Press release - 24 May 2025
The European Museum Forum is happy to announce the winners of the European Museum of the Year Awards for 2025. The winners in different categories under the EMYA scheme were presented on the last day of the EMYA2025 Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony that was held on 21-25 May 2025 in Białystok.
Organised by the European Museum Forum and hosted by the Sybir Memorial Museum, the winner of the Council of Europe Museum Prize 2025, the event took place in a traditional EMYA format with a physical, rich and intense annual conference and award ceremony and brought together members of the EMYA community including this year’s nominees, former winners, partners and friends.
This year, the main theme of the conference was defined as “Remembrance and Solidarity for Collective Action”.
We warmly congratulate the winners in each category and express our deep gratitude to all 42 nominated museums for placing their trust in EMYA—both through their applications and by generously welcoming the judges during their visits. Special thanks go to the Sybir Memorial Museum, our host this year, to our partners for their continued support of EMF, and to all the participants who joined us in Poland and helped bring the event to life.
See you in Bilbao next year for EMYA2026, which will be hosted by Euskararen Etxea (The House of the Basque Language), winner of the Council of Europe Museum Prize 2025, in cooperation with the Provincial Council of Bizkaia.
The EMYA – European Museum of the Year Award
Presented by Amina Krvavac, Chair of the EMYA Jury
Each year, the European Museum of the Year Award goes to a museum which contributes profoundly to our understanding of the world as well as to the development of new paradigms and professional standards in museums. Within a distinctive overall atmosphere, the winning museum shows creative and imaginative approaches to the production of knowledge, to interpretation, presentation, and social responsibility - all from a transparent base of core values of democracy, human rights, and inter-cultural dialogue, a commitment to sustainability, a practice of inclusion and community participation, and a recognition of conflicts and the courage needed to confront them.
The 2025 winner of the European Museum of the Year Award, Manchester Museum whose renewal has enhanced accessibility and created new spaces to foster deeper community connections and promote intercultural dialogue. The museum has reimagined its mission, acknowledging and addressing its complex history by redefining the role of its collections and public programmes. As a university museum, it plays a vital role not only in academic research but also in advancing social responsibility and justice. This is reflected in its co-curation approach—an ongoing process involving collaboration with local and diasporic communities to incorporate multiple perspectives into the interpretation and presentation of its collections. Through thoughtful, informed, and impactful community engagement, the museum continues to invest in creating a truly inclusive space—where all individuals, regardless of identity or background, can see themselves reflected and represented.
The Winner of the EMYA - European Museum of the Year Award 2025
Manchester Museum, Manchester, UK
The Council of Europe Museum Prize
Presented by Constantinos Efstathiou, Cyprus, Committee Representative for the CoE Museum Prize, Council of Europe
The Council of Europe Museum Prize is awarded to a museum that has contributed significantly to upholding human rights and democratic citizenship, to broadening knowledge and understanding of contemporary societal issues, and to bridging cultures by encouraging inter-cultural dialogue or overcoming social and political borders. The Prize aims to highlight Europe’s diverse cultural heritage and the interplay between local and European identities.
Selected by the Culture Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on 3 December 2024 and awarded at a special ceremony that took place on 7 April 2025 in Strasbourg’s Palais de l’Europe, the prize was given to the Euskararen Etxea, the House of the Basque Language, a unique cultural space dedicated to the Basque language, its history, and the stories of resilience and identity associated with it. The museum's focus is on the intangible heritage of the Basque language, offering visitors an immersive experience that goes beyond objects to reflect the deep emotions, challenges, and resistance tied to the Basque culture. It provides an opportunity to explore the Basque language's significance, evolution, and role in fostering community. The Centre is committed to accessibility, offering its content in Basque, Spanish, French, and English. This multilingual approach not only ensures that a diverse audience can engage with the exhibition, but also emphasizes the interconnectedness of European languages and cultures. The Centre encourages visitors to explore the similarities and mutual influence between languages, providing a deeper understanding of European linguistic diversity.
The Winner of the Council of Europe Museum Prize 2025
Euskararen Etxea, the House of the Basque Language, Bilbao, SPAIN
The Kenneth Hudson Award for Institutional Courage and Professional Integrity
Presented by Léontine Meijer-van Mensch, EMF Trustee
The Kenneth Hudson Award for Institutional Courage and Professional Integrity goes to a museum, a group or an individual – not necessarily an EMYA candidate - to celebrate courageous, at times controversial, museum practices that challenge and expand common perceptions of the role and responsibilities of museums in society.
The 2025 Kenneth Hudson Award for Institutional Courage and Professional Integrity is presented to an individual in recognition of the courage it takes to defend core values in challenging times. This year’s award is given to Nini Sanadiradze, former General Director of The Union of Tbilisi Museums, who has demonstrated unwavering commitment to democratic principles, despite repeated attempts to undermine her integrity. Her leadership is a testament to resilience and social justice, working tirelessly with diverse communities to create inclusive spaces. Her courage inspires museum professionals worldwide, reaffirming museums’ critical role in defending democracy, human rights, and societal values in an increasingly challenging global landscape.
