‘Bid for the Benaki’: Greek Museum launches online art auction

·

The popular Benaki Museum kicked off its online art auction yesterday, with a number of priceless artworks up for grabs.

The auction runs until December 7 and includes over 240 works of art by 138 different artists, with prices starting at just 50 euros.

The works of art have been donated not only by artists who have previously exhibited their work at the museum or have collaborated with the Benaki Shop, but by the museum’s friends and supporters as well.

READ MORE: Greece’s Benaki Museum eyes expansion to Australia.

The popular Benaki Museum kicked off its online art auction yesterday, with a number of priceless artworks up for bidding.

Local Greek media say the auction has been launched to raise funds for the Benaki Museum, as it is facing significant funding shortfalls in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Back in October, CEO of the Benaki Museum, Haris Siampanis, told Ekathimerini that the museum had “lost significant revenues.”

“Like many other organisations, we lost significant revenues not just from exhibition tickets, but from museum shops, educational programs, events, rent and, obviously, from corporate and private donations [during the economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic].”

CEO of the Benaki Museum, Haris Siampanis.

At the time, Siampanis also indicated that the Benaki was seeking to establish a permanent presence in Australia. This news was later confirmed after it emerged that the Hellenic Museum in Melbourne would house the Benaki.

This meant Melbourne would become the first city to house a permanent Benaki Museum outside of Greece.

You can bid for artworks from the Benaki Museum here.

READ MORE: New Benaki Museum in Melbourne set to be first of its kind outside of Greece.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Debate intensifies over Parthenon Marbles return amid legal threat

The Parthenon marbles have again become a flashpoint in UK-Greece relations, after former British PM Liz Truss threatened legal action.

Eirini Mourtzoukou remanded after confessing to infant murders in Greece

Eirini Mourtzoukou was remanded in custody on Saturday, July 12, after confessing to the murders of three infants in a two-hour testimony.

UNESCO adds six Minoan palaces in Crete to World Heritage list

UNESCO has inscribed Minoan palace centres in Crete - Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, Zakros, Zominthos, and Kydonia - on its World Heritage list.

Libya lodges UN complaint over Greece’s maritime zone

Libya has formally submitted a diplomatic complaint to the United Nations, objecting to Greece’s delineation of its Exclusive Economic Zone.

From Metallica to Maritime: The many lives of Greek shipping tycoon Harry Vafias

Though Greek shipping tycoon, Harry Vafias, spends much time working, it certainly isn't a case of 'all work and no play.’

You May Also Like

Tasmania hosts Synapantema as Pontians honour genocide motion

The Synapantema is a long standing and much anticipated annual gathering of Pontian Australians. Read more about their Tasmanian event here.

Sydney Olympic FC women’s defeat Sydney University

Sydney Olympic showed no signs of slowing down this campaign as they secured a 2-1 win over Sydney University at Peter Moore Field.

Greek Australians who live in Greece reminisce about Orthodox Easter in Australia

Greek Orthodox Easter and its rituals have been admirably maintained and enacted so fervently by Greeks in Australia.