Major renovation of the Archaeological museum of Athens begins to take shape

Credit: rendering of the New Archaeological Museum of Athens: Ministry of Culture

The Museum Council of Greece approved the technical criteria for the expansion and renovation of the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, marking the first step in the project. The upgraded museum will include a range of facilities such as underground parking, dining areas, a new entrance and garden, and will utilize natural light to highlight exhibits and spaces. Its primary objective is to showcase Greek civilization through exhibits covering many centuries, including ancient Greek art. However, the museum will also aim to expand into contemporary art. As per the plan, the main exhibition area will increase from 7,800 sq.m. to 11,000 sq.m., and temporary exhibition spaces will be expanded from 400 sq.m. to 1,430 sq.m.

Credit: Ministry of Culture

During an event at the museum, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that the expansion would provide more room to showcase the incredible exhibits of one of the world’s most significant collections. Currently, he stated that the museum only displays less than 10% of what it has in storage, despite the abundance of artifacts. Additionally, he expressed disappointment in the limited number of visitors, which barely exceeds 500,000 annually for a national museum of this magnitude. The government plans to use a combination of private donations and national and EU funding to construct the museum. Mitsotakis also discussed the recent approval of a new law in Parliament that changes the legal status of the National and four other museums, allowing them greater independence from the Culture Ministry and greater flexibility to establish their presence on the global museum scene.

According to Culture & Sports Minister Lina Mendoni:

The expansion of the National Archaeological Museum will not only rejuvenate the surrounding area but also promote the museum’s national identity. She praised the project as a personal vision of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

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