K. Mitsotakis at the event for the Donation of the D. Daskalopoulos Collection

The Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended an event at the former Public Tobacco Factory during which the donation of a large part of the D. Daskalopoulou Collection to the National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST) and to three leading museums abroad was announced.

As announced by Dimitris Daskalopoulos during the event, much of the D. Daskalopoulos Collection is donated to four museums, located in three countries, on two continents: the National Museum of Contemporary Art, the Guggenheim in New York, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago Museum of Art and the Tate Gallery in London.

The donation consists of more than 350 works by 142 artists, of which 140 are for EMST, about 100 are a joint donation to Guggenheim and MCA Chicago and 110 are for Tate.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his wife, Mareva Grabovski-Mitsotakis, were welcomed by Dimitris Daskalopoulos and the Speaker of Parliament, Konstantinos Tassoulas. The event was also greeted by the Minister of Culture and Sports Lina Mendoni.

The whole greeting of the Prime Minister is as follows:

Dear Speaker of Parliament, Minister of Culture and Sports, my dear Dimitris, distinguished guests,

Today is indeed a great day for our country, but also a great day for the world of contemporary art, as Dimitris Daskalopoulos announces the donation of most of his personal collection to four major public museums, four public cultural organizations . And in terms of this particular donation he made to the National Museum of Contemporary Art, it is the largest donation ever made to this organization.

Having had many discussions with Dimitris in the past about the present and the future of his collection, I know first hand how much he was concerned about this decision, how much he was concerned about the different choices he had and with how much difficulty and joy he is here today. announce this important donation. And I say difficulty, because the moment the collector-custodian separates from a work of art is not an easy process. Because I am sure Dimitris that for each of the 350 works, which you donate so generously today, you remember exactly not only when you acquired them but also the emotions that caused you so that they would eventually lead you to their acquisition.

It is, therefore, this collection I would say a “kaleidoscope” of emotions, a journey of a lifetime, which you now generously share with the four museums that participate and gladly accept this donation.

You said – and rightly so in my view – that the significance of this donation lies in the fact that private property is thus transformed into a public good. But I really wonder if a work of art is ever really a private acquisition. Because a work of art by its nature, in addition to the expression of emotions, quests, of the artist has the inherent characteristic that the artist must share, in my opinion, with as many people as possible of this work.

Consequently, the private collection, which limits this enjoyment to only the owner or to a few who may have access to it, could possibly be characterized as an act of selfishness towards the very meaning of art.

An act that I dare say becomes even more selfish when many important collections end up in warehouses, in depots. Do not even enjoy them by their owners. And this often happens when art is transformed from a cultural good into a stock value. I think that this logic never expressed you and that is why you finally came to the conclusion to donate your collection not to one, not to two, but to four museums.

I want to make a special reference to the National Museum of Contemporary Art. I would like to thank the Minister of Culture, but I would also like to thank Katerina Gregou, the Artistic Director of the National Museum of Contemporary Art, for the great work that has been done in the last two years.

And indeed a big issue has been resolved for the National Museum of Contemporary Art, which now operates with dynamism, with vision, with many ambitions and now has at its disposal 150 exceptional works of art which I think should be much considered for how highlight.

At the same time, however, new doors of cooperation are opening: with the Guggenheim, with the Tate, with the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. And I think it is this dialogue between major international cultural organizations, this ingenuity that emerges through the synergies that will open at the National Museum of Contemporary Art, new doors, new possibilities.

And possibly, why not, possibilities for expansion to other areas. We are today in a unique property owned by the Greek Parliament. A space that is sure to have an important artistic imprint. Dimitris already intends to exhibit in this space, immediately, many of the important works which will be directed to museums abroad. It will be a first class opportunity for the residents of the capital to enjoy these projects before finding their permanent home.

Finally, and after thanking Dimitris again for this extremely generous gesture, I wish and hope that this act will find many imitators. We have many important collectors of contemporary art in our country. Not only contemporary art. We have many important collectors. And I really call on them to set an example by this energy and to reflect, to reflect on the present and the future of their collections.

And to think, perhaps, these young children who will come for the first time to visit the National Museum of Contemporary Art, in a public place of culture, and suddenly art will unlock in their soul other quests, other emotions. And it will become – as the Minister said – in practice what we all understand when we talk about this art: a universal language of communication and solidarity that we so desperately need today.

Again Dimitris, on behalf of the Greek government and I believe on behalf of all Greeks, those who love art, those who will love art having a greater familiarity with it, especially contemporary art with its difficulties and the need to overcoming the stereotypes possibly of the past, I really hope this move of yours finds many imitators. On behalf of the Greek Government again, we are grateful to you.

Thank you very much.”