«A new museum policy that offers scientific support particularly in the design and creation of specialized museums mainly in the region, supports the Centre of Research of Greek Folklore of the Athens Academy within the framework of modernizing its functions and the redefinition of its role as a National Centre of Substantiation of Folklore Culture. For this reason, the attempt of significant Folklore and Cultural Associations is chosen to be supported. These Associations have the necessary structure for the operation of the Museum of Agricultural Equipment and Traditional Technology in Velestino, the Olives Museum in Kapsaliana, Arkadi, Crete and the Bread Museum in Amfikleia, Phiotida», stressed to an interview to «In-On» magazine, the Directress of the Centre of Research on Greek Folklore, Mrs. A. Kamilaki.Concerning the Bread Museum – she pointed out- which has already completed a year of operation, the specialized researchers and scientific collaborations of the Centre, taking into account the already rich collection of the local Cultural Association «Dadiotiki Estia» and in close cooperation with it, they created a museum within the bounds of «regional ethnography» with systematic research that gets information and documented material from oral tradition and bibliography.
The clear practical-narrative character of the exhibition constitutes a point of research, study, learning and recreation as well as social sensitivity and questioning.
Regarding the Olives Museum in Kapsaliana, Rethymnon, Crete, she referred that «during summer time the Greek Olives Museum in Kapsaliana, Rethymnon, in Crete will operate. The Museum is hosted in the newly-constructed building of the wine-mill in the monastery of Arkadi, 1763 by the Reverend Father Filaretos. It is located in the centre of a block of buildings, characterized as of «highly-cultural value» and its historical olive grove. The Centre of Folklore Attends the Museum scientifically. The building construction that is an exhibit itself consists of the cell of the monk-keeper, the place of production of the 1763 that was still in operation until the beginning of the 20th century, along with the storing place in the fort. The Museum is dedicated to the memory of the district and to the cultural heritage of the olive and olive oil».
It has to be noted –she underlined- that the founder of Greek Folklore, almost a century ago, was Nikolaos Politis. The «Material Politis» constitutes the first collection of manuscripts of the Centre, which was gathered under his own supervision. Since then, the treasure of the manuscripts has been collected, being constantly enriched by the regular or occasional missions of the Centre researchers for local research, annual competitions for selecting material and offers from friends of folklore.
Curriculum Vitae
Mrs. A. Polimerou-Kamilaki is a qualified scientist and Doctor of Philology (esp. Folklore) on the topic: «Neo-Hellenic Metrology.Traditional Weights and Measures, from 19th to 20th century».
Having been awarded a scholarship by the Gottfried von Herder Foundation of Hamburg and after being proposed by Dim. Sp. Loukatos, the Professor of Folklore and President the Greek Folklore Association, she realized postgraduate studies in Vienna. She is married to the researcher Pan. Kamilakis and she is the mother of two children.
Since 1974 she has been an editor (since 1992 a researcher) and since 1994 until today, an elected Directress of the Centre of Research of the Greek Folklore.
While being the Directress of the Centre, she tried to radically enhance the conditions of scientific work not only on the part of the researchers of the Centre but on the visitor researchers, as well, ensuring, among the first, the necessary updated equipment. Regarding the protection and preservation of the already valuable material of the Centre, manuscripts-files musical and museum relevant, she attempted and managed to create the necessary substructure, through the use of modern technical means. As for the realization of the program of reorganization and scientific exploitation of folklore treasure of the Centre, she made a proposition on the topic: «Development and Updating of the Library-Archives of the Centre of Research of Greek Folklore of the Athens Academy» This proposition is in the Β’ ΚΠΣ (ΕΠΕΑΕΚ). The approval of the program in focus in 1996, has allowed the Centre, along with moving building, to hope to proceed successfully in the field of research, study, projection and exploitation of the material of our culture. Under a new proposition in 2004, the Folklore Centre succeeded in being incorporated in the Program of the Society of Information on the topic: «Development of the National Centre of Substantiation of our Culture». This program has helped to digitize the entirety of the recorded and published material of the Centre of Folklore.