THE FOUNDING OF MOMus

The Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus was born from the merger of four Thessaloniki-based museums/art venues (the State Museum of Contemporary Art, the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art, the Thessaloniki Museum of Photography and the Contemporary Art Center of Thessaloniki) and the Athens-based Museum Alex Mylona. MOMus is a Legal Entity of Private Law based in Thessaloniki and is under the oversight of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports. The legal status, organizational goals, administration and structure of the institution, and all matters pertaining to its management and operation, are described in the law establishing MOMus (Law 4572/2018). The founding of MOMus followed a years-long period of concentrated effort, driven by the steadfast, shared ambition of creating synergies and setting common goals for the promotion of contemporary Greek culture at the local, national and international level.

METROPOLITAN ORGANISATION OF MUSEUMS OF VISUAL ARTS OF THESSALONIKI

In November 2018, five museums, four based in Thessaloniki (the Museum of Modern Art – Costakis Collection, the Museum of Contemporary Art – Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art and State Museum of Contemporary Art Collections, Thessaloniki Museum of Photography, the Experimental Center for the Arts) and one in Athens (Museum Alex Mylona) officially joined forces, creating a single, large, integrated public cultural institution, whose aspiration is to leave its mark on international modern and contemporary art, photography, sculpture and the experimental arts.

MOMus-MUSEUM OF MODERN ART-COSTAKIS COLLECTION

MOMus-Museum of Modern Art-Costakis Collection (formerly: State Museum of Contemporary Art) is entrusted with the preservation, study and promotion of (mostly visual) modern art achievements, particularly those connected to the internationally renowned Costakis Collection of Russian avant-garde art (1900-1930), as well as the works of Greek and international artists that represent the art movement of modernism.

The museum’s main organisational goals also include educating the public, producing scientific publications and ensuring that the works of its collections gain international visibility and recognition through collaborations with other institutions and museums in Greece and abroad.

The museum also actively supports research and welcomes scientists and students interested in the Russian avant-garde.

Artistic Director: Maria Tsantsanoglou

MOMus-MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART-MACEDONIAN MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART AND STATE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART COLLECTIONS

MOMus-Museum of Contemporary Art- Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art and State Museum of Contemporary Art Collections (formerly: Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art) is charged with promoting contemporary art and the study of art movements in Greece and abroad through the preservation and promotion of its achievements, mostly in the visual arts. It manages the Iolas, Xydis and Apergis collections, all collections and contemporary artworks of the Foundation of the “Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art”, the contemporary art collections of the State Museum of Contemporary Art and the collection of sculptures of the Foundation “Alex Mylona Museum of Contemporary Art”. This department organizes the Thessaloniki Biennale of Contemporary Art and can also assign the creation of new artworks.

Artistic Director: Thouli Misirloglou

MOMus-THESSALONIKI MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY

The mission of MOMus-Thessaloniki Museum of Photography is the study and promotion of photography and the cultivation, familiarization and education of the public in contemporary and earlier trends of the art. Its archives and collection comprise approximately 90.000 photo documents from 1890-2015, including the archives of Yiannis Stylianou, Socrates Iordanidis and Dimitris Letsios. The institution also functions as a depository for the Greek part of the Fred Boissonnas archive. Its goals also include the enrichment of its collections, the creation of a systematized archive and organizing the Thessaloniki Photobiennale.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: IRO KATSARIDOU

Supervisory Committee members will be announced.

MOMus-EXPERIMENTAL CENTER FOR THE ARTS

The MOMus-Experimental Center for the Arts (formerly: Contemporary Art Center of Thessaloniki) supports contemporary experimental artistic innovations, supports the osmosis and synthesis of arts and interdisciplinary-hybrid relations, keeps abreast of new trends, supports young artists, conducts open invitations, participates in exchange networks, bolsters the mobility of artists and curators through its residency program, and undertakes actions premised on contemporary art interventions in public space.

MOMus-MUSEUM ALEX MYLONA

MOMus-Museum Alex Mylona (Department of Contemporary Sculpture of MOMus-Museum of Contemporary Art-Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art and State Museum of Contemporary Art collections) promotes sculptural expression, supports the synthesis of sculptural arts and interdisciplinary-hybrid projects, supports young sculptors and showcases and promotes the artistic contribution of Alex Mylona through the permanent presentation of her works.

GOALS

The goals of the Organisation are the following:

  • The dynamic development and promotion of visual arts, photography and industrial and architectural design.
  • The dynamic promotion of art education.
  • The dynamic development of historical and scientific studies and research.
  • Providing support to experimental and alternative art initiatives.

These goals are accomplished by:

  • Creating museum collections and archives.
  • Safekeeping and exhibiting collections and archives using state of the art, effective museological practices.
  • Archiving and documenting collections with the help of electronic methods.
  • The permanent exhibition of selected parts of its collections in appropriate venues.
  • The organization of periodical exhibitions, either independently or in collaboration with museums and contemporary art institutions in Greece and abroad.
  • Making use of cutting-edge digital technology in all aspects of communication.
  • Effectively collaborating and networking with important cultural institutions in Greece and abroad.
  • Preserving and showcasing the works of Greek and international artists.
  • Promoting the cultural education of the public.
  • Making art accessible to all social groups.
  • Setting up a special professional education and specialization program for the organization’s curators.
  • Designing and implementing educational programs for schools and other groups (for example by organizing art workshops for children, teenagers and students, tours and seminars for teachers, and implementing training seminars approved by the competent state agencies).
  • Producing print and electronic publications for the public.
  • Supporting and/or organizing parallel events (lectures, conferences, film screenings, stage performances, concerts and interdisciplinary/interartistic special events and tributes, both independently and in collaboration with eminent cultural and educational institutions in Greece and abroad).