Official List of Cultural Organizations of the Ministry of Culture and Sports
Registration Number: 6927
The non-profit association of the Friends of Paxos was created on Paxos in 2015 by Faye Lychnou and Chris Boïcos.
The objective of the association is to initiate, encourage and organize cultural activities of every type on the island. FoP also produces Paxos Music Festival. FoP also collaborates extensively with associations and festivals in the Ionian Islands and in other parts of Greece.
The association encourages and participates in projects concerning the island’s architectural, cultural and natural patrimony, contributing in the realization of various projects at a time when public funds are limited in rural Greece.
Our first project, successfully completed in the summer of 2015, was the restoration of the bronze statue of Greek war of independence hero, George Anemoyiannis in Gaios. More projects like the restoration of fragile iconostases of Paxos’ historic 17th and 18th century churches (Agios Yiannis Pialouhes, Lambovitissa), the replanting of the yards of the old schools of Loggos and Lakka, the restoration of public spaces on the island like that of the Makris seafront park in Gaios, as well as the revival and signposting of the island’s footpaths’ network have been planned and realized by FoP and its members and volunteers in collaboration with local associations.
Currently FoP works together with the Cultural Association of Paxos to create a Gift Shop for the Folk Museum in Gaios.
The association is proud of its approximately 120 members from 14 different nationalities who contribute their talent, money and energy to the preservation and improvement of our beloved island.
Friends of Paxos founding members are:
Faye Lychnou lives and works on the island of Paxos where she is involved in many social and cultural activities. She was the Director of the Poseidon Municipal Cultural Association from 2006 to 2012, Director of the Social Welfare Association of Paxos (KIP Library) since 2009 and founder of the Paxos Book Club. She represents Paxos on the European Task Force Group of the Cultural Villages of Europe since 2004. She was a trustee of the Paxos Festival Trust and local producer of the Paxos Music Festival since 2006. She is a founding member of the non-profit Society of the Friends of Paxos (2015) and founding member of Paxos Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).
Chris Boïcos belongs to one of the oldest Paxos families. An art historian, university professor, lecturer on art and art dealer he is based in Paris, France and in Paxos. He has curated numerous gallery and institutional exhibitions of contemporary art in France, Great Britain, Greece and the United States. He is the founder and director of Chris Boïcos Fine Arts, an art gallery based in Paris and in Paxos in the summertime. He is a founding member of the non-profit Society of the Friends of Paxos.