“What does sanctuary mean?”: Seeking Sanctuaries photo exhibition welcomes schools and youth groups until the end of December

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and Melissa Network invite school groups, youth groups, as well as interested individuals and organizations to visit the photo exhibition Seeking Sanctuaries: Stories of Movement, Acts of Welcome, which has been extended and will remain open to the public at Beehive (10 Metsovou Street, Athens) until the end of December 2026.

Marking the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the exhibition at Beehive, the Melissa Network’s cultural space in Athens, brings together historical photographs from UNHCR’s archives with images from Enri Canaj's acclaimed Say Goodbye Before You Leave work. Through the dialogue between the two photographic collections, visitors are invited to reflect on the continuity of refugee experiences across generations and continents and on the enduring significance of sanctuary, welcome and human connection.

Alongside the exhibition, free educational visits are offered to schools, youth groups, university departments and other interested groups. Educational visits include an interactive guided tour, participatory activities and discussion sessions tailored to the age and educational needs of each group. Through photographs, personal memories and human stories, participants are encouraged to explore questions of identity, belonging, solidarity, care and the meaning of sanctuary.

Opening hours for the public:

Wednesday to Sunday, 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Visits for schools and organized groups:

Visits for schools and groups are arranged by appointment and can take place in the morning or afternoon, including outside the exhibition’s regular opening hours.

Information for schools: See here.

School bookings:

Eva Savvopoulou (UNHCR) [email protected] | +30 216 200 7815

Melissa Network [email protected] | +30 2108218486