Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to cordially welcome all of you who have come to our beautiful city of Białystok. I am extremely proud to host you in a place that combines a rich history, dynamic progress, and a remarkable atmosphere. Białystok is a city that is constantly developing, offering its residents a great number of opportunities and attractions.
One of our latest and most significant achievements is building the Sybir Memorial Museum. This unique place commemorates the fate of Poles deported over the centuries, first deep into Russia and later to the Soviet Union, being at the same time a proof of our commitment for preserving historical memory. The museum is not only a space for reflection but also a symbol of collective memory and respect for those who went through the most difficult moments in the history of our nation.
Due to the excellent cooperation with the community of Sybiraks, we can organize together many initiatives that not only cultivate the memory of the past but also enable creating a better future.
Białystok is a city open to diversity, full of energy and opportunities. We are proud of our history, but we are also focused on the future, looking for further development and creating a place where everyone can feel good.
The history of Białystok dates back to the 15th century. This city harmoniously combines tradition with modernity. In the 18th century, under the rule of Jan Klemens Branicki, it was called the “Versailles of Podlasie”, becoming the pearl of the region. The 19th century brought dynamic industrial development, making the city an important center for the textile industry. Before World War II, Białystok was a place where cultures and religions came together – Poles, Jews, Russians, Belarusians, and Tatars lived together, giving the city a unique character. Today, we proudly cultivate our multicultural past, developing dynamically as a modern and friendly place on the map of Europe.
Organizing the European Museum of the Year Awards (EMYA) in May 2025 is a great honor and an exceptional opportunity to present the beauty and potential of our city to the world. I cordially invite you to discover the charms of Białystok and take advantage of its rich cultural and educational opportunities.
Mayor of the City of Białystok
Dear fellow museum community members,
Welcome to the 48th Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony. This 2025 edition brings us to Białystok where its cultural venues await us.
With its history as one of the leading centres of academic, cultural and artistic life in Poland, we look forward to exploring, learning and listening. A great thank you for the all the time, effort and excellent organisation to the city of Białystok, our Polish colleagues, and our host, the Sybir Memorial Museum, proud winner of the Council of Europe Museum Prize 2024.
As we gather as EMYA and museum community members—professionals, students and partners alike—the conference programme provides us with a new chance to engage with leading museums, bringing innovations and highlighting and celebrating the role museums fulfill.
Museums are many things, but not least platforms for empowerment, cultural participation and social justice. By promoting innovative approaches in the museum sector throughout the whole continent, we hope to inspire you in shaping the museum you are in or wish to create. This year’s theme “Remembrance and Solidarity for Collective Action” is an important compass, especially now that we are confronted with intolerance and political extremism that remind us of our troubled past. It is crucial to acknowledge this past and spring into action to ensure the rights of all our fellow citizens in Europe in its entirety.
The European Museum of the Year Award has been presented every year since 1977. The winners represent the best in innovation and excellence in new or redeveloped museums, independent of disciplines, scale, funding and obligations, and across the various cultural contexts of Europe. This year we have 42 nominees from 18 countries across Europe, representing the best of the European museum tradition of change and innovation. We also await the announcement of the important recognitions: the Kenneth Hudson Award for Institutional Courage and Professional Integrity, the Silletto Prize for Community Participation and Engagement, the Portimão Museum Prize for Welcoming, Inclusion and Belonging, and the Meyvaert Museum Prize for Environmental Sustainability.
The support of our partners is crucial. We thank our institutional and supporting partners for their commitment, support, advice and encouragement for the work we do and our shared vision for European museums.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the European Museum Forum—the legal and organisational framework for EMYA—I wish you a very fruitful conference and an excellent time in Białystok.
Chair a.i. Board of Trustees, European Museum Forum