Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation Opens New Museum in Athens

On October 2, 2019, the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation inaugurated its new museum in Athens. This institution showcases the art collection amassed by Greek shipping tycoon Basil Goulandris and his wife Elise, who passed away in 1994 and 2000, respectively. The couple, known for their cultural contributions between France and Greece, established the foundation in 1979 to enhance the promotion of culture and visual arts. Their initial project was a contemporary art museum on Andros, Basil's birthplace. The Athens museum, envisioned to engage a broader audience, began construction in August 2012 and was completed in October 2018. Spanning 7,250 square meters across 11 floors, it features five exhibition levels, including four for the permanent collection and one for temporary displays, alongside a gift shop, a bar-restaurant, a library with 4,500 books, a children's workshop, and a 190-seat amphitheater. The collection includes modern and contemporary pieces by both Greek and international artists, such as Cézanne, van Gogh, and Picasso, as well as notable Greek modernists like Parthenis and Tsarouchis.