The Winner of the Kenneth Hudson Award for Institutional Courage and Professional Integrity 2025
Nini Sanadiradze, former General Director of The Union of Tbilisi Museums, Tbilisi, GEORGIA
The Meyvaert Museum Prize for Environmental Sustainability
Presented by Serge Cappon, Head of Business Development, Meyvaert/Haerens Group
The Meyvaert Museum Prize for Environmental Sustainability is conferred on a museum which shows an exceptional commitment to reflecting and addressing issues of sustainability and environmental health in its collecting, documentation, displays and public programming as well as in the management of its own social, financial and physical resources.
This year, the prize goes to MUZOO, an innovative museological space that explores the complex relationship between people and their environment. Its permanent and temporary exhibitions address biodiversity and sustainability through a unique visitor experience that offers direct contact with animals. Its use and care of its natural spaces, including managing a municipal park and a zoological garden, aims to foster new attitudes about animal welfare, inviting community members to care for local animals. Its commitment to environmental sustainability also makes this museum a central hub for local biodiversity associations, contributing to citizen science.
The Winner of the Meyvaert Museum Prize for Environmental Sustainability 2025
MUZOO, La Chaux-de-Fonds, SWITZERLAND
The Portimão Museum Prize for Welcoming, Inclusion, and Belonging
Presented by Dora Pereira, Head of the Culture Department, Portimão Municipality and José Gameiro, Portimão Museum’s Scientific Director
The Portimão Museum Prize for Welcoming, Inclusion and Belonging celebrates a friendly atmosphere of inclusion, where all elements of the museum, its physical environment, its human qualities, its displays and public programmes, contribute to making everyone feel they are valued and respected and belong in the museum.
The museum which has won this award, the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art fosters new conversations about the evolving nature of culture and society. Its extensive educational outreach further strengthens its commitment to inclusion, often designed in collaboration with local schools and engaging over 500 young visitors daily. Programmes focused on gender equality, empowerment, sustainability, and creativity ensure visitors of all backgrounds feel seen, valued, welcomed, and connected to the museum’s mission. This is an art museum whose commitment to education, accessibility, and bridging local and international art practices makes it a vital cultural institution within its city.
The Winner of the Portimão Museum Prize for Welcoming, Inclusion and Belonging 2025
Istanbul Museum of Modern Art; Istanbul, TÜRKİYE
The Silletto Prize for Community Participation and Engagement
Presented by Sharon Heal, EMF Trustee, on behalf of the Silletto Trust
The Silletto Prize for Community Participation and Engagement celebrates a deep, continuous and empowering involvement between a museum and its stakeholders, that places the museum as a point of orientation and reference at the centre of its communities, whether these be local, national, global or otherwise defined.
The museum which has won this award, the Alvor Lifeguard Interpretative Centre (CISA) is a living, breathing community centre that actively supports the continuation of traditional artisanal fishing practices and the preservation of endangered skills. Through co-curated displays, residents can see their own lives, labour, and traditions reflected with dignity and value. With local people contributing stories, photographs, artefacts and expertise to shape the museum from the ground up, this museum is an example of how museums can serve as powerful agents of community engagement and cultural preservation.
The Winner of the Silletto Prize for Community Participation and Engagement 2025
The Alvor Lifeguard Interpretative Centre (CISA), Portimão, PORTUGAL
The Special Commendations
Presented by Friedrich von Bose and Joan Seguí, EMYA Judges
Special Commendations are given to museums that have developed a new and innovative approach in specific aspects of their public service and from which other European museums can learn.
Seven special commendations were given by the Jury in 2025. (see page 10 for photographs)
Foundation Museum Ovartaci, Aarhus, DENMARK
The first special commendation goes to a museum that presents exhibitions that support mental health education, prompting questions and challenging commonly held ideas about mental illness. The museum’s efforts to promote social interaction and participation, irrespective of background, diagnosis, or beliefs, as pivotal to mental well-being, are commendable. Run by part-time staff with diverse physical or mental disabilities, the museum illustrates how cultural institutions can promote inclusion, equity, and social cohesion.
The Korsak’s Museum of Ukrainian Modern Art, Lutsk, UKRAINE
The second special commendation goes to an art museum that shows dedication to rediscovering forgotten artists and facilitating discussions about the impact of totalitarianism on artistic expression. Its exhibitions invite visitors to reflect on art’s profound role in society and its potential to foster free thought and diverse perspectives. The museum’s emphasis on accessibility and efforts to preserve cultural identity are particularly relevant in today’s geopolitical context, alongside its commitment to promoting and supporting new artistic creation during a time of global uncertainty.
The Korsak’s Museum of Ukrainian Modern Art
İşbank Museum of Painting and Sculpture, Istanbul, TÜRKIYE
The third special commendation also goes to an art museum, whose distinctive curatorial approach brings previously lesser-known artistic positions to the fore, thereby allowing for new and often surprising perspectives on the nation’s art history. Its architecture blends accessibility and contemporary interior design with historical elements, creating a unique and welcoming environment for both art enthusiasts and the wider public.
