Maliotis Cultural Center on an Outward-Looking Path: Strategic Visits to Greece and Italy Open New Doors for International Partnerships
Originally posted on ekirikas: https://www.ekirikas.com/to-malioteio-politistiko-kentro-se-ex/
As part of its ongoing strategy to strengthen international collaborations and promote Greek culture within the global diaspora, the Executive Director of the Maliotis Cultural Center, Chrysoula Kourkounti, recently completed a highly productive and multifaceted visit to Greece and Italy. Her meetings and engagements highlighted promising new avenues for cultural programming, educational initiatives, and collaborative projects that will further enrich the Center’s mission in Boston and the broader Greek-American community.
During her stay in Athens, Ms. Kourkounti held an official meeting with senior administrators of the Benaki Museum. Discussions focused on the major cultural event that the Maliotis Cultural Center will host in the spring of 2026, marking a new milestone in the collaboration between the two institutions.
She also attended the Museum’s annual fundraising gala, honoring the work and mission of one of Greece’s most significant cultural foundations.
The next stop on her trip was Ioannina, where Ms. Kourkounti visited the University of Ioannina as an invited guest. There, she had the honor of attending the graduation ceremony of the new teachers of the School of Education—a moving occasion that marks the beginning of their professional journey. On the sidelines of the event, she held in-depth discussions with the Dean, Dr. Nikoletta Tsitsanoudis-Mallidi, and the Director, Dr. Tasos Mitropoulos, focusing on a new cycle of academic collaborations between the Maliotis Cultural Center and the University of Ioannina. The goal of this partnership is to develop programs that bridge the academic community of Greece with the Greek diaspora. The framework emerging from these discussions is highly promising and reinforces the educational role of the Maliotis Cultural Center in Boston.
Returning to Athens the following day, Ms. Kourkounti attended the book presentation of the volume “For the Life of the World”, edited by Fr. John Chryssavgis. The keynote address was delivered by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, with additional remarks offered by Minister Domna Michailidou and former ministers Evangelos Venizelos and Anna Diamantopoulou.
Following the event, conversations took place between the Executive Director, the speakers, and the Vice Rector of the University of Athens, Dr. Christos Karagiannis, regarding the organization of a symposium of similar thematic focus to be held at the Maliotis Cultural Center.
The final leg of her journey brought Ms. Kourkounti to Rome, where she met with the head of the Fashion Department of the Accademia Tiberina, Regina Salpagarova. Their discussion centered on the development of a future event to be hosted at the Maliotis Cultural Center, exploring Mediterranean influences on contemporary fashion—a theme that creatively highlights the cultural interplay between Greece and Italy and resonates with the growing global interest in the dialogue between tradition and modern design.
This collaboration is expected to bring to Boston a fresh and sophisticated cultural experience, further enhancing the Center’s international profile.
Ms. Kourkounti’s trip reaffirmed once again the outward-looking vision and dynamic mission of the Maliotis Cultural Center. Through strategic partnerships with leading Greek and international institutions, the Center continues to expand its role as a vital point of reference for Greek education, arts, and culture—both in Boston and across the Greek-American community.
