Tip of the day 18/5/2023 – International Museum Day

• May 18, 2023

The International Council of Museums (ICOM), wishing to highlight the role of museums in modern society, designated 18 May as International Museum Day in 1977. The message of this anniversary is “to make museums the agents of cultural exchange, with a view to the development of education and mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples”. Admission to the museums is free.

18 May is dedicated each year to a specific theme relating to museums and the protection of cultural heritage. The theme of this year’s celebration (2023) is: “Museums, Sustainability and Quality of Life”. In choosing this year’s theme, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOM) seeks to highlight the role and power of museums in achieving the goals of sustainability and improving the quality of life of society as a whole.

The Greek Section of ICOM has chosen the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation as its honoured institution for 2023, particularly appreciating its scientific, educational and cultural work, as well as its contribution to the promotion of the visual arts at national and international level.

One of them, Acropolis Museum, according to annual survey of Visitor Figures of The Art Newspaper showing  the attendance and popularity of museums around the world, is the only Greek museum on the list between the world’s 100 museum. To be more specific it is in 27th place  with 1,451,727 visitors, a big increase in attendance from 2021, when it had 547,910 visitors, was in 46th place and recorded a 69% increase compared to 2020. Louvre still holds the scepter of visitor numbers again this year on the top of the list.

To celebrate International Museum Day 2023, the National Gallery is organizing a multidisciplinary walk in its garden, entitled “Multiple Narratives of the National Gallery Garden Architecture, Agriculture, Outdoor Sculpture”.

Another interesting museum that you could visit in Athens is Museum of  Cycladic Art, that will remain open until 22:00 and the public will be able to visit the temporary exhibition “Turning. Cycladic treasures on their return journey” as well as the new exhibition “ReThinking-Social Conflicts” which starts on Thursday. The Cycladic Shop and the Cycladic Café will also remain open until 22:00.

And as the city of Athens has more than 70 museums, but most of the travellers visits only few of them, here is a list with the majority of the museums of the Athens, so at your next visit you will be more organized!

So, how many of them have you already visited?