EMST Open

Good things come to those who wait. And wait, Athens surely has. Every major city deserves a public museum of contemporary art to serve as a living repository – and beacon - of its modern culture. Now, 20 years after inception, the Greek capital finally has one - and you can road test this long-awaited landmark for free until July 15. Housed in an iconic former 1950s brewery in Koukaki, the 18,142m2 National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST) hosts over 1,000 modern works and plugs a key gap in the city’s cultural canvas. Go to check out the permanent collection of 172 works by 78 Greek and international artists across the genres of “paintings and 3D objects”, “photography and new media” and “architecture and design”. The roll-call includes the likes of Arte Povera master Jannis Kounellis, Costas Varotsos, whose famous sculpture Running Man (Dromeas) can be snapped opposite the Athens Hilton, and Greek-American light art pioneer Chryssa. If you like a good tale of triumph over adversity, you’ll also enjoy the “EMST as a storyline” exhibition which presents the museum project's turbulent timeline. Following the trial opening period, the museum expects to begin charging an entrance fee and you’ll be able to book tickets online. A café and rooftop restaurant are also scheduled to open before the year is out. Read about the safety measures currently in place at EMST here.