İşbank Museum of Painting and Sculpture
The House of Music Hungary (HoM), Budapest, HUNGARY
The fourth special commendation goes to a new cultural complex whose aim is to bring music to diverse audiences through innovative and creative learning experiences and musical performances by international and local musicians. Its core message and curatorial programming emphasise that music is inclusive and should be accessible to everyone, regardless of education, economic status, or social standing.
The House of Music Hungary (HoM)
Wien Museum, Vienna, AUSTRIA
The fifth special commendation goes to a city museum and open house promoting a pluralistic, cosmopolitan, and progressive society. Its exhibitions aim to engage visitors with the city’s recent transformations, character and the challenges it currently faces. The museum’s outreach and collection policies emphasise everyday culture and content co-created with local communities, offering new ways for broad audiences to connect the past with contemporary issues.
Maria Callas Museum, Athens, GREECE
The sixth commendation goes to a museum whose innovative scenography powerfully and skillfully captures the theatricality and performance that defined a world-renowned singer's career and primary artistic expression. Visitors are immersed in the world of the opera singer through texts, objects, videos, and rare sound clips, as the life and career of Maria Callas unfold.
Arnhem Museum, THE NETHERLANDS
The seventh and final commendation goes to an art and heritage museum where nature, history and culture meet. The museum documents the city’s history through the stories and art of its residents. Its new public spaces effectively encourage the local community's participation and involvement, showing how art can foster a sense of community and belonging.
About the Organiser - European Museum Forum and the European Museum of the Year Award
The European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) was established in 1977 under the auspices of the Council of Europe to acknowledge excellence within the European museum community.
EMYA has proved to be the longest running and most prestigious museum award in Europe and provides an important platform for benchmarking, networking, exchange of reflections, experience and skills across the wider continent of Europe.
The European Museum Forum (EMF) provides the legal and organisational framework for the annual European Museum of the Year Award scheme (EMYA).
Overseen by the European Museum Forum, since 1977 EMYA has been dedicated to promoting innovation and excellence in public quality in museum practice, encouraging networking and exchange of ideas and best practices within the sector. EMF/EMYA works within an overall framework of a commitment to citizenship, democracy and human rights, to sustainability, to bridging cultures and social and political borders.
Museum candidates are either new museums, first opened to the public within the past three (4 years in 2022, 2023 and 2024), or established museums that have renewed their organisation and completed a substantial programme of modernisation and extension of their buildings and galleries.
Over the years the EMYA scheme has developed into a series of different awards, each with their own specific profile.
About the Host – The Sybir Memorial Museum, Białystok, POLAND
The Sybir Memorial Museum opened in 2021 in Białystok, Poland. It stands on the original site of the Poleski Railway Station. Bialystok was assigned to the Soviet sphere in the German-Soviet division of Poland and became part of the Belarusian Soviet Republic after the Soviet annexation.
The museum tells the story of successive deportations of people from Poland to Siberia, northern Russia, and Kazakhstan during the Soviet occupation and the division of Poland in the period 1940-41, and deportations during the communist period of the Soviet Union after the Second World War until 1952. The museum expertly balances a museum for the history that Poles associate with Siberia and a memorial for the last survivors of deportations and their relatives. It addresses an important moment in European history and, more broadly, deportation and transgenerational memories of struggle. The museum aims to play a community-building role in gathering the memories of individual experiences and testimonies from witnesses to history. Its ability to convey history through workshops, events, media, publications, and new formats is commendable and successfully reaches broad audiences.
The museum is effective in addressing the universality of experiences such as deportation, enslavement, exile, struggle for survival, care for the family in times of danger, and mutual support of people in difficult conditions. The museum recognises the importance of difficult memories within today’s Polish and European communities and a commitment to democratic ideals and respect for human rights.
The museum was awarded the prestigious Council of Europe Museum Prize at the EMYA 2024 edition.
Other Important Sources
EMYA2025 Press Release - PDF version
EMYA2025 on the EMF Website
EMYA – The Awards
Winners’ Brochure 2025
Nominees’ Brochure 2025
Sybir Memorial Museum
Conference Website
CoE Museum Prize
Contact
For further remarks and quotes about the winners, please contact:
Amina Krvavac, Chair of the EMYA Jury
emyachair@europeanforum.museum
For any press related queries, please contact:
EMF/EMYA Communication
comms@europeanforum.museum
Headquarters of the European Museum Forum are located in Portimão, Portugal. Please address all other queries to:
European Museum Forum
Pedro Branco, EMF Administrator
Phone: +351282096016, Mobile +351910278383
E-Mail: emf@europeanforum.museum
Postal address:
European Museum Forum
Co/ Museu de Portimão
Rua D. Carlos, I 8500 – 607
Portimão, PORTUGAL
