French philhellene named special Culture Ministry adviser

French philhellene Olivier Descotes, former head of the French Institute in Athens, was named on Tuesday as special adviser to Culture Minister Aristides Baltas after resigning from the helm of the Benaki Museum, a post he had assumed earlier this year.

According to Tuesday’s announcement, the French Culture Ministry official will be assisting Baltas in planning cultural policy and more specifically in promoting Greek cultural output abroad.

Descotes had stepped into the shoes of long-time Benaki director Angelos Delivorias earlier this year, in a move that was hailed by the Greek art world as turning over a new leaf in the prestigious museum’s history.

Last Friday, however, the Benaki issued an announcement saying that the museum’s board and Descotes “reached a mutual decision” to end their partnership. It did not elaborate on the decision.