One Year of the Maria Callas Museum!

With great emotion, the Maria Callas Museum—the first museum in the world dedicated to the legendary soprano—marks its first anniversary and celebrates by offering visitors reduced admission to its exhibition on Saturday, October 26!

To date, the Maria Callas Museum has welcomed more than 40,000 visitors from at least 35 countries. Thanks to the dedication and love of its audience, the Museum’s vision of showcasing and sharing the unique legacy of the great opera diva, Maria Callas, is becoming a reality.

With a collection now numbering over 1,200 artifacts, the Museum has become a hub for donations and rare memorabilia. Notably, it has received significant items from the Maria Callas Greek Society, Konstantinos and Victoria Pylarinos, the Athenaeum Conservatory, as well as from people who knew Callas personally, whose testimonies continue to enrich the Museum’s oral history archive. In its first year alone, the Museum has received more than 40 new donations soon to be added to the collection—from Callas’ autographs and rare LPs to correspondence and bootleg recordings—each piece shedding light on a different aspect of her personal and artistic life, telling its own unique story.

Collaborations with prestigious cultural institutions such as Teatro alla Scala and the Ministry of Culture brought to Athens iconic costumes from historic productions of Iphigénie en Tauride, Lady Macbeth, and Norma. At the same time, the Museum’s reach extended further: in partnership with the Greek National Opera, scores from the collection were displayed in the exhibition UNBOXING CALLAS, while digital copies were loaned to the National Library of Greece. In addition, the Museum participated in the international conference Maria Callas at 100: Opera, Celebrity, Myth in Turin, where it presented its work and established new networks with researchers and institutions abroad.

Another key aspect highlighted during the year has been the development of educational programs for children, families, and schools. More than 45 school tours and 40 school workshops filled the Museum with children’s laughter and voices, as students of all ages discovered Callas’ life through creative activities that combine multiple art forms: music, theater, dance, and visual arts. On Sundays, babies, children, and parents joined family workshops, exploring the world of opera together in an atmosphere of joy, inspiration, and creativity.

Beyond its permanent exhibition, the Maria Callas Museum has established itself as a lively cultural center. Over the past year it has hosted a wide range of artistic events—from theatrical performances and concerts to talks, workshops, film screenings, masterclasses, and book presentations. Collaborations with institutions such as the Athens State Orchestra, the Italian Cultural Institute of Athens, the Athens Conservatoire, and the City of Athens Symphony Orchestra enriched the program and proved that Callas continues to inspire new generations of artists and creators.

Equally important has been the Museum’s social engagement, with a strong focus on accessibility, inclusion, and outreach to the community. Through specially designed tours, events, and programs, the Museum has ensured cultural participation for all since its opening. During this first year it collaborated with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, the Panhellenic Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Work Integration, Shedia magazine, Special Schools, and the Friendship Clubs of the City of Athens, while new partnerships are being developed with associations of people with disabilities, collectives, and cultural spaces across the arts spectrum. In this way, the Museum aspires to build lasting relationships with the city and its people.

The Museum’s internship and volunteer programs have also been central to its activities. Interns and volunteers brought unique energy to the Museum during its first year—supporting visitors, events, and educational programs—and their active involvement strengthened every aspect of its work. The Museum is proud to offer a dynamic platform where people of all ages and backgrounds can contribute, fostering a community of solidarity and collaboration.

None of this would have been possible without the invaluable support of the Museum’s partners and sponsors, whose contributions were vital to its smooth operation and to the realization of events and programs, bringing the world of Callas closer to the public.

Looking ahead to 2025, the Maria Callas Museum is preparing an even richer and more outward-looking program. Through new collaborations with artists, groups, cultural and social institutions, the Museum will continue to expand its horizons, enriching its collection, educational initiatives, and artistic events. Every endeavor remains dedicated to highlighting the unique legacy of Maria Callas, a timeless symbol of the power of art to connect, inspire, and create.

One Year of the Maria Callas Museum – Information:
Saturday, October 26
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 20:00
Reduced admission – Book your ticket here