For the first time, the Cycladic Shop is bringing to light the valuable collection of masterpieces of Greek cottage industry from the National Centre for Social Solidarity (E.K.K.A.), which has remained unavailable to the public since 2010.
The Museum of Cycladic Art has initiated a collaboration with the National Centre for Social Solidarity (E.K.K.A.), under the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family, to exclusively distribute and sell in the Cycladic Shop masterpieces of folk and traditional art that have remained undistributed to the public since 2010. This unique collection of handcrafted cottage industry works—including carpets, traditional kilims, embroideries, and tapestries—created by women from across Greece since the 1950s, is now emerging from storage to find a place in Greek homes. The collaboration was inaugurated by Mrs. Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotaki at a recent event.
The aim of this collaboration is to highlight the work of women from every corner of Greece, promote and protect intangible cultural heritage, and pass down folk art and tradition to younger generations.
Dozens of handcrafted items, featuring original designs and traditional techniques, will revive Greek cottage industry at the Cycladic Shop. The pieces are inspired by mythology, motifs from ancient Greek art and folk traditions, as well as works by Greek visual artists from the previous century. The decorative themes draw from the richness of Greek nature, ancient frescoes, traditional folk motifs, museum artwork details, Byzantine art themes, and reinterpretations of modern works.
All the items were created within the framework of the “Cottage Industry” program, a training and employment initiative for women in handmade carpet weaving, kilim-making, textile arts, and embroidery. The program operated from 1950 to 2010, contributing to the Greek economy while preserving folk art and tradition. At its peak, the program employed 5,000 independent craftswomen and operated 67 schools, retail shops, and sales points in Athens, Piraeus, Thessaloniki, and Corfu.
The Cycladic Shop will serve as a sales and distribution channel for these works, as part of a collaboration that will continue at least until the end of the year. According to the agreement, the Museum purchases the items from E.K.K.A., and E.K.K.A. subsequently determines their retail prices.
The exhibition will be accompanied by traditional ceramic works, children’s toys themed around Greek cottage industry, and books on Greek folk art.
E.K.K.A.: Preserving Tradition and Empowering Women Through Art
The National Centre for Social Solidarity (E.K.K.A.) was established in 2003 and currently operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family. E.K.K.A.’s collection of handicrafts originates from the former “Cottage Industry” program, which operated from the mid-20th century to the early 21st century. It was run by the former organizations EOP, EOKF, and IKPA, encompassing a wide-ranging initiative that provided training and professional employment for women in handmade carpet weaving, kilim-making, textile arts, and embroidery, as well as market distribution of their products.
The objectives of the “Cottage Industry” program were:
- The training and financial empowerment of women.
- The reduction of urban migration.
- The reduction of foreign exchange outflow by offering Greek handmade carpets and competitive local products instead of imported ones.
- The preservation and dissemination of folk art and tradition.
Through the distribution of these items at the Cycladic Shop, E.K.K.A. supports the promotion of textile art as part of the country’s intangible cultural heritage. In doing so, it ensures that this craft remains alive and accessible to younger generations while also advancing the social mission of cottage industry—creating job opportunities and supporting communities through artistic production.
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR SOCIAL SOLIDARITY
https://ekka.org.gr/index.php/en/
