A woman visits the National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens (EMST) in Athens, Greece, May 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)
ATHENS, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Greece on Wednesday marked International Museum Day by opening the doors of all its museums to the public free of charge.
Visitors were treated to a series of events focusing on this year's theme set by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) - "The Power of Museums." These highlighted sustainability, innovation, digitalization, accessibility and community building through education.
At the National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens (EMST), visitors were offered guided tours to the exhibits.
The celebrations at EMST started on Monday with a concert performed by the Athens State Orchestra. They rendered classical music pieces by Russian composers, Anna Mykoniati, curator at EMST and an expert on art history, told Xinhua.
The series of programs will conclude on Saturday with an educational workshop for young people with autism spectrum disorders.
The EMST, which was founded to safeguard and exhibit the works of contemporary Greek and international artists, is an open and inclusive museum and it warmly supports this year's theme, Mykoniati said.
"Museums can be agents of change for the better, they can involve people in new things, in new practices, new tactics, and bring about a positive change," she said.
"Museums today are not only about reading the past," commented George, a visitor. "We enter and see cultural elements from other cultures, and they are also about the reading of the future. Because artists have the power to show us the way to the future."
Similar events were planned for Wednesday and the rest of this week in many Greek museums, according to the Culture and Sports Ministry. ■
A man walks past an artwork at the National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens (EMST) in Athens, Greece, May 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)
Visitors view exhibits at the National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens (EMST) in Athens, Greece, May 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)