The Hellenic Museum is an art and history museum dedicated to inspiring visitors about Hellenic culture through innovative programs, exhibitions and events. The Museum was founded in 2007 by the late Melbourne businessman and philanthropist Spiros Stamoulis. A first generation Greek, Spiros was a passionate Hellene who believed that Melbourne, arguably the cultural capital of Australia and home to the largest Greek community of any city outside Greece, should be home to Australia's first Hellenic Museum. The Museum has five permanent exhibition galleries and two touring galleries, including the acclaimed Gods, Myths & Mortals collection on loan from the Benaki Museum, Athens. The Hellenic Museum’s collections span 8,000 years of Greek history, from Neolithic treasures to newly commissioned contemporary art. A cultural hub supporting arts, film, and visual performance, the Museum also hosts a wide range of events throughout the year, from the popular Summer Cinema program, to theatre, live music, and lectures. The Museum's hirable courtyard space is home to Sean Godsell's award-winning M-Pavilion. By bringing together multiple artistic disciplines and perspectives, the Hellenic Museum presents a holistic experience of Greek culture and the contribution it has made, and continues to make, to society today. Housed in the former Royal Mint building, one of Australia’s landmark sites, the Hellenic Museum continues to be a prominent cultural destination in Melbourne for both locals and visitors to immerse themselves in more than 8,000 years of Hellenic art, history and culture.