| The Basil and Elise Goulandris
Foundation was established in 1979. It is a non-profit organisation
for public benefit, whose main objective is to support and promote
the visual arts. The founding donors, Basil and Elise Goulandris,
wished to establish an international decentralised cultural institution,
which would reflect the spirit and meet the demands of our times.
Basil P. Goulandris was the Foundation’s first President, and in 1994
was succeeded by his wife, Elise Goulandris. From 2000 onwards, President
of the Foundation is Elise Goulandris’ niece, Fleurette P. Karadontis.
In 1979 the Foundation inaugurated the Museum of Contemporary Art
on Andros, birthplace of Basil P. Goulandris. It was later to be
augmented by the addition of a new wing in 1986. The spaces were
designed according to the latest museological standards in order
to both house the Foundation’s permanent collection and to organise
seasonal temporary exhibitions of significant 20th -century artists
(Braque, Mirü, Toulouse-Lautrec, Moore, Klee, Giacometti, Chagall,
Rodin, De Chirico, etc.).
In order to support cultural development and artistic creation
in Greece, from 1986 onwards the Foundation has also been awarding
scholarships for post graduate studies abroad on subjects related
to art.
The Foundation, however, is also active in the field of social welfare
and relief. It has constructed, outfitted, and is continuing to
maintain the Home for the Elderly “Estia Athinon”. In addition,
it has renovated the two pavilions of the Old People’s Home of the
Athens Charitable Society.
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