Designed by internationally renowned architect Renzo Piano, the SNFCC is an architectural masterpiece that continues to evolve, to expand its offerings, and to embrace and be embraced by the public. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), which envisioned and created the SNFCC, has supported it every step of the way, and today—six years after its delivery to the Greek state and the people of Greece in February 2017—the Foundation is reupping its support through a new grant totaling up to €30 million ($32 million) over next three years.

Recognizing the multitude of ways in which the SNFCC serves society at large, SNF remains, to the extent of its capabilities, its constant and ardent supporter—but also a supporter of the important effort that the organization is making to secure resources beyond SNF grants that will ensure its long-term financial sustainability. In this context, it is particularly encouraging to see that the Greek state is committed to increased financial support for the SNFCC that will contribute significantly to ensuring that the SNFCC continues to operate smoothly in the coming years.

“We are particularly pleased that the Greek state also embraces and recognizes the value of the SNFCC, and that through funding from it too the organization will continue to perform its important role as an evolving, sustainable, and universally accessible public space,” said SNF Co-President Andreas Dracopoulos. “This collaboration reinvigorates the concept of public-private partnership in practice, which we believe will give the SNFCC the opportunity to keep on being a unique destination and integral part of everyday life for everyone, and to activate even more of its potential as a modern Agora in constant dialogue with the Greek and international community.”

The new SNF grant to the SNFCC, for March 2023 through February 2026, will be used primarily to cover operating and programming costs, and will be allocated in stages based on the needs outlined by the organization—€10 million in the first year and €9 million in each of the following two years. Additionally, SNF is prepared to allocate a further €2 million, for a total of €30 million, provided that the SNFCC furnishes matching funds for the maintenance of its facilities.

From the conception of the idea through 2026, SNF will have given a total of €641 million ($773 million) to the SNFCC. These grants largely supported the construction of the cultural center, but have also gone toward operating costs, events, and additional programming and infrastructure to further enhance the SNFCC’s work. SNF also actively supported the National Library of Greece (NLG) and the Greek National Opera (GNO) in their transition to their new home at the SNFCC.

Source: SNF