Since 2019, the Museum has opened 26 new or fully renovated museums across the country, introducing a range of fresh services and tour experiences, thanks to the Ministry of Culture.
This initiative is transforming Greece’s museum landscape, featuring important institutions such as the National Gallery and the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Athens, as well as the Archaeological Museum of Chalkida in Arethusa, the Diachronic Museum of Tilos, the Polygyros Archaeological Museum, and the Museum of the Cave of Petralona in Halkidiki. It also includes the Polycentric Museum in Aigai, the Archaeological Museums in Alexandroupolis and Samothrace, along with the Museums in Agios Nikolaos, Chania, and Mesara in Crete, the Archaeological Museum of Delos, and the Archaeological Collection of Sami in Kefalonia.
Officials from the Ministry of Culture highlighted their commitment to creating museums that resonate with both the mind and soul. They emphasized the need for museums to be open, accessible, engaging, and inclusive. In today’s world, museums serve a multifaceted social role, demanding that they continually adapt and evolve to meet societal needs. Their effectiveness relies on their incorporation into daily life and public discourse.
According to YPTO officials involved in museum infrastructure, museums should educate, inspire, and evoke emotion and empathy while ensuring operational efficiency and sustainability. The success of museums in society hinges on their ability to swiftly and effectively develop and implement new strategies.
To address contemporary demands, the Ministry of Culture launched the “Hellenic System for the Recognition and Certification of Museums” in 2020, introducing a comprehensive process for self-assessment, which is a pioneering model at the European level.
Currently, projects are underway to establish and reopen an additional 28 museums, with ongoing developments from this year through 2028. These include the National Museum of Underground Antiquities in Piraeus, the Old Acropolis Museum, the Museum of Metro Finds, the Museum of Refugee Hellenism at the former Pavlos Melas Camp in Thessaloniki, and three museums at the former Pavlos Melas Camp. Additional museums are planned for Chios, Argos, Halki, and Agathonisi, with completion expected in 2026, as well as Archaeological Museums in Trikala, Argostoli, Sparta, Komotini, Naxos, Chora in Messinia, Agrinio’s Papapetrou’s Warehouses, and the Museum of the Little Zone Hatchet in Evros.
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