legacy of Greek books.
READING CULTURE
Encouraging a love of reading among the younger generations and the general public, reading development in the era of printed and electronic books.
The website was implemented within the framework of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0”, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.