Museum of Contemporary Art of Crete
Museum in the old town of Rethymno, in a former soap factory, with a permanent collection of about 850 works by contemporary Greek artists.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museum of Contemporary Art of Crete is located in the heart of the old town of Rethymno, below the Venetian walls and the Archaeological Museum. The municipality bought the building in the 1970s, and in 1992 it operated as the Municipal Art Gallery “L. Kanakakis”. In 1995, when Rethymno joined the National Network of Cultural Cities, the Centre of Contemporary Art was founded and the activity of the gallery turned to contemporary art.
For the needs of the new museum a second space was used, an old Venetian building that at the beginning of the 20th century housed one of the island’s first industrial factories, a soap factory that operated until the 1970s. Today it is a modern museum space of about 1,000 m².
The permanent collection includes about 850 works by contemporary Greek artists from 1950 to the present, and covers currents such as abstraction and geometry, neo-expressionism, minimalism, sculpture, installations, conceptual art and photography. About 50 works by L. Kanakakis have been donated to the gallery. The museum also organises temporary exhibitions, guided tours and educational programmes, as well as a Visual Arts Workshop.
Highlights
- Permanent collection of about 850 works by contemporary Greek artists (1950 to the present)
- About 50 works by L. Kanakakis
- Former Venetian soap factory in the old town
- Visual Arts Workshop and educational programmes
- Joint ticket with the Fortezza fortress
Permanent exhibition
- Μόνιμη συλλογή σύγχρονης ελληνικής τέχνης – About 850 works by Greek artists from 1950 to the present, with painting, sculpture, installations, photography and works by L. Kanakakis.
- Founded
- 1992
- Operated by
- Δήμος Ρεθύμνου
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree admission for people with disabilities. |
| Combined ticket for the Fortezza and the Museum of Contemporary Art | €6 |
| Combined family ticket for the Fortezza and the Museum of Contemporary Art | €15 |
Free admission: 18 May (International Museum Day) and 27 September (World Tourism Day)
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
The museum has an education department with programmes for children, a “museum suitcase” and a Sculpture Park for children.
Getting there & parking
The museum is in the old town of Rethymno, below the Venetian walls.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
The museum has a shop.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours for children, young people and adults are organised during the exhibitions. The Visual Arts Workshop is at 8 Chimaras Street (tel. +30 28310 57353). |
