Cultural policy and public engagement with modern architectural heritage in Greece: An empirical analysis

This article examines public engagement with cultural heritage in Greece, specifically focusing on modern architectural monuments dating from the post-1830s. These monuments, hastily and unplannedly added to Greece's monumental reserves since the 1950s, form the core of this study. I analyse the cultural policy that influenced public reception, reactions, and interactions with heritage preservation efforts in Greece from the 1970s to the 2010s. My empirical data is drawn from twenty years of work with the interested public and my involvement with national and local heritage management authorities across Greece. The conclusions indicate that the stringent legal framework for heritage protection has alienated the public from preservation efforts, fostering either passive attitudes or opportunistic engagement driven by economic gain. This multifaceted response to cultural policy has contributed to the precarious condition of modern heritage in contemporary Greece. • The paper examines the impact of Greek cultural policy (1970s–2010s) on public engagement with modern architectural heritage, focusing on post-1830s urban heritage, emphasizing interwar architecture. • It utilizes ethnographic data from 20 years of professional experience and archival case studies. • Reveals how legal frameworks and economic crises have hindered public involvement in the preservation of this awkward addendum in the Greek monimental repository and advocates for participatory policies, economic incentives, and systematic approaches to safeguarding modern heritage.