A Greek fiesta on International Museum Day (May 18) and beyond

International Museum Day has been celebrated worldwide on May 18 every year since 1977. The day is aimed at raising awareness on how important museums are in the development of society. Greece, a hub of culture, could not be missing from celebrations with a number of activities planned at museums around the country.

Industrial Gas Museum

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) has chosen the Industrial Gas Museum (Old Gas Factory, 100 Pireos Street, Technopolis, Gazi) as one of its honored cultural institutions. For this reason, there will be a number of events organized at the venue from May 15 through to May 24.

Friday, May 15

Educational activities on industrial culture – The conference kicks off at 5 p.m. at the amphitheater

Monday, May 18

Events kick off at 7 p.m. with speeches by representatives of the Industrial Gas Museum, ICOM, the Ministry of Culture and Municipality of Athens. Screening of short film, Gazi (1967), followed by music event by Crime Swing Investigation (C.S.I.).

Visitors can walk through an art exhibition featuring 30 works by children aged from 6-10 years in collaboration with the Museum of Greek Children’s Art.

Tuesday, May 19 – Friday, May 22 (5 p.m. to 8 p.m.)

* Tour around the museum (6.30 p.m. May 19)

* Round table discussion titled, “Industrial Gas Museum Backstage! (5 p.m. May 22) focuses on how the factory was transformed into a museum

* Tour around the museum (6.30 p.m., May 23)

* Storytelling for children aged from 5-12 years (noon to 2.30 p.m., May 23-May 24) 3 euros admission

* Special touch-smell tour (10 a.m. May 23) by Atenistas group

* Kids art event (10 a.m. to noon, May 24). Free participation, but call in advance to book a seat on 210 3312621 or 210 3312750

Byzantine and Christian Museum

The Byzantine and Christian Museum (Vas. Sofias Avenue) was the ICOM-honored museum last year, but is still jam-packed with events to celebrate its centenary. Participation is free, but educational programs need to be booked in advance on 213 2139507 (Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Saturday, May 16

Concert by Roma musicians, Sam Roma, at the museum’s beautiful courtyard at 8 p.m.

Sunday, May 17

10 a.m. 1.5-hour educational program, titled “I’ll go to the gardens”, for children aged from 7-10 years

11 a.m. 1-hour educational tour focused on daily items of worship in Byzantine homes for people aged over 13 years

noon – 1-hour educational tour titled, “Sounds of water at the Byzantine Museum”, for people over 13 years

noon – 1.5-hour workshop titled “The tree of life” for children aged from 10-12 years

1 p.m. – 1-hour educational tour on Byzantine cuisine for people aged from 13 years

Monday, May 18

Tours around the permanent exhibition at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m.

Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum (D. Areopagitou Street) is celebrating European Night of Museums on May 16 with a number of events.

Friday, May 16

Talks

A free talk on “Images, Beliefs, Cults” is part of the Museum’s alternating Saturday talks with presentations in Greek at 8.30 p.m. and 10.30 p.m. There will be 35 people per talk.

Music

A concert by the Dimitris Vasilakis’ Quintet at the museum’s courtyard at 9 p.m. with jazz, swing, lati, blues, fado and other music under the stars.

The museum’s doors will be open from 8 a.m. until midnight with free entrance for all guests.

Monday, May 18

The Acropolis Museum could not be absent from festivities to mark the European Day of Museums with a presentation of “The Crow and Other Birds” for adults at 10.30 a.m., 12.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. in Greek and 3 p.m. in English.

Young guests under the age of 12 will also be treated to a program focused on birds in antiquity as expressed through the museum’s artifacts.

The museum will be opened from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with free admission.

Medal

The Acropolis Museum has also created a commemorative medal for the day.

Entrance to events will be in order of priority with a limit of 35 guests. Visitors can pre-book on 210 900 0900.

Μuseum of Cycladic Art

A two-day festival at the Museum of Cycladic Art (4 Neophytou Douka Street, Kolonaki) for young and old.

Sunday, May 17

Storytelling for children from 11.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. at the Iasis exhibition on medicine in the ancient world. The tales will focus on medicine and will also include sign language so that children with hearing difficulties can participate.

To book a seat at the “Four elements of nature” children’s workshop at noon and 3 p.m., call 210 7294220.

Monday, May 18

Educational programs for the School of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. More info at 210 7239438.

A tour of the Iasis exhibition in sign language at 5.30 p.m.

A discussion on the present and future of archeological museums at 7 p.m. (5th floor)

Μuseum of Greek Children’s Art

Saturday, May 18

Apart from events at other museums, the Museum of Greek Children’s Art (9 Kodrou Street, Plaka) will also have events at its own venue. The book presentation titled “I’m an Artist” lnks reading with art and is followed by a workshop. Takes place at 10.30 a.m.-noon and from 12.30 p.m.-2p.m.) Book a seat at 210 3312621 and 210 3312750.

Οrganization of Culture, Sports and Youth of the Municipality of Athens

Saturday, May 16

Children from 5-7 years can attend an event at the Museum of Folk Art and Tradition “Angeliki Hatzimichali” (6 Angelikis Hatzimichalis St, Plaka) from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. focused on stressing the importance on museums in preserving cultural heritage. Call 210 3242987 to book a seat. The museum is also participating in Open House events from noon to 4 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Monday May 18

A tour of the Museum of Folk Art and Tradition “Angeliki Hatzimichali from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Events at the Melina Mercouri Cultural Center (66 Herakleidon Street, Thisseion) of the Municipality of Athens from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. focused on old professions in Athens and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Karaghiozis shadow puppetry. At 8 p.m. there will be a music event by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Athens.

A tour of the Eleftherios K. Venizelos at Eleftherias Park (near Athens Concert Hall, Megaron Mousikis) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Music events from the Philharmonic Orchestra of Athens with an outdoor concert.

A tour of the permanent collection of the Municipality of Athens Gallery (Metaxourgeio Building) at 7.30 p.m. culminates with the Municipality of Athens Big Band performance at 8.30 p.m.

Benaki Museum

A round table discussion dedicated to the Ethnological Museum of Thrace at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, at the museum’s main building (cnr of 1 Koumbari and Vas. Sofias sts) as part of a series of events seeking to honor and highlight the work carried out by culture organizations in the Greek provinces that focuses on the study and promotion of culture.
There will be talks about the Ethnological Museum of Thrace by: Olga Katziardi-Hering, Professor of Early Modern Greek History, University of Athens, Katerina Korre-Zografou, Professor of Folklore, University of Athens, Maya Tsoklis, Journalist, and Aggeliki Giannakidou, Founder – President of Ethnological Museum of Thrace

Foundation of the Hellenic World

Free admission to the FHW’s (254 Pireos St, Tavros) “Toy Stories” from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 17.