Planning and actions of the Ionian University Museum 2022-2023

For the Museum Collections of the Ionian University, the production of various cultural works aimed at all audiences, both specific and non-specific, is a key priority. In this context, and continuing the policy of cooperation, it has developed the museological study for the temporary exhibition "The Industrial Heritage of Corfu, 19th - 20th century", which is hosted until 5 January 2023 at the Municipal Gallery of Corfu and which was implemented on the occasion of the publication of the homonymous bilingual book by the Albert Cohen Association in 2021 (fig. 1).

Another priority for the Museum Collections is the collaboration with the Directorate for Primary Education of Corfu. With the beginning of the school year and for the entire school year 2022-2023, students will have the opportunity to get to know the Collections by participating in the educational programmes designed specifically for them (fig. 2). Through the "We the Typographers" action, the schoolchildren come into contact with the history and evolution of printing and discover the beauty of the Museum through interactive and educational activities. Also, the participation in the "Become a Museologist" project, which takes place in the School History and Education Collection in Scripero, offers the opportunity to get acquainted with the science of museology and the process of creating a museum exhibition.

In addition, continuing the efforts to create a climate that encourages dialogue between communities and to maintain contact with museums in general, a series of lectures, under the title, " Discussions for the Museum 2022-2023" (fig. 3) is being held for the second year. The programme will start in November 2022 and run until May 2023, with one guest each month. The speakers, experts in museums and heritage management, will address issues related to the sustainability of museum organisations, the design of participatory actions, the influence of museums on social change, and the cultivation of positive psychology through their operation. The programme in detail:

Designing "experiences" in museums and libraries: Models and practices from business to cultural organizations.

Ioannis Poulios, Assistant Professor, Department of Tourism, Ionian University.

Date: 29 November 2022

Location: Ionian University, I. Theotoki 72 2nd floor Classroom 2.39

The museum as an agent of social change.

Valentina Sokratous, Coordinator and Head of Educational Programmes of the Ethnological Museum of Thrace.

Date: 19 January 2023

Location: ZOOM Meetings

Museum and well-being!

Chrissi Vombogianni, Museologist-Conservator of Antiquities at the Ephorate of Antiquities of Athens City.

Date: 23 February 2023

Location: ZOOM Meetings

The Smart House of Antiquity.

Mina Mitsobonou, Director of the Museum of Ancient Greek Technology K. Kotsana.

Date: 16 March 2023.

Location ZOOM Meetings

Revolution21reframed: the contribution of the National Historical Museum to the anniversary celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution.

Natasha Kastriti, Art Historian, General Curator of Collections, National Historical Museum, Regina Katsimardou, Historian, Curator of the Historical Documents Archive, National Historical Museum.

Date: 6 April 2023

Location: ZOOM Meetings

On the occasion of the celebration of the International Museum Day, a presentation and open discussion with Mrs.Aphrodite Panagiotakou, Director of Culture of the Onassis Foundation.

Date: 18 May 2023

Actions and Events

On December 6 at 18.30 at the library of the Ionian University, the presentation of the book by Elena Hamalidi, Associate Professor of Art History at the Department of Audio and Visual Arts of the Ionian University, entitled "Stories in Metamihmio: Modernism and Reality in Postwar Greek Art".

At the same time, a creative workshop has been planned for the months of January and February 2023 by B. Komianos, M. Rovithis, V. Garnelis (Department of Arts, Sound and Image, Ionian University) under the title "Creative Workshop of Interactive Educational Experiences in the Museum using Augmented Reality". During the workshop participants will understand how to create digital Augmented Reality applications for interactive museum visits.

In March 2023 and in collaboration with the Department of History of the Ionian University, the Museum Collections co-organize the action "Place of Memory: The Jewish Cemetery and the Ionian University" under the guidance of Ms. Mirka Palioura, Assistant Professor of History of Modern and Contemporary Art, a silent memory of an essentially invisible column - a remnant of the Jewish cemetery - is followed at the site where the University is currently housed, at 72 I. Theotoki Street. The action will conclude with the organization of an event, during which the space hosting the architectural fragment will be transformed.

On the occasion of World Poetry Day, on 21 March 2023, and in collaboration with the Corfu Public Central Historical Library, the event "Poetry on display" will be held, during which poetry museums around the world will be presented, while there will be a discussion on the character of these museums and the possibilities of creating new poetry museum profiles.

The cycle of workshops continues with another thematic seminar in April 2023, designed by Ch. Karidis (Department of Environment, Ionian University), under the title "Preventive Conservation of Paper and Books", which will take place at the Ionian University Library. In this introductory seminar, which is addressed to professionals and students of similar qualities such as conservators, museologists, archaeologists, historians, church collection managers, private collectors, etc., those interested will have the opportunity to learn about ways of storing and exhibiting works of art using appropriate materials and methods based on modern standards.

Additions to Collections

The Museum, continuing its efforts to enrich its collections, received an important donation from Mr. Ioannis Kokkonas, ex Professor of the Department of Archaeology, Library and Museology of the Ionian University, from his personal collection (fig. In particular, three (3) typewriters (Woodstock model 8-18, Consul and Brother Deluxe 220), Printing Tools and Consumable Printing Material were delivered to the Museum.

In addition, the Museum accepted two (2) typewriters and two (2) calculators from the personal archive of Mrs. Maria Syngrou.

Finally, the Collection of History of Education and School in Scripero was enriched with a student uniform, student notebooks and checks, donated by Mrs. Maria Alexakis.