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Where is Europe's best museum?

Petra Lambeck sh
May 3, 2017

Each year, the European Museum Forum gives the European Museum of the Year Award to the most-deserving winner. This year, 46 museums were nominated, some in Germany and Switzerland. Which one has what it takes to win?

https://p.dw.com/p/2cEwH
Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach, Switzerland
Image: Vogelwarte Sempach/B. Marcel

The Museum of the Year Award, EMYA for short, is one of the most well-respected museum designations around. Since 1977, the European Museum Forum has given the award to either a newly-opened museum or one with a remodeled exhibition. The aim of the accolade is to support and highlight innovative developments on the international museum scene.

Museums nominated for EMYA are those which appeal to the public in a special way or have a unique atmosphere. Size, location and the amount of publicity received do not play a role in the nomination process.

Famous award-winners in recent years have included the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao (2000) and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (2015). Last year, the prize went to the Museum of the History of Polish Jews (POLIN) in Warsaw.

The museum is currently housing the EMYA trophy: a sculpture by English artist Henry Moore called "The Egg." It goes on loan to the winning museum for the year, and is then passed on to the next museum that receives the award.

This year's winner will be announced at the end of the EMYA conference held from May 3-6 in Zagreb, Croatia.

pl/sh/kbm (dpa/sid)

 

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