Association "SKOYFAS” was founded in Arta in 1896 from persons that aimed in the offer of cultural work in the society of Arta and wider region, moved from clearly unselfish love for their city and their fellow-citizens.

From 1896 up to today the offer of Association  "SKOYFAS"  existed very important. Played a leading part in each national, social, intellectual and cultural event of Arta and Prefecture more generally. Big also existed his attendance in events in all Greece and the abroad. In his 110 years of life it collaborated with intellectual and cultural institutions of our country and offered appreciable intellectual and cultural work. It has organised in collaboration with the Local Self-government international and Pan-Hellenic congresses, as well as the annual Pan-Hellenic festival of traditional dances for the youth.All the events are connected with the history and the culture of our region, as well as with the tourism and the environment. 

For his offer was rewarded:

- from the Athens Academy in 1975,

- from the international folklore festival of youth of Ipirus in 1985,

- from the international folklore festival of youth in the Catania Sicily in 1987,

- from the University of Ioannina in 1997,

- from the Intellectual Association "PARNASSOS " Athens and

- from the Panipirotiki Confederation of Greece.

 The "SKOYFAS” is accomodated in privately-owned building, that is found in the central square of city and in which, except the offices of Association, exists also  room of lectures and theatre of  capacity of 300 places and covers the needs of Association  and the needs of all social institutions of our region.

After studies and in collaboration with the Ionian University and Universities of Down Italy it organised two museums, that are accomodated in privately-owned preservable buildings: the Folklore Museum that is found behind the Old Bridge and the Historical Museum, opposite from the Byzantine church of Parigoritissa.

Allocates and functions Library with 25.000 books, unique in the city of Arta and from most appreciable Pan-Hellenic because the most infrequent publications. It is accomodated in rented building. It collaborates with Academic and Technological Institutions of Greece and him they visit professors and students from various Universities of country, as well as professors of Universities of abroad for their scientific and postgraduate work. It collaborates also with schools of our city that materialise European programs with the attendance of young persons. 

For the distribution of action the Association function the following departments: 

-  MUSICAL FACULTY AND BAND

-  DEPARTMENT OF TRADITIONAL DANCES 

- DEPARTMENT CHORAL AND BYZANTINE MUSIC

-  THEATRICAL DEPARTMENT

-  DEPARTMENT FJLOLOGJKO 

- DEPARTMENT of PUBLICATIONS  (from 1955 publish the scientific magazine "Skoufas" historical and folklore content, live expression of intellectual searches and reflections of all intellectual life of Arta.)

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