The Benaki Museum has received a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. Specifically, the Foundation is providing support to the Benaki Museum in order to bolster its operations, and also to provide one year of free entrance, once a week, for all four Museum buildings: The Central Building (1 Koumbari St.), the Piraios Street Annexe, the Museum of Islamic Art and the Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika Gallery.

According to the museum’s press release: “In the difficult economic times we find ourselves, the Benaki Museum is called upon to carry out its mission as a contemporary cultural institution conscientiously, professionally and with financial self-sufficiency, that will allow it not only to survive, but also to create conditions that will ensure the spiritual lift we all need so much at this time.

“The Museum has always received the unreserved assistance of those, who recognise the quality of the work it carries out, those who trust the institution and those who love the Museum.

“At this crucial point it has found welcome support for its endeavours from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation”.

The grant is part of a three-year programme. Apart from free entrance to all the museum buildings every Thursday for one year, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation’s will support the museum’s operating in the form of a matching fund, namely with a grant that will match the amount of all donations received by the museum in a year.

Free entrance will be in effect every Thursday from July 15th, 2013 and will have last for one year.