Thessaloniki MOMus Photography Museum

Location: Beach Promenade
Don't miss: Museums guide (free admission dates and other useful info)

The MOMus - Thessaloniki Museum of Photography is housed in the historic Building A at the port of the town, next to the Cinema Museum. While it was founded in 1998, its roots can be traced back to 1988, when the Thessaloniki International Festival of Photography was established by photographer Aris Georgiou. Following the creative course of the festival, Aris would open the museum and serve as its first director under the supervision of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports. It was moved to its current location in 2001 and has since been a significant cultural hub for the city.

The main objective of the Thessaloniki Museum of Photography is to collect, preserve, and present photographic works and archives of both Greek and international origins. Its extensive collection includes about 90.000 photographic items from the late 19th century to the present. Among these, the archives of Yannis Stylianou, Socrates Iordanidis, and Dimitris Letsios are particularly of note. Since its inception, the museum has organized over 360 exhibitions in Greece and abroad, showcasing a variety of artists and photographic material.

Besides hosting exhibitions, the museum is involved in the study and research of the photographic medium. It also conducts educational activities, seminars, and workshops aimed at different age groups to promote the art of photography and inform people of its history. Since 1998, the museum has been the official organizer of the Thessaloniki International Festival of Photography, which in 2008 was re-established as the Thessaloniki PhotoBiennale. Hosted in venues all over the city, the festival showcases the works of established and up-and-coming artists, both Greek and international, and sees thousands of visitors every single year.

The MOMus - Thessaloniki Museum of Photography is open to visitors every day except for Monday.