The composition of the interdepartmental “working groups” (or “mixed committees,” as they have been called so far), which will deal with the issue of improving and certifying artistic research, has finally been determined, as everything shows, the issue has returned to the public. debate with Presidential Decree 85/2022 and the subsequent reaction of the artists. It seems that in the end the working groups will consist exclusively of institutional bodies, and they will consult with art associations and with well-known authoritative personalities.

According to information from Ministry of Culture, three groups – theatrical, dance, musical – will initially consist of some common people. The groups will be chaired by Eleni Dundoulaki, Secretary General of the Department of Contemporary Culture, and will be attended by the Secretaries General of the Ministry of Education, Giorgos Voutsinos and Odysseas Zoras, and the Secretary General for Coordination, Thanasis Kontogeorgis. The managing director of the National Organization for Qualifications and Vocational Guidance (EOPPEP) Joanna Litrivi, as well as the President of the National Higher Education Authority Periklis Mitkas will also be a common member of the teams.

In particular, the director of the Drama School of the National Theater Dio Kangelaris, as well as the director of the Drama School of the State Theater of Northern Greece Yannis Rigas will also participate in the working group of the theater. The dance working group will also include the director of the State School of Orchestral Art Daphni Kokkino, together with a representative of the National Opera (possibly its artistic director himself), and, finally, the musical group will have in its ranks the director of the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki Georgios Julios Papadopoulos and the director of the State Orchestra of Thessaloniki Simos Papana.

Representatives of the state theatres, the orchestra and the conservatory of Thessaloniki, the Greek National Theater and the National Theater of Greece are participating.

“We recommend working groups with institutional figures, people from government agencies who know the subject well, because they are active and teach in art schools,” said “K” Deputy Minister of Contemporary Culture Nicholas Giatromanolakis and added: “From now on, the working groups will be required to consult with the relevant trade union bodies and artists’ unions, while they will be able to consult with famous personalities and with anyone they see fit.”

Two pieces of legislation announced by the Prime Minister in his recent post are also expected to be presented in Parliament to be voted on next Thursday: the first excludes the employment of artists on the staff of the DP, while the second will legislate the obligation for municipalities to use special wages for artists.

The prime minister’s recent post on arts education and the establishment of a university school of performing arts by 2025 has been praised by institutional figures such as the artistic director of the Greek Theater of Contemporary Art, Asterios Peltekis, who told K that their content “shows it has been taken seriously.” , given the artists’ concerns about what’s next.” Giorgos Lykiardopoulos, vice-president of the Panhellenic Union of Theaters representing producers, was also positive about the prime minister’s statements, who believe that this will solve the problem. “Therefore, we must immediately begin to de-escalate the mobilization affecting the theatre,” added Mr. Lykiardopoulos, referring to the strikes announced for February 1 and 2 by the Union of Greek Actors and the Panhellenic Federation of Spectators – Akroamas.

The two union bodies have announced that they will continue with their planned mobilizations, although they now also enjoy the support of other unions. Finally, the teachers of the National Theatre’s Drama School who met yesterday are sticking to their decision to resign unless the PD is amended.