WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A JUDGE

AMINA KRVAVAC, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Over the past years, I have had a chance to interact with the EMYA judging panel, to learn about its work and the values it stands for, as well as its detailed evaluation process, but from the perspective of a museum candidate for one of the prizes awarded under the EMYA scheme.

In the course of this process, I understood how valuable the existence and work of EMYA is for any European museum, big or small, old or new, as it continuously inspires and motivates the museums to strive for higher quality and excellence in all aspects of their work.

Becoming a judge and finding myself on the other side of the process is an incredible honour, one that comes with great responsibility to contribute to this important mission.

Joining EMYA judging panel is an incredible opportunity to get to know and work closely with an inspiring and dedicated group of professionals on promoting and advocating for excellence and innovation in the European museum sector. The privilege that comes with being an EMYA judge also lies in visiting and learning about the incredible work of nominated museums. Engaging in meaningful conversations with a very diverse pool of professionals allows for personal and professional growth, resulting in life-enriching experience.

AGNES ALJAS, ESTONIA

To be a judge means having the opportunity to learn about and understand the innovative ways in which contemporary European museums are working with different topics across diverse fields. It can be a testing duty to evaluate different museums from different traditions that work in different conditions, on different topics and with different collections.

As a jury member, I will endorse the new developments and strategies with which museums have engaged. I hope to be able to highlight practices that encourage innovative knowledge and viewpoints, that lead to creative approaches and which promote socially responsible museum work.

FRIEDRICH VON BOSE, DR., GERMANY 

To be a judge involves the great opportunity and privilege to get to know many colleagues from a broad range of museums across Europe. It means learning about the outstanding work they do, how they interpret their museums’ role in society and what strategies they employ to be meaningful places for their respective communities. To visit the applicant museums and to discuss the experiences made during these visits with my fellow judges – and to hear and discuss about their insights respectively – means learning a lot on many different levels. To me, reflecting about these experiences against the background of broader museological developments and discussions is a crucial part of this process.

The collective assessment about the nominee museums also comes with a big responsibility. I see it therefore as a great honor to be able to contribute to the EMYA judging process with the experiences, assessments and professional curiosity I bring into this process.  

BEAT HACHLER, SWITZERLAND

To be a judge is a unique chance to discover new projects, stimulating approaches, and an opportunity for empowering people all over Europe. I guess we all see in our institutions a big need to open our institutions to our diverse societies and cover relevant issues of the present and future. After a challenging project with North Korea in my house, the Swiss Alpine Museum, I am also convinced that engaged cultural projects in museums can open new doors in difficult, but relevant political contexts.

To be a judge is a chance to learn more about good practices and to become become part of a bigger community.