Christmas at the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation!
Festive events for the entire family with concerts, guided tours, workshops and activities for young and old
A fun programme with many different activities for young and old awaits the visitors of the B&E Goulandris Foundation this holiday season!
From December 20 and up to January 5, a variety of activities for children ranging from the Christmas Camp to creative workshops, as well as book readings, family activities, the transgenerational workshop Art Sparks, a bubble show, concerts for young and old as well as creative activities for adults like a pottery workshop and interactive guided tours will be taking place at the Museum.
Meanwhile, the B&E Goulandris Shop has many original and special gift ideas for everyone and the B&E Goulandris Café-Restaurant has prepared, especially for the holiday season, many delicious Christmas treats.
ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
The B&E Goulandris Foundation is organising for yet another year an original and fun Christmas Camp and invites children aged 6 to 10 to welcome the new year in a creative way, as they discover the dreamy world of surrealism. On December 30 and 31 as well as January 3, children draw inspiration from the magic of the surrealism art movement and they create their own dreamy world.
Many different creative workshops await the young friends of the B&E Goulandris Foundation!
- On Tuesday December 24, at the Christmas workshop “Transparent worlds” children aged 6-10 draw inspiration from the Foundation’s Collection and make transparent worlds with unique motifs and drawings.
- On Saturdays December 21, 28 and January 4, at the workshop “A lantern and a haiku!” children aged 6 to 8 make their own haiku poem inspired by the Foundation’s temporary exhibition, while at the workshop “Secret drawer” children aged 8 to 12 experiment with image transfers and play with three-dimensional textures and motifs on the printing plate.
- On Sundays December 22, 29 and January 5, at the workshop “What do our eyes remember?” children aged 5 to 7 decorate their own bouquet of flowers using stencils, colourful inks and essential oils, while at the workshop “Cézanne’s Minecraft: Notebook, page 1” children aged 8 to 12 learn about stereoscopic photography and make a personal, handmade notebook.
On December 27 and 28, Christmas stories for children of different ages come alive at the Foundation’s Library!
Our narrators will convey the magic of Christmas in approximately 30-minute live reading events, each slot dedicated to different books by different publishing houses.
Admission is free and advance bookings are necessary.
CONCERTS
On December 21, 22, 28, 29 and 30 the family musical celebration “Inside the Museum”, that features the wonderful songs of Nikos Kypourgos and the magic voices of Savina Yannatou and Doros Dimosthenous, goes on stage at the Foundation’s Amphitheatre.
On Friday December 27, at the Foundation’s Amphitheatre, Dimitri and Nestor Vassilakis present original jazz compositions related to their “Ballads & Blues” project at the performance “Father & Son”, that is part of the Jazz at the Museum series.
On Saturday December 21 at 14.00, the Athens Conservatoire’s Young Musicians Choir will get the Museum’s visitors into the festive spirit with carols and other all-time Christmas classics at the Foundation’s reception area, in front of the Christmas tree.
Admission is free.
On Monday December 30 at 11.30 the City of Athens Philharmonic Winds Orchestra will fill the Aghios Spyridonas square, in front of the entrance of the B&E Goulandris Foundation, with Christmas music and other well-known melodies.
Admission is free.
ACTIVITIES FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY
How can the Museum trigger the entire family’s imagination?
The B&E Goulandris Foundation invites children, along with their families, to discover the magical world and the stories that are hidden behind the unique works of art of its Collection, through a series of interactive art activities.
Creativity knows no age!
On Friday December 27, at the B&E Goulandris Foundation’s festive transgenerational workshop “Art Sparks”, the power of art bridges the gap between young and old. Painting, constructions and an original art confrontation strengthen relationships and break the age barriers through art.
On Tuesday December 24 and on Saturday December 28 at 12.30, Mr. and Mrs. Bubble return to the square of Aghios Spyridonas, in front of the entrance of the B&E Goulandris Foundation, to take you away to the extraordinary Bubble world! Creatures from the wandering “Air Bubble” share the happiness of living here and now, just like a bubble. In this fun and interactive show viewers get carried away in a colourful landscape and join a fleeting world made of love, water and soap.
Admission is free.
ACTIVITIES FOR TEENS & ADULTS
Make your own, special ceramic ornaments at the Christmas pottery workshop for adults and teens (15+) “Make your own Christmas ball!”, organised by the B&E Goulandris Foundation in collaboration with ceramist Elpida Kourtzi on Friday December 20.
How can an artwork come to life? What do Claude Monet’s Cathedral and Takis’ movements have in common?
This holiday season discover the charm hidden in the motion of images by taking part in the interactive guided tour “24 Christmas frames: works in motion” and then create your own flipbook, drawing inspiration from the works of the B&E Goulandris Foundation’s Collection.
On December 20 and 27 art historian, art educator and mindfulness instructor Lydia Petropoulou helps audiences practice mindfulness to explore selected works of art at the specially designed programme “Mindfulness at the Museum”.
CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS
The B&E Goulandris Shop, with its great selection of original gifts and ornaments that are inspired by the Collection of the B&E Goulandris Foundation, adds its own festive touch to this year’s holiday season.
Christmas ornaments, scented candles, pillowcases with festive patterns, placemats, serving trays and 2025 daily/weekly calendars are just some of the shop’s home decorating and gift ideas, while the Foundation’s lucky charm for 2025, an olive leaf pendant that is inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s work “Olive Picking”, is the perfect way to welcome the new year.
B&E GOULANDRIS CAFÉ-RESTAURANT
Hot chocolate, mulled wine and many treats await the Foundation’s visitors at the B&E Goulandris Café-Restaurant this holiday season!
From December 22 through December 31 the Café-Restaurant will feature a specially designed menu for kids while on December 24, 28, 29 and 30 grown ups can enjoy mulled wine and children hot chocolate. On the same dates, pop corn and cotton candy will be available free of charge at the Museum’s outdoor area.
