THESSALONIKI INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR REVIEW

This year, the Foundation of the Museum for the Macedonian Struggle and the Modern History of Macedonia (IMMA) once again participated in the 22nd Thessaloniki International Book Fair with two distinctive activities. The Fair took place from 7 to 10 May 2026 at the TIF–HELEXPO Exhibition Centre.

Throughout the Fair, visitors had the opportunity to discover IMMA’s publications at Pavilion 12, Stand 14. The Foundation’s extensive publishing activity highlights aspects of the history of Macedonia and Thessaloniki, combining scholarly documentation with high aesthetic standards.

A highlight of IMMA’s participation in this year’s Book Fair was the presentation of the printed study “Senses in Dialogue: A Participatory Approach to the Accessibility of the IMMA Collection”. The presentation took place on Friday, 8 May 2026, in the “Dionysis Savvopoulos” Hall of Pavilion 13.

The study was implemented by IMMA in collaboration with Off Stream, with funding and under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture – Directorate of Modern Cultural Heritage. It highlighted the importance of accessibility and inclusion in the museum experience through a participatory and multisensory approach.

For the first time, IMMA’s pavilion also featured a reading corner for the Fair’s younger visitors, attracting the interest of dozens of families. The initiative was organised in the context of the designation of 2026–2027 as the official Year of Reading Promotion by ELIVIP. For the past four years, the Museum for the Macedonian Struggle has been the only museum to organise weekly reading-promotion and creative-writing workshops for children, under the title “Every Wednesday at the Museum, in the Company of a Book!”

IMMA’s pavilion was visited by representatives of the academic and educational communities, partners from the fields of culture and diplomacy, representatives of organisations for people with disabilities, and numerous university students seeking information about the internship programme for final-year students hosted by the Foundation’s Research Centre.

IMMA’s participation in the 22nd Thessaloniki International Book Fair provided an important opportunity for outreach, networking, and engagement with the public, reaffirming the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to promoting historical knowledge, contemporary museum practice, and an accessible cultural experience for all.