Article for Greek Business Publication
Benaki Musuem – won’t let bygones be bygoneThe oldest museum in Greece, the Benaki Museum includes some of the most significant artifacts from Greece’s heritage, is constantly enriched by its many benefactors, and remains an important part of the nation’s collective history.
Items from as early as 2,500 BC were brought together by the patriotic Benaki family during the 19th to mid-20th centuries. Under the attention of the socially and culturally minded Antonis Benakis, the collection was donated in 1926 to the Greek state, when it became the Benaki Museum. Today, the museum is thriving, with three branches currently open in Athens, and further extensions planned for the future. The philanthropic aims of its founder are still central to the museum’s ethos, which implements the educational and cultural role of the collection within Greece and the world at large, making use of available technologies.
A spectacular glimpse at Greece’s past
Over 30,000 exhibits originate from antiquity and the Roman empire, to medieval Byzantine period, from the fall of Constantinople and Frankish-Ottoman rule, to independence in the 19th Century and the formation of the modern Greek State, and the Asia Minor disaster. The museum also contains an important collection of Islamic art, artifacts from ancient China, a history of children’s toys featuring 15,000 items, the N. Hadjikyriakos Ghikas Gallery and the collection of Coptic art, featuring a remarkably rich examples. In addition, the collection features a photographic archive, and a historical documents department.
The main Greek collection is housed in the famous neo-classical mansion of the Benaki museum, with its recently added wing, which has doubled the Museum's available space to 7000 m2 on five integrated interior floor levels and two basements.
The Museum’s Islamic collection has been moved to a group of buildings in the Kerameikos district of Athens, currently undergoing restoration, and the Department of Historical Archives is now housed at the house of Penelope Delta (Antonis’ sister, and popular Greek children’s author) in Kifissia.
From Mycenae to Milan
As an example of the museum’s innovative approach, its textile collection received international exposure through the European programme Tissus, where fashion experts from all over the world were able to gain access to the museum’s collection on the Internet. The Benaki Museum plans further development of its photographic archive, with the commissioning of new work, and digitization of the entire collection, which offers another rich resource for the Museum. In 1996-7, the museum also participated in Oikos, with the Museum of Oxford and Museum of Setubal (Portugal), aimed at celebrating everyday objects from across European culture.
The groundbreaking approach is part of the museum’s history. Benaki Museum was the first Greek museum to offer educational schemes for children, and its specialist education department maintains close working ties with teachers and educational experts. The museums also fulfils a wider social role, with outreach schemes with other museums in Greece, and loans to overseas organizations.
As well as significant donations from leading national cultural figures, the museum has received support from the Eleftherios Venizelos, The Panayotis and Efi Michelis Foundation, Alexandros S. Onassis, Lilian Voudouris, A.G. Leventis and Stavros Niarchos Foundations and from banking institutions such as Citibank, the National, Commercial and Ionian Banks, Ergobank and the Midland Bank.
The museum further benefits from the dedicated support of its Friends, the activities of its shop, café, publications department and marketing activities.
posted by Anna Stenning @ 10:41 AM
