The Bicentennial "Initiative 1821-2021" (Protovoulia '21) was established in view of the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution of 1821 and is the result of sustained collaborative efforts made by the following institutions and foundations: the National Bank of Greece, the Marianna V. Vardinoyiannis Foundation, the Eugenides Foundation, the B & M Theocharakis Foundation for the Fine Arts & Music, the Captain Vassilis & Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation, the J. F. Costopoulos Foundation, the Social and Cultural Affairs Welfare Foundation (KIKPE), the Lambrakis Foundation, the A.C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation, the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, the A.G. Leventis Foundation, the Athina I. Martinou Foundation, the Bodossaki Foundation, the Foundation for Education and European Culture, the Michael N. Stassinopoulos - VIOHALCO Public Benefit Foundation and the Onassis Foundation.
The aim of the joint program is to highlight the way in which the anniversary of the Revolution will be an occasion for national reflection and an inspiration for the future. The National Bank of Greece and the 17 public benefit, cultural, and academic institutions in cooperation with more than 75 institutions in Greece and abroad, presented - after more than two and a half years of preparations - a cohesive programme including more than 130 initiatives emphasising on science, cultural heritage, music and the arts in general, as well as on the future prospects of the country.
From October 2020 to September 2022, in cooperation with academic, research and cultural institutions, conferences, publishing programmes, historical and art exhibitions, as well as musical performances were organised. The Bank and the various Foundations also supported educational and research programs and scholarships. Meanwhile abroad, in countries that played a role in supporting the Greek Revolution (e.g. France, Switzerland, the UK, Italy, Germany, and Canada), academic and cultural bodies planned a variety of events, including concerts, conferences and exhibitions to commemorate the Bicentennial, again in collaboration with the Bank and the Foundations, as part of their planned objectives.
Each Foundation and the Bank shall maintain their character, autonomy and goals and support initiatives that match their priorities, with a common vision for the promotion in Greece and abroad of an example of cooperation, dialogue and unity.
Further information on "Protovoulia '21" is available here.