Benaki Museum director, Angelos Delivorias, steps down after 41 years

As director of the museum for the last four decades, Delivorias oversaw its expansion with the opening of new departments in other parts of the capital, the enrichment of its collections, the presence of the Museum abroad through several exhibitions, as well as its economic demise in recent years, due to the economic crisis.

Apart from the main building housing collections tracing Greek history from antiquity until modern times, the Museum opened its Pireos Street annex, showcasing modern art, the Museum of Islamic Art and the Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika Gallery, housed in the former home of its famous namesake Greek painter.

"I dreamed of Greek timelessness, with all that this entails: the Greek language, the Greek soul," Delivorias said, visibly moved, in his farewell speech during a last-minute press conference.

He said he formed a proposal for the national role the Museum should play, "but unfortunately the Greek state didn't realise the importance of this proposal which, at the end of the day, was an international first for a museum."

"On the contrary, year after year, state funding diminished towards Benaki with the well-known unpleasant results," he added.

Benaki's financial woes are essentially due to the reduction of state subsidies, which have tumbled since 2010.

Delivorias will take a place in the administrative committee of the museum, replacing Marinos Geroulanos who is stepping down.

"We owe him everything," the President of the Administrative Committee Emilia Geroulanou said in her speech. "I know very well Angelos wanted to end his tenure differently. I know he had been incredibly burdened in the past few years when the Museum had to cut down on its staff and opening hours."

The Museum's administration said they are now looking for his replacement but will take their time finding the right person. "We will choose the best. We will take as much time as needed," Geroulanou said.