We are excited to announce the launch of ‘Imagining Greece: How Tourism Shaped a Nation 1945-1989’, a dynamic research-based exhibition that examines how social, political, and cultural forces have shaped Greece’s image as a tourist destination from the end of World War II to the closing chapters of the Cold War.
The exhibition examines multiple aspects of the phenomenon by showcasing a wealth of textual and visual material curated from a wide range of state and private archival repositories and sources, including the Greek National Tourism Organisation, architectural firms, advertising agencies and both domestic and foreign press and periodicals.
Imagining Greece is led by an interdisciplinary team with expertise spanning history, visual culture, design studies, architectural history, cultural heritage, and digital humanities who also runs an oral history project that captures firsthand experiences from specialists and the general public.
Led by Professor Eirini Karamouzi (Principal Investigator, University of Sheffield) and Dr Mary Ikoniadou (Co-Investigator, Leeds Beckett University), the team includes Dr Stavros Alifragkis and Dr Emilia Athanasiou (Scientific and Artistic Curators, Lead Researchers), Dr Christos Christidis (Special Advisor), Despina Tsilimagkou (Digital Humanities Director), Dr Marina Emmanouil, Dr Metaxia Papageorgiou and Dr Aphrodite Kamara (Researchers).
The exhibition reveals the complex interplay of visions, ambitions, and expectations of those who established Greece as one of the world’s most beloved destinations, shaping the image of the idyllic Greek summer. Across four ‘experiences’, the exhibition recreates the entire arc of travel, from anticipation before departure to lasting memories that follow, creating a voyage immobile par excellence. By revisiting historical material, these archival documents gain a second life, triggering both nostalgia and critical reflection—generating brand awareness for Greece as both a tourist destination and a nation. The exhibition aims to function as a synthesis and design tool for the future of tourism, highlighting the transformative dynamics of historical consciousness.
The research work has been generously supported by the Onassis Foundation, the National Bank of Greece and Research England and is under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) and the Greek Ministry of Tourism. The team works closely with Greece’s National Historical Museum.
Explore the history of Greek tourism at: https://imagininggreece.com