Onassis Cultural Centre

Onassis Cultural Centre Review

Athens' impressive new cultural space, the Onassis Cultural Centre, hosts events from across the whole spectrum of the arts, from theater, dance, and music to the written word. Its construction has been exclusively funded by the Onassis Foundation, in memory of the legendary Greek tycoon, and the architecturally noteworthy building now occupies an entire block along one of Athens's main busy thoroughfares. Inside the airy rectangular shell, contructed in a design composed of white marble bands (which reflect the sun by day) and encompassing the lit interiors at night, the interior is home to two amphitheaters, a bar, a restaurant, and exhibition spaces that occupy more than 18,000 square meters and can be seen bustling with activity from October to June. The emphasis here is on contemporary artistic expression—to that effect, an ongoing calendar of exhibitions and art programs showcase and assist contemporary Greek artists.