Representatives of 40 museums from all corners of Europe gathered in Sarajevo this weekend for what is known as the Oscars of European Museums, awarding the most innovative ones among the museums on the Old Continent.
The main prizes for the 2019 edition of the European Museum of the Year Awards (EMYA) went to Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Rijksmuseum Boerhaave from the Dutch city of Leiden won the European Museum of the Year Award, while the Council of Europe’s Museum Prize was handed to the Bern-based Museum for Communication.
The host of the ceremony was Sarajevo’s War Childhood Museum, the winner of the Council of Europe’s Museum Prize for 2018.
“Bosnia doesn’t only belong in Europe, it also needs Europe. However, I am convinced that Europe needs Bosnia as well. We stand stronger together. We are richer when we are together. And that’s the reason why we brought this conference in Sarajevo and that’s the message I want you to carry with you,” said Jasminko Halilovic, founder of the War Childhood Museum.
The event gathered ambassadors and representatives of 16 embassies in Sarajevo, local authorities, partners and friends of the War Childhood Museum.
The award ceremony which was held in Sarajevo National Theatre was opened by Halilovic, Chairwoman of the European Museum Forum Jette Sandahl, EU Special Representative in Bosnia Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, and Lejla Mujkic, Chief of the Cabinet of the Sarajevo Canton Prime Minister.
“The Oscars” of European Museums taking place tonight in Sarajevo. Lots of innovative European museums promoting creativity, diversity and tolerance. Proud EU is sponsoring. #warchildmuseum #EMYA2019 pic.twitter.com/s4EONSjbi2
— Lars-Gunnar Wigemark (@LarsGWigemark) May 25, 2019
