Museum
Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus
Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus is a museum.
About Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus
Overview
The Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki, known as MOMus, is a leading cultural organization in Greece dedicated to modern and contemporary creation, photography, and artistic experimentation. Headquartered in Thessaloniki, it operates as a dynamic network bringing together five distinct institutions under a unified vision to make art an essential part of everyday life. The organization functions as a catalyst for knowledge, empathy, and transformation, promoting culture as a driving force for innovation and social inclusion rather than a luxury.
History & Founding
The organization was officially established in November 2018 following a years-long period of concentrated effort by cultural stakeholders. This merger was driven by a shared ambition to create synergies and set common goals for the promotion of contemporary Greek culture at local, national, and international levels. The founding of MOMus consolidated previously independent entities into a single, large, integrated public cultural institution, marking a significant shift in the management and presentation of visual arts in the region.
Constituent Institutions
MOMus brings together five specific museums and centers: the Museum of Modern Art - Costakis Collection, the Museum of Contemporary Art - Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art, the State Museum of Contemporary Art Collections, the Thessaloniki Museum of Photography, and the Experimental Center for the Arts. Additionally, the network includes the Museum Alex Mylona based in Athens. This integration allows the organization to manage a diverse range of artistic disciplines, from painting and sculpture to photography and experimental arts, under one administrative umbrella.
Collection Highlights & Notable Holdings
The combined collections of MOMus comprise over 7,000 items, including paintings, sculptures, installations, assemblages, engravings, and photographs. A significant portion of the holdings comes from the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art, which features a permanent collection of more than 2,000 works by Greek and foreign artists, including the renowned Costakis Collection dedicated to Russian avant-garde art. The organization's holdings are constantly augmented by gifts from collectors, artists, and gallery owners, ensuring a dynamic and growing repository of modern and contemporary art.
Significance & Mission
MOMUS aims to leave its mark on international modern and contemporary art, photography, sculpture, and experimental arts. The organization is deeply committed to educational programs, having engaged tens of thousands of children through initiatives designed to promote cultural awareness and establish a dialectic relation between young students and the artistic message. Through international collaborations, socially engaged exhibitions, and public programs, MOMUS positions itself as a hub for artistic creativity and cultural exchange, fostering empathy and sustainable development through the arts.
What to see at Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus
Start with Η Προσκύνησις των διδασκάλων της αγιογραφίας by Ioannis Vranos.
