The Anastasios G. Leventis Foundation, which is a branch of the A. G. Leventis Foundation, was established in 1980, two years after the death of Anastasios G. Leventis. The Foundation was endowed with the transference to it of all the properties of the late Anastasios G. Leventis in Cyprus. It is also supported by an important annual contribution from the A. G. Leventis Foundation.
Recently the Foundation bought and restored a neoclassical house in Gladstonos Street to serve as the headquarters of the Foundation in Cyprus. In this way the Foundation rescued three important specimens of neoclassical architecture of the early 20th century in Nicosia, the other two heing that of the Archaeologiccil Research Unit of the University of Cyprus and that of the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia.
The Foundation restricts its activities to Cyprus, and specializes in the preservation and promotion of the historic and cultural resources of the island. Social welfare projects also fall within its domain.
The purview of the A. G. Leventis Foundation is very broad; it encompasses preservation of the natural environment, agricultural and technical education in West Africa, the granting of scholarships, financing of publications, the restoration, preservation and promotion of the wealth of Hellenic civilization in Creece, Cyprus and elsewhere as well as the promotion of activities for social welfare. Hundreds of Greeks and Cypriots have been educated at foreign universities. In recent years scholarships have been granted exclusively for post-graduate studies abroad and at the University of Cyprus, and numerous grantees have obtained post-graduate diplomas. The Foundation thus contributes decisively to the intellectual training of those who will play a leading role in education and science in Cyprus and abroad.
The Foundation contributes in various ways to the promotion and enhancement of the contemporary artistic scene in Cyprus. It also endorses the endeavours of other organizations on behalf of the cultural and scientific development of the island, furthering the vision of the creator of the Foundation.
The Foundation has focussed its activities on the culture and civilization of Cyprus in the belief that knowledge and exploitation of the cultural heritage of the island constitute a firm foundation for the future and for the preservation of the historic identity of Cyprus, particularly during the unfavourable times following the Turkish invasion of 1974.
The most direct concern of the Foundation with regard to the rescue of the cultural heritage of the occupied territory from looting and trading, is the repatriation of antiquities which appear in auctions abroad. Numerous important objects of ancient Cypriot art of all periods have been purchased by the Foundation and donated to the Cyprus Museum. The repatriation of antiquities stolen and exported abroad from the Hadjiprodromou Collection in Famagusta, occupied by the Turkish army since 1974, should also be noted.
The Foundation is also financing the preservation and enhancement of archaeological sites and historic monuments of all periods, as well as examples of vernacular architecture in collaboration with the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus. It contributes to the preservation of the Cypriot artistic heritage, including folk art, by the creation of museums, organization of exhibitions, publication of books, financing of excavations, preservation of archaeological sites, restoration of historic monuments, murals, mosaics, icons and iconostases.
The Foundation is also a major contributor to the restoration of ecclesiastical monuments, particularly those in poor communities in the countryside. Architectural restoration and conservation of wall paintings have been undertaken at many monasteries, churches and chapels, financed by the Foundation. More precisely the Foundation donates the greater part of the contribution that the communities have to pay from their own funds before they have the right to an equivalent contribution from the government. In 1996, the Foundation financed the restoration of five ecclesiastical monuments by the Department of Antiquities.
The Foundation is also a major contributor toward research into the history and artistic heritage of Cyprus, and to the study and the scientific or other exploitation and enhancement of this heritage. Financial encouragement is provided for research into archaeological and historical topics, and the Foundation also assists in the organization of international congresses, conferences and other events which aim to promote Cypriot civilization both at home and abroad.
In recent years the Foundation has made a major contribution to the newly established University of Cyprus. A neoclassical house was bought and restored in Gladstonos Street in Nicosia, and subsequently ceded to the University to house the Archaeological Research Unit.
From 1989 to 1994 the Leventis Foundation contributed as the main sponsor, together with the European Union, to the achievement of the goals of the Laona Project, a five year programme for the mild and sustainable development of the Laona region in the Akamas Peninsula. The project entails the financing of private citizens for the restoration and exploitation of their traditional dwellings; the restoration of public buildings and historic monuments was also financed in various villages in order to attract visitors. The Laona Project constitutes an example of alternative tourism within which, with the financial assistance of the Leventis Foundation, twenty six buildings were restored in five villages. Amongst these buildings are the Church of St. Catherine, the Centre for Environmental Studies and the fountains in Kritou Terra, the Information Centre at Kathikas, the Museum Garden at Pano Akourdalia and the Hostel Amarakos and the mill (partial restoration) with the house of the miller in Kato Akourdalia. Private dwellings were also restored in these villages and in Miliou for use both by the local inhabitants and by foreign visitors.
