Sophia Peloponnissiou-Vassilacos is a museologist, curator, and cultural heritage professional based in Athens, Greece.
She is a founding Board Member of the Angelos and Leto Katakouzenos Foundation and serves as Curator of the Katakouzenos House Museum, where she has been actively involved in the conception, development, and operation of the museum since its opening in 2008. She is responsible for the Foundation’s exhibitions, public programmes, cultural events, archives, and educational initiatives, working to preserve and promote the legacy of Angelos and Leto Katakouzenos.
Sophia holds an MA in Museum and Gallery Management from City University London. Her master’s dissertation, The Katakouzenos House Museum: Reviving a Legacy, focused on the creation and management of historic house museums.
Since 2008, she has also been Head of Educational Programmes at the Cultural Foundation of the National Bank of Greece (MIET), where she designs and coordinates educational programmes, museum interpretation projects, and public engagement initiatives. She has also volunteered at the Bank of England Museum and contributed to the development of the Maria Callas Museum in Athens.
She has co-edited several publications on Greek cultural heritage, authored two children’s books, and has been recognised for her contribution to museum education and heritage preservation, including an award during the European Heritage Days 2020.
Sophia Peloponnissiou-Vassilacos’s reflections on the META-MUSEUM:
“Working as a volunteer at the Katakouzenos House Museum has taught me that historic house museums are far more than places where memories are preserved. They are living spaces that continue to inspire people to create, reflect, and engage in meaningful dialogue.
The META Museum Project highlights the importance of innovation, collaboration, and knowledge exchange in helping museums become more accessible, inclusive, and relevant to contemporary society. I particularly appreciate its emphasis on sharing expertise across institutions and countries, encouraging museums to learn from one another while respecting the uniqueness of each cultural context.
I believe that historic house museums have a unique ability to connect us with the lives, ideas, and struggles of those who came before us. In doing so, they not only encourage creativity and new ways of thinking, but also offer us strength and hope in facing the realities of life and the human condition.
For me, preserving cultural heritage is ultimately about preserving the power of human experience to inspire future generations. I am grateful to have contributed, as a volunteer, to a project that embraces these values and strengthens the role of museums as places of dialogue, inspiration, and human connection.”