Thanos Mikroutsikos is one of the leading composers of popular, classical and contemporary music in Greece. He was born at Patras in 1947. STUDIES Thanos Mikroutsikos started his music studies early in his childhood. After finishing his studies in theory and piano at Patras' Philharmonic Society and at the Hellenic Conservatory, he continued with composition studies with professor-composer G.A.Papaioannou. Meanwhile, he had moved to the capital where he graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics of the University of Athens. At the age of 21, he started his composing career that includes operas, chamber music, symphonic music, music for the theater, electronic music, songs, etc. ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES In the 27 years of his career in music, Thanos Mikroutsikos has recorded 30 LPs and CDs and composed about 500 songs. He has also composed 33 works of classical music and music for 4 movies, cooperating with leading record companies such as SONY, CBS, LYRA, ENM, MINOS-EMI, etc. Furthermore, he has cooperated with various Greek and foreign directors composing music for 47 theatrical plays that were presented all over the world. During his long career he has participated in dozens of International Music Festivals and has given hundreds of concerts in Greece and all over the world. A great number of leading orchestras and chamber groups from all over the world has performed his works. Thanos Mikroutsikos is a member of the Greek Music Association and the Greek Composers' Federation. He is also the founder of the Patras' International Festival and its artistic director from 1986 to 1990. From 1990 to 1993 he had been the artistic director of the "Mousiko Analogio" (Music-Stand) at the Athens Concert Hall. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES Apart from his artistic activities, Thanos Mikroutsikos has been involved in Greece's political life since the 60's. During the turbulent years of the military dictatorship (1967-1974), he was persecuted by the junta regime for his anti-dictatorial activities and ideas. When the junta collapsed he continued being actively involved in politics, especially in the first years after the restoration of democracy. After the elections of October 1993 he was appointed by the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) which formed the new government, as Alternate-Minister of Culture with late Melina Mercouri as Minister. On March 16, 1994, after the death of Melina Mercouri, he was appointed Minister of Culture. He remained at this posistion until January of 1996. WORK AT THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE The administrational policy line of Thanos Mikroutsikos at the Ministry of Culture was based on the following keystones: The realization of the National Cultural Network of the Cities (NCNC), a project inaugurated in November 1993. The NCNC's objective is to create international level's institutions and provide for the necessary infrastructure in the Greek periphery. NCNC is the biggest project ever developed for the periphery's cultural upgrading. In the project's framework, an Information System, will be developed to connect Greek cities with other cities in Greece and abroad. The pilot program of the Information System is the pivotal point and the moving force of this Internet server. The formation of national integrated policy lines in every cultural field. The modernization and upgrading of the departments under the Ministry of Culture's jurisdiction, the modification of their legal and institutional status and the creation of new flexible institutions. The elaboration and materialization of pilot programs for the cultural heritage. The creation of an electronic cultural chart of Greece through Internet.