Director: Dr. Maria Chnaraki (Official Representative)
Ethnomusicologist, Folklorist & Cultural Anthropologist (M.A., Ph.D.)
Drexel University (Philadelphia-USA) Professor
Scientific Consultant, Office of the Governor, Region of Crete
Official Representative, World Council of Cretans
President of the Board: Mr. Emmanuel Kugiumutzis
Dr. Maria Chnaraki
Region of Crete: Eleftherias Sq., 71201, Heraklion
Tel: +2813 400375
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Foundation Background
Click here for the statute (in Greek)
Objectives
• The preservation of the ancestral cultural heritage, the democratic traditions of the Cretan people and the organization of cultural events in order to preserve the customs and practices of our People.
• Promoting the idea of Syncretism of all Cretans and defending the interests of Crete and Hellenism in general.
• The preservation of history, the cultural tradition of Crete and its transmission to the younger generations as well as to the communities where Cretans live and work.
• Co-operation and coordination for the two-way exchange of ideas, technology and scientific know-what and- how to better address our common problems and the economic growth of Crete, always with respect to our cultural heritage.
• Defending Greece and Hellenism in general in any legitimate way when its interests are at stake.
Research Subjects/ Fields
[a] Organizing a variety of events and activities in collaboration with its members, on an annual basis.
[b] Moral and material support of its member federations.
[c] Coordination and supervision of its member federations and working with them to better organize, disseminate and develop syncretism and to assist in their work for better operational and financial management.
[d] Empowerment of its members in each geographical region and venture participation in cultural and social activities of interest in history, tradition, the environment and civilization.
[e] Cultivation and consolidation of cooperative, fraternal, solidarity, mutuality relations towards its members, as well as among its member-organizations.
[f] Liaison operation of Association between Ministries, Regional Authorities, Municipalities, Institutions of Tertiary Education in Greece and abroad, the Church, International Organizations (EU, UNESCO and other cultural and development agencies) in order to promote issues of the Region of Crete.
[g] Extrovert promotion of Crete, its customs and manners, as well as its products and its very valuable scientific and educational activities and achievements.
(BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2017 – 2020) Manolis Kugiumutzis (Germany) President (Europe), Dr. Argyri-Parasyri Bauer (Germany) Vice-President (Europe), Stavros Perdikis (Belgium) Secretary General (Europe), Alexandra Saridaki (Luxembourg) Treasurer (Europe), Yannis Nikolakakis (Melbourne) Vice President of Australia, Maria Vamvakis (Ohio) Vice President of America, Stavros Antonakakis Public Relations & Press (America), Ioannis Datseris Dean (America), Fotini Parliarou Member (Australia), Maria Stratoudaki Member (America), Andreas Parliaros Member (Australia), Dr. Maria Chnaraki Official Representative, Adjunct Professor in Drexel University
Research Projects (after 2010)
Ιnteractive Cultural Information System of the Holy Monastery of Arkadi.
Research and documentation for the creation of a Center for Music-Dance-Singing Cretan tradition
Events
-2016 Tri-annual World Conference on for Cretans at Rethymno
http://wcc8.blogspot.com/
- 5 Aug: Guided tour & book presentation at the Natural History Museum of Crete, at 10 am, in Greek and English.
- 4 Aug: General Assembly "House of Culture" – Rethymno
-4 August: The Cultural Night of the Cretan World Council will be held at the Manos Hadjidakis Theater, at Heraklion, on Saturday, August 4th.
- 28 Jul: Theatrical Performance "Eros in Crete" (based on texts by Pandelis Prevelakis). Theater of Crete, Bethlehem Gate. Co-organized by the Region of Crete and the Municipality of Heraklion.
- 19 Jul: 4 Traditions of Mandolin in Greece
A Musical Journey from Asia Minor to Athens ... and from the Ionian Islands to Crete
International Events
-Erotokritos at the National Heritage Directory to the UNESCO World Directory (http://ayla.culture.gr/2990-2/)
- Concentration of Medical Material for Crete
