The operation of the Museum Network and PIOP’s coordinated activities in all its infrastructures contribute significantly to the following:
a) The promotion of the Greek cultural heritage and the coupling of culture with the environmental and sustainable development
b) The highlighting of traditional crafts and the intangible cultural heritage of Greece, thus supporting employment, tourism, the economy and the development of local communities in general
c) The creation of venues for culture and lifelong learning and the organization of cultural, scientific and educational activities
The Network comprises nine (9) thematic Museums which safeguard and highlight the local technical tradition and industrial production, as well as the material and intangible cultural heritage.
With the operation of the Museum Network, apart from increasing tourist traffic in remote areas, PIOP also contributes to the economic development of local communities by creating jobs. At the same time, most of the goods and products sold in the canteens and shops of the Museums, are sourced from the local market. The employees of the Museums live in the area where each Museum is located and receive regular training in order to improve the services provided to visitors. The number of visitors to the Museums is associated with the support to local communities, where people acknowledge the positive effects in the promotion of their cultural identity and the stimulus to their economy, as well as the constant renewal of cultural activities through temporary exhibitions, lectures, workshops and various other events.
The social role of museums is enhanced and multifaceted. Apart from being a vehicle of values and ideas, a museum promotes cultural goods and preserves cultural heritage for future generations, raises public awareness and addresses a variety of social groups (e.g. the elderly, people with disabilities, people on the autism spectrum). In particular, PIOP's Museums contribute to the economy of the regions that host them.
The economic impact is not limited to the activity during the construction of building infrastructure and the jobs related to the staff of a museum. The museum generates income and employment in the sectors involved in the museum's supply chain of goods and services. In addition, the income generated is directly or indirectly channelled into consumption, generating additional activity in the economy. Finally, the operation of cultural sites helps to upgrade the image of the wider region and attracts visitors, leading to an increase in tourism and demand for the products and services offered in these areas, as demonstrated by two studies conducted by the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research on the economic and social impact of PIOP's Museums on local communities in 2016 and 2019.
After research about the economic and social impact of the Museums’ operation on local societies, carried out by the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research, the following results were found in 2019: