The European Museum of the Year Awards
Innovation in European Museums
Every year the most innovative museums in Europe gather at the EMYA Conference and Awards Ceremony to showcase their work, to network, and to learn from each other. This is a unique opportunity for those who are planning to create a new museum or to renew an existing one, to learn about the latest developments in the public quality of museums.
This year more than 40 museums will present their work and discuss the following themes: Museums and big ideas; Museums engaging with local contexts; Museums and new approaches to art and culture; Museums of transport and technology; Museums and new narratives of history and identity; Museums and narratives of conflict and war; Museums and the environment; Museums presenting unique heritage; Museums and world history; and Museums and literature.
This conference will also feature a Kenneth Hudson Prize Winners Panel – a panel of previous winners of this prize. The Kenneth Hudson Prize is awarded for the most daring and innovative achievement that challenges common perceptions of the role of museums in society.
Conference Schedule
Welcome remarks: Amina Krvavac, Executive Director, War Childhood Museum; Jette Sandahl, Chair, European Museum Forum; Mirvad Kuric, Minister, Ministry of Culture and Sports of Canton of Sarajevo; Mirsad Sijaric, Director, National Museum of BiH. Note: this will be a Garden Reception.
Location: National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zmaja od Bosne 3, Sarajevo
Visit to permanent exhibitions of the National Museum.
Location: National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zmaja od Bosne 3, Sarajevo
Welcome and introduction to EMYA 2019 – Ms Jette Sandahl, Chair, European Museum Forum; Welcome remarks – Nermin Muzur, President, Tourism Association of Canton of Sarajevo; H.E. Nicola Minasi, Ambassador, Embassy of Italy in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Amina Krvavac, Executive Director, War Childhood Museum; Opening Address: Suay Aksoy, President of ICOM.
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
The Kenneth Hudson Award is named in honour of the founder of EMYA and is awarded for the most daring and innovative achievement that challenges common perceptions of the role of museums in society. This panel will explore what can be learned from winners of the award. Speakers: Agnes Aljas, Research Secretary, Estonian National Museum, Tartu, Estonia; Conor Dodd, Curator & Historian, Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, Dublin, Ireland; Lolita Tomsone, Director, Zanis Lipke Memorial, Riga, Latvia; Dina Sorokina, Boris Yeltsin Presidential Museum, Yekaterinburg, Russia; Moderator: Mikhail Gnedovsky.
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Brief introduction – Mr Mark O’Neill, Chair of the EMYA Jury; Presentation of nominees and thematic panel: House of European History, Brussels, Belgium; Rijksmuseum Boerhaave, Leiden, Netherlands; Museum für Kommunikation, Bern, Switzerland; Schweizer Finanzmuseum, Zurich, Switzerland. Moderator: Mark O’Neill.
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Presentation of nominees and thematic panel: Malaga Museum, Spain; Museum Misericordia do Porto, Portugal; Nakhodka Municipal Museum Exhibition Centre, Russia; Engandine Museum, St. Moritz, Switzerland. Moderator: Karmele Barandiaran.
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Presentation of nominees and thematic panel: Museum of Ancient Eleftherna, Crete, Greece; Moesgaard Museum, Aarhus, Denmark; Weltmuseum Wien, Austria. Moderator: Linda Mol.
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Presentation of nominees and thematic panel: Geysir-Zentrum, Andernach, Germany; TIRPITZ_Vardemuseerne, Blavand, Denmark; Cool Planet Experience, Enniskerry, Ireland; World Nature Forum, Naters, Switzerland. Moderator: Christophe Dufour.
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Presentation of nominees and thematic panel: The Moomin Museum, Tampere, Finland; Pan Tadeusz Museum, Wroclaw, Poland; Museum Plantin Moretus, Antwerp, Belgium. Moderator: Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett.
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Starting at UNITIC Business Centre at 18:00. Our guides will walk you through the Sarajevo center and old town to explain you history of the city. The end of tour is in front of the Residence of British Ambassador to BiH.
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Welcome remarks, H.E. Matthew Field, Ambassador, British Embassy in BiH; Remarks – Eithne Owens, Representative of Event Communications Ltd, sponsor of EMYA Travel Bursaries and EMYA Internships. Note: this will be a Garden Reception and identification document will be required at the entrance.
Location: Residence of British Ambassador to BiH, Dzinina 35, Sarajevo
Presentation of nominees and thematic panel: Frankfurt Historisches Museum, Germany; The National Museum, Helsinki, Finland; Hungarian National Museum, Budapest, Hungary; Nederlands Openluchtmuseum, Arnhem, Netherlands. Moderator: Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett.
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Presentation of nominees and thematic panel: Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology, Katakolo, Greece; Radio- ja tv-museo Mastola, Lahti, Finland; Russian Railway Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia; British Motor Museum, Gaydon, UK; Brunel’s SS Great Britain, Bristol, UK. Moderator: Kimmo Antila.
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Presentation of nominees and thematic panel: Dom Museum Wien, Austria; EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Finland; Four Domes Pavilion Contemporary Art Museum, Wroclaw, Poland; Museum Centre "Peace Square", Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Moderator: Dina Sorokina.
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
The future belongs to museums: The War Childhood Museum – laureate of the Council of Europe Museum Prize 2018 – is a citizen’s initiative that grew organically out of a research project and the first museum in the world solely dedicated to those whose childhoods have been affected by armed conflict. Jasminko Halilović, the Museum’s founder, elaborates on the creation of the War Childhood Museum and highlights how a focus on 2E2T (Entrepreneurship, Equality, Trust, and Teams) has contributed to its quickly gained yet hard earned success. Introduction: Jette Sandahl, Chair, European Museum Forum.
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Presentation of nominees and thematic panel: Verdun Museum, France; Airborne Museum 'Hartenstein', Oosterbeek, Netherlands; The National Museum, Szczecin, Poland; D-Day Portsmouth Museum, UK. Moderator: Marlene Mouliou.
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Presentation of nominees and thematic panel: PANEUM Wunderkammer of Bread, Asten, Austria; Museum of Apoxyomenos, Mali Losinj, Croatia; Strandingsmuseum St George, Thorsminde, Denmark; Lego House, Billund, Denmark; Antonina Leśniewska Museum of Pharmacy, Warsaw, Poland. Moderator: Metka Fujs.
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Welcome remarks – Vesna Marjanović, EMF Trustee; Senka Ibrisimbegovic, Director, Ars Aevi.
Location: Ars Aevi, Museum of Contemporary Art, Terezija bb, Sarajevo
Location: Ars Aevi, Museum of Contemporary Art, Terezija bb, Sarajevo
Introduction: Jette Sandahl, Chair, European Museum Forum. EMYA 2018 Winner’s Address: Deyan Sudjic, Director, Design Museum, London, UK.
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Museum Activism in an Age of Intolerance: Populism and intolerance are sweeping through Europe and young people across the world are taking to the streets in protest against the threat to the future of the planet. Against this backdrop what is the use of a museum in society? Sharon Heal, the director of the UK Museums Association, will argue that through radical new networks, exhibitions, co-curation and community partnerships museums can realize their activist role and become campaigners for social justice, equality and tolerance. Introduction: Jette Sandahl, Chair, European Museum Forum.
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Formal Presentation of Certificates to all museums nominated for EMYA, by David Anderson and Jonas Dahl, EMF Trustees.
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Location: UNITIC Business Centre, Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1, Sarajevo
Workshop 1: Estonian National Museum, Tartu, Estonia, with Agnes Aljas, Research Secretary; Workshop 2: Zanis Lipke Memorial, Riga, Latvia, with Lolita Tomsone, Director; Workshop 3: War Childhood Museum, Sarajevo, BiH, with Amina Krvavac, Executive Director; Workshop 4: Controversial issues in museums, with Mikhail Gnedovsky. Please sign up for your preferred workshop at the Registration Desk. Venues for the workshops will be confirmed during the conference.
Location: (TBC)
Entrance with badge and invitation only.
Location: National Theatre, Obala Kulina bana 9, Sarajevo
WELCOME TO SARAJEVO
EMYA 2019 is hosted by the War Childhood Museum – winner of the Council of Europe Museum Prize 2018!
EMYA is delighted to announce that its annual conference will take place in one of the most fascinating cities in Europe. Over the past century Sarajevo has played a pivotal role in the history of the continent. In 1914, the assassination of Franz Ferdinand precipitated the First World War and marked the beginning of the 20th century for Europe. In 1984, the city hosted the Winter Olympic Games celebrating unity and diversity, two things that are at heart of Sarajevo’s identity. However, less than 10 years later, Sarajevo was under terrible siege for more than three years during the War of 1992 -1995. After the war ended, it was widely recognized as a symbol of life, love, and a place where European values were successfully defended.
Once known as the “European Jerusalem” for its religious diversity, Sarajevo began reinventing itself at the end of the War and the beginning of 21st century, striving to become a modern European metropolis. Today, this vibrant, dynamic city, with a rich and turbulent past, continues to inspire artists and researchers from across the world. The city welcomes visitors with its well-known charm. The city is one of the best places in Europe to discuss shared values and challenges, and to explore the future roles of museums in society. The conference will include evening receptions in some of the Sarajevo’s most interesting museums and an opportunity to explore the city.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
EUROPEAN MUSEUM OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2019
Suay Aksoy
President @ ICOM
Deyan Sudjic
Director @ Design Museum London
Jasminko Halilovic
Founder @ War Childhood Museum
Sharon Heal
Director @ Museums Association UK
The European Museum of the Year Award
The European Museum of the Year Award Scheme
The European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) was founded in 1977, by Kenneth Hudson and Richard Hoggart, under the auspices of the Council of Europe, in order to recognise excellence in the European museum sector, stimulate the international exchange of ideas and create networks of inspiration. EMYA works within an overall framework, provided by the European Museum Forum, of a commitment to citizenship, democracy and human rights, to bridging cultures and social and political borders, and to sustainability. The different awards within the EMYA scheme reflect different aspects of these values.
Every year, a rigorous judging process involves visits to up to 50 museums, culminating in an annual conference with up to 300 leading museum professionals, at which the candidates present their museums, the winners are announced, and the underlying values and innovative ideas in the European museum field are discussed, renewed and reinterpreted.
THE EUROPEAN MUSEUM OF THE YEAR AWARD
Founded in 1977, this is the oldest and most prestigious museum award in Europe. It goes to a museum which demonstrates excellence across all aspects of its functions, but especially in Public Quality.
THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE MUSEUM PRIZE
This prestigious prize is awarded by the Council of Europe, in partnership with EMYA, to a museum which addresses contemporary issues and demonstrates a commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
THE KENNETH HUDSON AWARD
This award is given by the EMF Board to a museum, person, project or a group of people who have demonstrated the most unusual, daring and, perhaps, controversial achievement that challenges common perceptions of the role of museum in the society.
THE SILLETTO PRIZE
This prize is sponsored by the Silletto Foundation and goes to a museum which has in the past three years demonstrated excellence in involving its local community or working with volunteers.
THE PORTIMÃO MUSEUM PRIZE
This prize is sponsored by the Municipality of Portimao, Portugal and is awarded to the most welcoming museum.
SPECIAL COMMENDATIONS
A number of Special Commendations will also be given to museums that have developed an innovative aspect of their public service and from which other European museums can learn. In 2019, a Special Commendation for Sustainability in Museums will be offered by Meyvaert Glass Engineering.
Register Now!
Number of places is limited. Book your place now.
Early Bird Fee
EUR 350
Before February 28
- Welcome pack
- All sessions/workshops
- Conference lunch for all 3 days
- All conference receptions
- Award ceremony
- Gala dinner
- Special events
Normal Fee
EUR 380
Before March 31
- Welcome pack
- All sessions/workshops
- Conference lunch for all 3 days
- All conference receptions
- Award ceremony
- Gala dinner
- Special events
Last Minute Fee
EUR 400
After April 1
- Welcome pack
- All sessions/workshops
- Conference lunch for all 3 days
- All conference receptions
- Award ceremony
- Gala dinner
- Special events
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