The Foundation partially finances the recording of the main collections of ancient Cypriot art in foreign museums and private collections. It has already commenced with the funding of the recording of the very important Cesnola Collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
The Foundation has also been extremely active in the creation of new museums. It has financed the acquisition and restoration of the building for the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia, in the old city, and of its subsequent organization. For the excellence of the display the Museum received the European Museum of the Year Award in 1992. The Foundation has also borne all the expenses for the creation of the Museum of Mycenaean colonization, built at the archaeological site of Maa-Palaeokastro. A museum is currently being established at Machairas Monastery. In mainland Europe, the Foundation has been involved with two major museums of international reputation, the British Museum in London and the Musée du Louvre in Paris:
The British Museum, London
Gallery of Cypriot Antiquities
The Gallery bears the name of Anastasios
G. Leventis, the visionary benefactor of the Foundation.
The Musee du Louvre, Paris.
Two Galleries of Cypriot Antiquities
Within the framework of the
reorganization of the collections of the Musée du Louvre, the museum's
Cypriot antiquities are displayed in two new galleries. This
reorganization, toward which the Leventis Foundation has made a
contribution, was completed in October 1997.
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (England).
Gallery of Cypriot Antiquities
A special gallery, created to house the Museum's Cypriot antiquities
in collaboration with the Director of the Museum, was financed by
the Foundation and bears the name of Anastasios G. Leventis.
Museum of Byzantine Art of Palaichori
A Museum of the ecclesiastical heritage of Palaichori was
established as a result of a contribution from the Foundation. It is
housed in an old building provided by the Parish of Chrysopantanassa,
and was completed in 1997.
In order to further the aim of the promotion of civilization in Cyprus, and particularly the history, literature and cultural heritage of Cyprus, the Foundation has embarked on a major publication programme encompassing numerous volumes which are displayed in the present exhibition. Publication of the research of other scientists, both in Cyprus and abroad, has also been financially assisted by the Foundation.
In addition, the Foundation is editing a series of volumes entitled "Literature of Ancient Cyprus", under the the general supervision of Patroklos Stavrou. The first volume has already been published, and two others are to be edited before the end of 1996.
A complete Publications Catalogue is available on-line.
The Leventis Foundation has also been involved in a wide variety of projects in Greece. It has undertaken the consolidation of the ruins and the partial restoration and presentation of the ancient Odeon of Thessaloniki, the partial restoration of the early Christian basilica II at Philippoi, the protective roofing of the mosaic floors of the Oktagonon at Philippoi, as well as the partial restoration of monuments around the temple of Apollo at Delphi. It has financed the creation of a didactic museum at the archaeological site of Dion.
It also finances the organization of congresses, exhibitions, publications and other cultural events related to Hellenic civilization. It provides financial support for archaeological excavations and visits of academicians and study trips of university students in Cyprus. It further supports university and other public libraries in Greece.
In addition to the activities related to the cultural heritage of Cyprus outlined above, the Leventis Foundation also contributes to various projects of social benefit in the sphere of health and social welfare. Since 1989 it has been one of the main supporters of the Cyprus Foundation for Muscular Dystrophy Research and The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics. The annual donations, amounting to around £C 64,000, have contributed substantially to the provision of new specialized services and to the development of research programs. More specifically, diagnosis of difficult cases of epilepsy in children has been achieved as a result of the purchase of equipment for 24 hour electroencephalography; hundreds of patients have been served in this way. Important international publications have also resulted from research programs financed by the Leventis Foundation.
The Foundation financed the establishment of the Home of the Aged in collaboration with Archbishop Makarios III, and it continues to endorse it. It also founded the Department of Intensive Care in Limassol General Hospital.
Among the on-going activities of the Foundation, the following project is envisaged:
Machairas Monastery Museum
A sizable part of the west wing of the Monastery is being renovated to
house the Monastery's Museum, with the assistance of a donation from the
Foundation. Displays of Byzantine and post-Byzantine art from the
thousand year history of Machairas will be exhibited in this Museum that
will open in 1999.