The Ileana Tounta Contemporary Art Center (ITCAC) was founded in 1988 in Athens, at an old industrial building at 48, Armatolon & Klefton Str. (Ampelokipi district). It was the first cultural center in which, besides the exhibition hall, bookshop and café, there was also an Art & Technology Department in operation (for hosting new media, photography and video art exhibitions). ITCAC presented also music, theatre and poetry related events on a daily basis (the events' programme was regularly distributed, together with the invitations of the art exhibitions).
Since its establishment, the Centre's principal aim has been the promotion of contemporary Greek art in Greece and abroad. Thus, it mainly focused on organizing exhibitions of Greek and foreign artists, cooperated with European galleries and often participated in international art fairs. It also introduced to the Greek public important Greek visual artists who only worked overseas (Antonakos, Coulentianos, Dafnis, Danil, Molfesis, Stamos, et al), by organizing and presenting their solo exhibitions.
Between 2001 and 2003, the Center was renovated, maintaining only the unique facade of the old building. During its renovation, the gallery moved to Ileana Tounta Con-Temporary, a temporary project space at 20, Armatolon & Klefton Str.
The Center reopened in 2003 at its fully renovated building, which includes two exhibition halls on the ground and first floor, as well as an art shop with books and art objects. During its second period, since 2003, ITCAC focuses primarily on the promotion of Greek and foreign young artists. By organizing mixed group exhibitions that include both Greek and international artists, it seeks to endorse an exchange of ideas between the domestic and the international art production. It also collaborates with foreign art organizations and showcases exhibitions that disseminate the contemporary artistic styles and trends of other countries (i.e. Denmark, Germany, America, The Netherlands, etc.). Furthermore, it supports curatorial activity by maintaining an open collaboration policy towards both Greek and foreign curators, while it occasionally hosts cultural events, lectures, discussions and performances.