The public finally got a sneak peek inside the building with the temporary exhibition Urgent Conversations: Athens-Antwerp
The National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST) in Athens finally opened its new doors in the former Fix brewery to the public on 31 October with the exhibition Urgent Conversations: Athens-Antwerp, which will be held until 29 January 2017.
This 12 year in the making and €37m project at the museum building was completed in 2014 but has largely remained closed due to financial issues. This week’s soft opening is only of the temporary exhibition galleries, but is the largest artistic presentation EMST has organised in its new building.
Earlier this year, the museum opened certain spaces briefly as part of its “Prologue” program for special events, such as the performance Lagune by the Swiss artist Denis Savary, held on the roof on 19 May, International Museum Day; a concert with the Greek National Opera held on the fourth floor veranda on 21 June, World Music Day; and when it hosted the Museum of People’s Free Thinking, run by art students, from 28 June to 3 July. The long-overdue inauguration of the full museum, including displays for its permanent collection of more than 1,000 works by Greek and foreign artists is expected to happen in autumn of 2017.
The new building will dispose two and more of its floors, for the presentation of its permanent collection, while it will also have spaces for temporary exhibitions, conferences, events, educational programs for children and adults, a library, a project room, a media lounge etc. It will be equipped with a café and a restaurant.
A: Kallirois ave. & Am. Frantzi str., 11743 Athens - Greece
PH: 211 1019000-99
*Main Image: © Giorgia Gavali
*Exterior image of building © Helena Paraskeva
