Anemomylos Association: Protection and restoration of the Phoenix Theatre
Phoenix Theatre
21 Aug 2019
/ 09:06
CORFU. Anemomylos Cultural Society is organising a public meeting to raise public awareness in order to save the Phoenix Theatre.
This is what Society President Pantelis Kontos said at yesterday's press conference at the Flaginio Cultural Centre. The subject of the meeting was "The present situation and the prospects for the restoration of the historical Phoenix Municipal Theatre".
He stressed that the only purpose of the public meeting is to protect the building - "in answer to those that ask - as their swan song - what we are trying to achieve now that the Phoenix has been included once again in the ESPA investment programme".
As well as Pantelis Kontos, former Corfu Mayor Sotiris Mikalef and Dr. Miltos Vassiliou also spoke.
The theatre, which has been declared a modern heritage site, was built in 1895. The restoration of the building, which is of particular architectular interest, was abandoned due to contracting problems in 2008.
The building is situated in the 'upper' square of the Venetian Raimondo Rampart (16th century) which is the northwestern defensive front of the Venetian perimetric town fortifications. The cinema annex of the building is also part of the fortified section of the rampart.
The contracting company abandoned the work after it had demolished the interior and since then the building has deteriorated over time.
The restoration work remains up in the air and bureaucratic obstacles have delayed any attempts to save the building for over a decade - with responsibility being constantly passed from one person or department to another.
Following its reinclusion in ESPA in 2014 the project was included in 2018 in the 2014-2020 business programme and six months ago the Town Council approved the 6m Euro budget funding.
In May, Corfu Inspectorate of Antiquities resumed the work that had been abandoned with the previous contractor. "I would like to remind you," said Mr. Kontos, "that we are at the starting line for the second time!"
The public meeting will take place at 20:30 on Wednesday 21 August at the Flaginio Cultural Centre. The following will be speaking: former Corfu Mayor Sotiris Mikalef, university lecturer Theodoros Pappas - a former President of Corfu DIPETHE (Municipal & Regional Theatres) and Dr. Miltos Vassiliou. Antiquities Inspectorate Director Tenia Rigakou has also been invited and her comments are awaited with great interest.
He stressed that the only purpose of the public meeting is to protect the building - "in answer to those that ask - as their swan song - what we are trying to achieve now that the Phoenix has been included once again in the ESPA investment programme".
As well as Pantelis Kontos, former Corfu Mayor Sotiris Mikalef and Dr. Miltos Vassiliou also spoke.
The theatre, which has been declared a modern heritage site, was built in 1895. The restoration of the building, which is of particular architectular interest, was abandoned due to contracting problems in 2008.
The building is situated in the 'upper' square of the Venetian Raimondo Rampart (16th century) which is the northwestern defensive front of the Venetian perimetric town fortifications. The cinema annex of the building is also part of the fortified section of the rampart.
The contracting company abandoned the work after it had demolished the interior and since then the building has deteriorated over time.
The restoration work remains up in the air and bureaucratic obstacles have delayed any attempts to save the building for over a decade - with responsibility being constantly passed from one person or department to another.
Following its reinclusion in ESPA in 2014 the project was included in 2018 in the 2014-2020 business programme and six months ago the Town Council approved the 6m Euro budget funding.
In May, Corfu Inspectorate of Antiquities resumed the work that had been abandoned with the previous contractor. "I would like to remind you," said Mr. Kontos, "that we are at the starting line for the second time!"
The public meeting will take place at 20:30 on Wednesday 21 August at the Flaginio Cultural Centre. The following will be speaking: former Corfu Mayor Sotiris Mikalef, university lecturer Theodoros Pappas - a former President of Corfu DIPETHE (Municipal & Regional Theatres) and Dr. Miltos Vassiliou. Antiquities Inspectorate Director Tenia Rigakou has also been invited and her comments are awaited with great interest.
