Call for Applications
End of submission: 31 May 2012
THE PURPOSE OF THE EUROPEAN MUSEUM OF THE YEAR AWARD AND COUNCIL OF EUROPE MUSEUM PRIZE SCHEME
The scheme has had a positive influence on the lives of a number of museum professionals and has brought to centre stage small museums with highly innovative contents, which otherwise would not have received recognition at the European level. It has served to establish connections between museums of the East and West, North and South of Europe. Through the work of EMF, the scheme has also directed the attention of public authorities to initiatives originating in their own countries, some of which previously were almost neglected and not recognised at the level they deserved.
Within the scheme all museums are equal whether public or private, small or large. Whatever their subject, they are assessed on the basis of what is considered outstanding public quality.
THE AWARDS
The EMF Judging Panel is looking for enterprise and innovation that enhances the public quality of the museum. The judges seek to identify new developments which are likely to have a significant influence in the national and international museum field.
- The European Museum of the Year Award
EMYA has proven to be the longest running and most prestigious museum award in Europe and continues to be the most important occasion for promoting innovative museum practice and public quality in the European museum sector.
This award goes to a museum which contributes most directly to attracting audiences and satisfying its visitors with unique atmosphere, imaginative interpretation and presentation, a creative approach to education and social responsibility.
Past winners have been both large and small museums, but all developed something which was special and changed the standards of quality in museums within Europe.
- The Council of Europe Museum Prize
The Council of Europe Museum Prize is a unique award intended to highlight the need to preserve and promote the European cultural heritage as a factor uniting the Council of Europe's 47 member states. It involves recognition of the excellence displayed by the winning museums in the approach they take to museum work, while complying fully with the EMYA criteria, and helps to give added dynamism and variety to the European museum sector.
This prestigious prize is awarded based on the recommendations of the EMYA Judging Panel, by the Committee on Culture, Science and Education of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to a museum which puts particular emphasis on a clearly understandable presentation of a European perspective, showing initiative in presenting themes of European relevance and adherence to the key values and priorities of the Council of Europe.
- The Kenneth Hudson Award
This is an award in honour of the founder of EMYA, Kenneth Hudson. The award goes 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 museums in the society and carries forward the spirit of Kenneth Hudson. The Kenneth Hudson Award winner will be chosen by the EMF Board of Trustees, and will not necessarily be selected from the pool of the EMYA 2013 applicants.
- The Silletto Prize
This prize goes to a museum which has in the past two years demonstrated excellence in involving its local community in planning and developing museum and heritage projects or has attracted outstanding support from its work with volunteers with the goal to enhance the public quality of the museum.
- Special Awards
A number of special awards will also be given to museums that have developed a new and innovative aspect of their public service and from which other European museums can learn.
Winner of the Council of Europe Museum Prize: Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum - Kulturen der Welt
Picture: Michael Jungblut, Berlin
Guidance notes for the application process and participation in the 2013 EMYA and Council of Europe Museum Prize competition
GENERAL INFORMATION AND ELIGIBILITY
- Museums of any size, type or legal constitution can apply for the competition.
- Museums must be based in one of the 47 countries that are currently members of the Council of Europe
- The applying museum can be EITHER a new museum first opened to the public in the past two years, OR can be an established museum that has completed a substantial programme of modernisation, extension, reorganisation or re-interpretation during the past two years.
SPECIFIC CRITERIA FOR THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE MUSEUM PRIZE
In 2011, EMF and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe were working closely on reinforcing the European dimension of the Prize. The revised criteria reflect key priorities of the Council of Europe to:
- promote respect for human rights and democratic institutions;
- maintain an open and inclusive policy aimed at bridging cultures, overcoming social and political borders;
- introduce innovative schemes of governance and management that enhance cultural democracy;
- present a European perspective, which may provide a dramatic interplay between a local identity and the European identity;
- establish conditions to ensure access by the widest possible public;
- use cutting-edge information and communication technology and provide a space for new cultural creation and mediation technologies;
- coach visitors towards new knowledge and ideas of good and responsible citizenship;
- promote heritage-based creativity and the development of the heritage sector of cultural industries.
The application should be submitted in English.
Shortlisted museums are invited to present themselves during the EMF Assembly and EMYA Ceremony 2013.
A participation in the Assembly and Award ceremony will be subject to additional costs including registration, travel and accommodation. These costs are not included in the competition entry fee.
SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION
The EMYA 2013 Application Form should be submitted no later than 31 May 2012.
Please send the application form and supporting statement by e-mail to: emf@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk
Please send the supporting material by post to:
Doric McMillan, EMF Administrator
European Museum Forum
World Museum
William Brown Street • Liverpool L3 8EN/UK
About:
THE EUROPEAN MUSEUM FORUM
The European Museum Forum (EMF) is an independent not-for-profit organisation which is a charitable company registered in the UK , dedicated to promoting innovation in museum practice and encouraging exchange of best practice and ideas across Europe.
- EMF recognises the value of public engagement of museums and fosters excellence through a scheme of annual awards of which the European Museum of the Year Award and the Council of Europe Museum Prize are the main awards.
- Museums considered for awards are judged in accordance with clear criteria set by EMF in a process of independent peer review.
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EMF stimulates networking and develops projects to foster exchange of information and good relations between museum professionals and museum volunteers and supporters.
- EMF works through dialogue and consultation with internationally experienced and respected members of the European museum sector and operates under a system of regular renewal and succession-planning to ensure that the organisation always reflects the needs and aspirations of the contemporary European museum community.
Further Information:
Doric McMillan, EMF Administrator
European Museum Forum
World Museum
William Brown Street • Liverpool L3 8EN/UK
Tel: +44 - 151 - 4 78 49 84
Fax: +44 - 151 - 4 78 43 21
eMail: emf@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk
web: www.europeanmusemforum.info
