Free entry to museums and galleries has been a major policy supporting the familiarisation of certain groups to cultural heritage assets:
- children and adolescents up to the age of 18 years;
- students of higher education institutions;
- unemployed people;
- those serving their military service;
- employees of the Ministry of Culture and of the Archaeological Receipts Fund; and
- tourist guides and journalists.
In addition, museums are free for all visitors on Sundays during the low-season. Those over the age of 65 pay a reduced price. Lower income workers and their families have access to reduced theatre tickets under a scheme operated by the Ministry of Labour. Other relevant schemes include free guides in museums, as well as free visits to museums by schools, etc.
A formal selection process granting subsidies to the entire scope of independent cultural organisations has been recently re-established adopting more transparent and rational criteria, based on an evaluation of past performance and proposed plans. The process is based on voluntary listing and submission of relevant information in an online register of cultural organisations, managed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Book publishing, theatre, music and other performing arts productions, benefit from state subsidies, not only from the Ministry of Culture but also from other ministries (e.g., in the form of bulk purchase of books for libraries, or of theatre tickets for distribution to lower income employees).
Support for the production of several feature films, short films and documentaries is provided by the Greek Film Centre. In addition, TV channels are required to provide a subsidy for the promotion of cinema, a measure adhered to in practice only by the public broadcasting corporation ERT. The production of Greek films is supported by the state through the Greek Film Centre. Distribution and screening of quality films, as well as open air cinemas, are supported through a countrywide network of municipal cinemas.
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