THE EUROPEAN MUSEUM OF THE YEAR AWARD

As the museum sectors expand across Europe, and as the value and meaning of culture for citizenship, political empowerment and general wellbeing are increasingly recognized, the quality of each museum and its contributions to its society and communities becomes correspondingly significant. The European Museum of the Year Award has been given out every year since 1977, and represents the best in innovation and excellence, in new or redeveloped museums, across disciplines and scale, funding and obligations, and across the various cultural contexts of Europe.

The EMYA 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.

EMYA WINNERS:

2023: L'Etno, Valencian Museum of Ethnology
Valencia, Spain

Photo credit: Permanent exhibition “Not Easy to be Valencian”. The City: Global and Local. Tower of electrical appliances. Author: Hector Juan © L’ETNO

For more information: EMYA2023 Winners Brochure

2022: Museum of the Mind | Dolhuys
Haarlem, Netherlands

Museum of the Mind, EMYA2022 Winner, Haarlem, Netherlands

2021: Naturalis Biodiversity Center
Leiden, Netherlands

Naturalis Biodiversity Center, EMYA2021 Winner © Neutelings Riedijk Architects

2020: Stapferhaus
Lenzburg, Switzerland

Stapferhaus, EMYA2020 Winner, is a house for everyone: young and old, those on the right and on the left, experts and laypeople – men and women, and everyone in between and beyond. © Stapferhaus / Oliver Lang