Dimitris Daskalopoulos received the prestigious OBE distinction of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his contribution to the arts and charity.
Creator of the D.Daskalopoulos Collection and founder of NEON, the non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of contemporary art to the Greek public, Dimitris Daskalopoulos operates with the belief that art has the power to unite people, enrich everyday life, act as a catalyst for change and broaden cultural horizons.
In this context, it has developed extensive support for the arts in Greece and internationally for more than 25 years. This action culminated in April 2022 with the donation of 350 works from the D. Daskalopoulos Collection to four major museums (Tate, EMΣT, Guggenheim, MCA Chicago).
In the British art scene in particular, Mr.Daskalopoulos is a staunch supporter of art and through the Daskalopoulos Collection (1994) and its open lending policy, he has supported exhibitions in the UK, secured long-term loans of works and contributed to the joint acquisition and donation of works such as Cildo Meireles’ Babel (2001) to the Tate. He was appointed a member of the Tate International Council in 2004 and is a founding member of the White chapel Gallery’s Future Fund (2011), while thematic exhibitions of the D. Daskalopoulos Collection have been held at the White chapel Gallery, London (2010) and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh (2012). He has been a staunch supporter of permanent curatorial positions and teaching positions through funding at the above three organisations.
NEON’s exhibitions have included works and new commissions to British artists, including Antony Gormley at the Delos archaeological site, Richard Long and Michael Landy in Athens, which have addressed a wide international audience. NEON’s fellowship and curatorial exchange programmes in collaboration with the White chapel Gallery – as well as the Courtauld, Royal College of Art and London Metropolitan University – have enabled Greek students and curators to interact with their British colleagues and create relationships that will strengthen artistic links between the two countries in the future.
Through the donation of the Daskalopoulos Collection, TATE received 110 works by 53 artists, including works by artists who were not in its collections and which are now accessible to British and international audiences.
Mr Daskalopoulos’ philanthropic activities in relation to the creative arts and his contribution to British society have recently been recognised with the naming of the D.Daskalopoulos Gallery to the White chapel Gallery (2022) and the award of an honorary doctorate from Goldsmiths, University of London (2023).
More Information:
Leave A Comment