Greece’s New National Museum of Contemporary Art To Open In July

Photo © fixit-emst.blogspot.gr

Photo © fixit-emst.blogspot.gr

It seems that the new National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST) at the former Fix brewery in Athens will open this summer after all, as construction has been completed and feverish preparations – legal and technical – are underway.

According to reports, Greek Culture Minister Panos Panagiotopoulos is in constant contact with EMST Director Anna Kafetsi and both are targeting for the museum’s inauguration to take place in July.

The aim is for the new EMST museum to be one of the Greek capital’s main attractions for Athenians and visitors this summer.

Reports suggest that the three-million-euro donation made last month by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation has sped things up.

Transformation from brewery to museum: a 14-year-old project

Photo © fixit-emst.blogspot.gr

The transformation of the old Fix brewery into the EMST museum has been in progress since the establishment of the museum in 2000. The project was delayed on many occasions and the renovation process was complex.

Until the building is ready to house EMST, the museum continues its operation at the Athens Conservatory, as it has since September 2008.

Last year, some 15,000 people visited the EMST’s exhibitions at its temporary premises. The operation of the new building is expected to boost the Museum’s popularity even further, due to its larger exhibition spaces and the additional complementary activities it will now be in a position to organize.

The EMST is the only state-run museum of contemporary Greek and international art in Athens.