A Greek initiative called "Culture Absent" advocates for the strengthening of cultural content in public television, highlighting the absence of Greek documentaries as a threat to the country's cultural heritage.
The initiative "Culture Absent" launched by the Association of Greek Documentary (EEN) has garnered over 1500 signatures, aiming to enhance the presence of Greek documentaries and cultural content on public television. This initiative, which was publicized online and in various media on January 19, highlights a significant concern regarding the diminishing cultural programs aired by ERT, Greece’s public broadcaster. The document accompanying the initiative stresses the vital need for preserving the cultural heritage of Greece, cautioning that the current state could undermine this legacy.
The EEN urges supporters who desire a contemporary, pluralistic public television that reflects modern reality and fulfills its constitutional role. The association is calling for organized efforts to secure cultural programming on ERT. The absence of Greek documentaries in recent years not only affects creators and artists but also poses a challenge to the proper operation of ERT's Archives, which hold crucial contributions to Greece's audiovisual memory.
Overall, this initiative reflects a broader concern about the role of media in cultural preservation and the responsibility of public broadcasters to promote and protect the cultural output of their countries. As the debate over cultural priorities continues, the push to reintegrate documentaries into public television could signal a shift toward greater recognition of the arts in media policy and societal values.
