Timeless Tradition

The Museum of Cycladic Art is proud to announce an exclusive collaboration with the National Centre for Social Solidarity (E.K.K.A.), part of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs. Through this partnership, the Cycladic Shop has become the sole distributor of E.K.K.A.’s exquisite folk and traditional textile pieces—handcrafted carpets, rugs, embroidery, and tapestries—crafted by skilled women from across Greece since the 1950s. These treasures, long hidden away in storage, are now available to adorn homes across Greece, celebrating the country’s rich cultural heritage.

This initiative not only showcases the extraordinary work of women artisans from every region of Greece, but also safeguards and promotes Greece’s intangible cultural heritage for future generations. By reviving and sharing these creations, the Cycladic Museum and E.K.K.A. hope to inspire a renewed appreciation for Greek folk art and craftsmanship.

A stunning selection of handmade textiles and decorative pieces highlighting the beauty and diversity of Greek cottage industry traditions will be available for purchase exclusively at the Cycladic Shop. These designs draw inspiration from ancient mythology, classical Greek art, folklore, and celebrated Greek artists of the 20th century. The motifs featured in these works range from depictions of Greece’s abundant natural landscapes and ancient frescoes to intricate Byzantine themes and contemporary interpretations of traditional patterns.

All of these handcrafted pieces originate from Greece’s historic “Handicraft” program, which ran from 1950 to 2010. This initiative provided training and professional employment for women in the creation of handmade carpets, rugs, textiles, and embroidery, contributing to the Greek economy while ensuring the preservation of folk art and tradition. At its height, the program supported 5,000 women, with 67 schools, shops, and distribution points in Athens, Piraeus, Thessaloniki, and Corfu.

As part of this new collaboration, the Cycladic Shop will serve as a vital distributor for these works, ensuring their accessibility to a wide audience. This initiative will run until at least the end of 2025 and will also feature a range of complementary offerings, including traditional ceramics, children’s toys inspired by the Greek cottage industry, and books on Greek folk art.

Established in 2003, the National Centre for Social Solidarity (E.K.K.A.) operates under the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs. The E.K.K.A. handicrafts collection originates from the former organizations National Welfare Organization (EOP), National Organization of Social Assistance (EOKF), and Patriotic Foundation of Social Protection and Perception (PIKPA), which managed the Cottage Industry program for several decades. This initiative played a critical role in both the training and employment of women artisans and in making Greek handcrafted products available to the domestic and international markets.

The core objectives of the Handicraft program included:
– Providing women with vocational training and economic empowerment
– Supporting local economies and discouraging urban migration
– Reducing dependence on imported goods by promoting Greek-made textiles
– Preserving and disseminating Greek folk art and traditional craftsmanship

Through the distribution of these artworks at the Cycladic Shop, E.K.K.A. continues to support the promotion of textile arts as an integral part of Greece’s intangible cultural heritage. This collaboration not only ensures the survival of these traditional skills, but also reinforces the social mission of cottage industries—creating employment opportunities, sustaining local communities, and fostering a deeper appreciation for Greek craftsmanship.